The San Francisco call., 1898-09-23
THE MAGUIRE OF RECORD.

 will not invest their earnings in real estate in the immediate prospect of its confscation. Judge Mcguire refuses to defend land conhs- cation while he is candidate. He stakes his election the railroad ssue and tells the people that if he IS defeated the East will take 1t evidence that Cali ornia has given up the fight against the funding bill This declaration ignores the fact that there is no funding bill to fight year ago Maguire was hob ping and nobbing with Senator Morgan and certify ing him the apostle of antifundng. If we mistake not, the Democratic party officially extended its thanks to Senator Morgan for his position on that question. Morgan has fought that issue to finish and says that the legislation of the last session leaves nothing be done, that the question is settled and the issue is concluded Now if Judge Magure's defeat is going to make such deep negative mpres- sion in the East what will be the affirmative effect of his election2
 In his speech in the House, of the 4th of last Feb ruary he spotted all of the privileged classes against which he declared war. First in the list he put the private landowner, whom he called an "aggressor and monopoist" the strong and cunning despoiler of the weak and undesigning." He said was the duty of the Government all land to the people, and did not propose any compensation to the present
 These views not with the Judge. In Barrys Star April 17, 1886 Mcguire said: Believing that the taking of all ground rent for public purposes would place all citizens upon level am in favor of an amendment to the constitution of California pro- vidng for raising all for public purposes by a single tax land"
 Again, on May 2o of the same year he said in the Star: We must learn that this is the peoples coun- try, and its land should be and must be of natural right forever the heritage of the whole people. This indefensble monopoly of the God given land (private hiOo vyh to the monopolist, should be immediately abolished just letter of marque would be cancelled or the commission of guerrilla apnuled"
 Here it will be observed that he likens the land owner to pirate sailing under letters of marque and reprisal, or to guerrilla, who robs and murders under commission.
 It would be interesting to hear his explanation of these views. Throughout his record on the issue he has dealt in invectve and appeals to the prejudice of the non-landholder Being desrous, as he says of eveling all mankind of course his views are attrac tive to all who believe that time the thrifty and industrious shall be compelled to divide their prop erty with those who not thrifty and industrious
 Men whose tastes lead them to rural pursuits invest their earnings in real property Those whose tastes run to trade and finance invest their earnings in per sonal property. In Maguires view the land investor IS robber whose property must be taken from him without compensation, while the investor in personal property IS not only to be protected by the laws and courts the Police and Fire departments but is to be wholly exempt from taxation pay for that protec- ton!
 Great efforts have been for years sustained here to attract rural population to California We have tried to induce the Eastern land holder to sell his real estate and reinvest here, and become producer
 The farmer looks upon his land as something more than the means of producing living To him it rep ooi,, 6re+ represents the labor by which he subjects to cuti vaton and puts 1t to its best This increment to the value of his land is the product of labor solely which has increased its fertility by draining it where too wet for cultivation and irrigating 1t where too dry. If the owners tastes leads him toward other occupations he desires to withdraw his investment from land by selling 1t and adding its first cost n- terest and taxes, the increment due his labor Or age dictates cessation of the hard labor of the farm he wishes either sell and retire. or to rent it and seek the and peace required by his age and past toll.
 Under the Mcguire plan of confscation he can neither sell nor rent Not owning the and he cannot transfer it for consideration nor can he rent it and live the income, for Mcguire says "All ground rent must be taken for public purposes" in order to put mankind Ion level"
 In the shadow of such policy all land values cease No man will sell in another State to buy here
 Therefore when study the effect of Judge Ma guire's defeat, which he says will impress the East that California has given up the funding fight that Morgan declares is already ended let us remember that the East is thoroughly indifferent to the funding fight anyway Its various phases have neither pro- noted nor restrained immigration to California nor affected our local development At one time when it seemed to involve the possibility of overland rail competition, it assumed interest with which it can never be reinvested because the Valley Road has a ready accomplished that. It is plain therefore that Maguire's defeat will make no impression in the East unfavorabe to California by reason of the dead issue Of the funding bill
 We then free to consider the affirmative effect of his election, in the light of his declaration that landowners are "monoposts and aggressors." the despoers of ''the weak and undesigning" and are like pirates and guerras
 Garcia IS now declared to be against the indepen-