The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-18
THE RAILROAD AND POLITICS.

-rHF Oakland ENQUIRER considers the question OF
! the railroad in politics. 1t proposes to keep
watch and see if signs appear in the form OF OPP
position TO or support of any candidate for the United
States Senate and take that sign OF good latin OF
had on the part OF the railroad. Organization mpfes
mower Politicians always scheme for the support OF
oroanization because it controls the force that IS
IN a mass of men moved by common purpose In
this way the Grand Army of the Republic has been
resorted to by politicians, and was once nearly
wrecked by being subjected TO their uses. IN tihs
State the Native Sons and the Young Mems lnstitu'e
have been at times regarded organizations useful TO
the politician if they could be captured. In the same
way the railroad has been regarded as means 10 Sc
cure the ends sought by political ambition
Ambition for Office and its honors and power Is
sucb master motive with many men that It's disap-
monument moves some to reprisal and revenge
One candidate for the Senate in this State, IN an
interview frankly shows signs OF having sounaeo the
railroad for its support and OF having been reused
He immediately concludes that the support denied to
him will be given to some one else and thereupon
grows virtuous and indignant over the railroad dc
tation in politics Having asked it to dictate his eec
ton and having been refused, he would seem 10 De
estopped from complaint since is no more wrong 70
support another than to support him.
Now suppose that number OF ambitious men~g
tc the railroad on the same GRAND and come away
snartnp under refusal as quite apt to be the case,
and they pool their revenges and these appear IN the
form of "cinches" in the Legislature, the Railroad
Commission the Board Of Equalization and the
courts then the railroad is driven to defend itself
In that case there is to the public apparent entry
OF the railroad into politics, and those who have
forced it will bewa it the loudest.
Let politicians keep away from the railroad, cease
urging it to make choice between them, cease to
solicit the power of its business organization as d
force in politics. and then its presence in such matters
will be so wful and fragrant to be apparent to all
men and will justify unfriendliness the part OF the
people.
The Cali has sufficient experience to know that no
campagn was ever freer of railroad influence help.
financial or otherwise than the just finished in
California 1t was because the people felt this that
they refused to be stampeded by frantic appeals to
prejudice and passion.
Now let the verdict stand and let candidates make
their fight openly without solicitation OF railroad
support or professions of hostility to it individuals
may express their preferences and support them
Corporations and firms have no aggregate partisan
ship 1t is known that individuals in important en-
ployment with the railroad supported Bryan and sup
ported Mcguire as was their right.
Doubtless if the railroad viciously attacked the
same individuals would seek to protect it The Call
would fight at the drop OF a sign of railroad inter
ference in politics, and it would fight as earnestly
against any attempt to force such interference by
cnchers and blackmaers
California needs the touch in amity, of all the in
strumentalities of her prosperity
On the 10Th OF December, 1897 The Call signalized
its changed management in the issue of its New Era
edition 1t is good to read again the forecast we made
then of the New Era and see how it has been enpha-
sized by the late election. We said then that:
wherever in corporate policy, where that great agent
of civilization the cooperation OF wealth, IS neces
sary there is restraint of individual effort to gain for
tune that policy yield to public prejudice
but to an enlightened and friendly public judgment
So too wherever individual attempts bar the public
good they must yield and it must prevail not in the
spirit of anarchy upon the rights of person and
property but in that higher inspiration of good will
toward men," That is prophetic statement OF what
has happened now, and is the laying of base line
and meridian from which the State has just taken
fresh start Let the established conditions stand
while they bring all interests to work one for the
benefit of the State.