The San Francisco call., 1898-01-09
4 BATTLE FOR CALIFORNIA.

N URING the whole period of her existence as Federal State California has continu-
 ously paid into the treasury of the Union more than her proportional share of taxes and enues Her people have been loyal to every na- tonal aspiration Her delegates to Congress, with ue approval ot their constituents, have Hberaly ana Willingly voted money from the common treas ure to promote every form of public enterprise that promised to advance the welfare of any inn portant section ot the nation. She has contributed by her taxes to the seacoast or interior improve ments ot every State in the Union from Maine to Texas, from Washington to Florida She has given dollars in taxation where she has received pennies Tn appropriations.
 The time has now come in the development of the State when her delegates in Congress must ask from the Representatives of other States response to the unsectonal hberality shown by Californians Tn the past Our commercial and industrial wei fare requires the improvement of the vast river system which drains the great valleys of the State. Ihe work will be expensive even if undertaken at once. but it will be much more expensive if de layed Therefore the improvement is not only i'm portant in itself, but 1t is important to have 1t be- gun at the earliest date possible.
 Congressman De Vries has introduced into the House bill providing an appropriation of $5oo,- GOO for the improvement of the Sacramento River and its tributaries This brings the issue before the nation and puts the claim of California fairly be fore the Representatives of other States she has done much to help. The amount asked for is not excessive On the contrary it is moderate to the degree of modesty. It can be defended on every score of enterprise or economy. It Is a measure that should find supporters in all parties and from all sections of the Union
 We will be foolish, however if we sit idle and expect support to come to as grateful response for services rendered in the past What California has right to ask from the General Government IS not often recalled beyond the Rockies. To ob- tain the desired appropriation will require some thing more than the asking It will require con test The introduction of the bill means battle for California and the Californians must do the fighting.
 The first thing to be done is to rouse the whole State to action. If we once get the people to will strongly to win the fight 1t will be virtually half won from that moment. We are so far from Washington that neglect our interests there. We do not back up our Congressmen the Rep resentatives of other States are backed That IS the reason they have often failed in issues where they might have won successes that would have been widely beneficial
 In this battle for the improvement of the rivers every sort of organization in the State should take part Let advance to the attack with ali the ac- tivtes and energies of our people The official authorities of the State of counties and cities com mercial and industrial bodies labor unons mer- chants, farmers, mining men, all men of influence and personal force should take part in the contest We can win if we put forth the full strength of the State. It is battle for California which by will power and determination can convert into vic