The San Francisco call., 1898-12-02

before related, and the additional fact that $14.000 of the Southern Pacitic's money was paid out to Legislative can didates during the campaign through the hands of Colonel Dan Burns:
 WHO OWNS THE LEGISLATURE?
 If Republican government is not a fraud and preteHse, every member elected to the Legislature of California is at liberty to vote for whomsoever he pleases for United States Senator If there is mem Der of that body who is bound by any prediction pledges or who has farmed out his honor and his manhood. he has violated the laws, and a position in San Quentin would more fittingly become him than one in the Legislature.
 If there is a member elected to the Leg islature who paid his election expenses out of the pockets of a candidate for United States Senator, he has not arisen to that plane of honesty or intelligence which would make him fit for self-govern- ment. A slave could be bought and sold without dishonor to the slave. because behind the seller stood the armies and navies of the world and the coercive ap- proval of public opinion. But the mem Der of the Legislature who has been or can be. bought and sold has voluntarily chosen a condition of slavery and has reached depth of moral degradation be- yond which there are no soundings. The negro on the auction block. occupied position infinitely superior to that. of the member of the Legislature" who. having taken the money of a@capdidate for. Unit. ed States Senator, will occupy: a, seat in the Senate or the: Assembly of: the State of California after: the first. Monday in January. The moral purpose which could consent to an abasement. of this, kind augurs ilt- for the legislation such a:body will enact There are times when the honest mind finds, a high consolation in dealing with the exact truth, and there is a fullness of truth in the foregoing characterization Of the real status of leg fslative slavery which every just mind will recognize and approve. ,:: 7: '-..
 If the members of the Legislature to as- semble in January are men appreciating the full dignity of the right of self-goV- I ernment they are the only parties to be consulted as to who will be elected United States Senator. They are untrammeled save by their honest convictions, as to who will best serve the State. ..:-
 Assuming that the Legislature of Cali fornia is composed of decent and respect able citizens, the stories which are being told concerning the consultation of people l as to who shall be United States Senator must be untrue and absurd. Every such convention of politicians or journalists meeting to determine what the Legisla- ture shall do is the most burning insult to the character, manhood and dignity of the supreme legislative body of this com monwealth. Every self-respecting citizen in California would like to believe at least that the choice of Senator lies with the men who under our form of government have been vested with the right of selec- tion Every well-wisher of republican in stitutions would like to lay the f1attering unction to his soul that the members of the Legislature of California are not slaves upon a Senatorial auction block.
 A fair illustration of the manner in which Burns is seeking to whip legis- lators into line in behalf of his can didacy was witnessed yesterday at the 1 Grand Hotel A prominent attorney from the San Joaquin Valley was ac- costed by the political writer of the | Examiner, who is also the secretary of the Board of Pilot Commissioners, and State Senator elect Sig Bettman, one of Burns stanchest supporters. The at torney was importuned to use his best | endeavors to bring the two San Joaquin Valley members of the Legislature into l line for Burns, for the stated reason | that this is going to be a landslide l for Burns and you had better get your men in under cover" The political writer's interest in Burns grows out of the fact that Burns promised him that in case of the election of Gage he (Burns) would secure his (the writers) reappointment to the political position he now holds by grace of Democratic Governor.
 Those Californians who do not know Burns are entitled to some knowledge of the man now that he aspires to be their representative in the upper house of the American Congress. The some what disagreeable task of informing the people of the State as to the man. ner of man he is will be undertaken by The Call, believing that by so doing 1t will be discharging a sacred duty.