The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-05
THE GOVERNORS INFLUENCE.

such misfortune were TO De1aH toalilornia as
Maguire's election, let one be deceived as to
the influence he will have upon legislation, his
power to advance his declared policy to do away
with all vested rights and titles and ownership in
land
The Democratic platform which he is running
has this plank: 'We favor a constitutional amend
ment abolishing the State poll tax, and giving to
counties and municipal corporations the right to
adopt and change their systems of taxation for local
purposes whenever majority of the people OF any
such county or municipality shall determine"
The Populst fusion platform which Mcguire is
also running has this plank: I'VE favor the repeal
of all poll taxes and demand the exemption OF all
personal property from taxation. We also favor the
submission to the people of constitutional amend
ment which will give to counties and municipal cor
poraons the right adopt such system of taxation
for local purposes the people OF such locality de-
sire"
These planks are in accordance with the action OF
the single tax junta which urged such an amendment
the constitution upon the last Legislature II it be
proposed in the Legislature of winter does any
doubt that Mcguire Governor would aid 1t by
all the in his power If he succeed in getting
it before the people, it will not have to receive the
votes of majority of all the people to adopt it. Only
majority of those voting upon it will be necessary
and they may be minority of the total number Of
voters in the State
The single tax land confscators as shown during
the present campaign in compact organization
They support Mcguire to Constitutional
amendments voted on at general election. The
next general election will be in 1000 1t will be
Presidential campaign Public attention will be CEN
tered upon the head of the ticket, and the great
eral and national issues involved The majority OF
the people will be Indifferent to constitutional
amendments But not so the single tax confscators
/ AL Orffsv
they desire Not one of them will forget the con-
fscating amendment Not one of them will neglect
the opportunity offered to destroy a vested rights,
titles and ownership of land" and though in mi
nority, they may easily carry the amendment
Now as to Maguire's influence if he were Gov
ernor when such amendment is before the Leglsla-
'ture. Every who knows the position OF the Gov
ernor in our system knows that unless there IS a
two-thirds ma ority to override his veto he is the
Legislature Members have pet measures for the
benefit of their constituencies, the fate OF which in
wolves their fate in politics and public life. Does
any one pretend that they will stand up against
threatened veto of such measures balanced against
their position upon the single tax amendment called
for in Maguire's platform? They may be opposed
to land confscation but how easy it is for them to
think and say that as the question goes to the people
who vote the amendment they can wash their
hands OF responsibility by transferring it to the
ballot-box, thereby saving their pet from
death at the hands of the Governor by his veto.
When The Call asked Mcguire if he would make
this or any of his influence in favor OF the single
tax he refused to yes or no to the question.
We have continually warned the landowners and the
depositors in savings banks, who have equity in
land titles and nd-ownershp by the mortgages on
land which secure their money loaned by the banks,
that Maguires election will promote the destruction
of all vested rights, titles and ownership in land 1t
will destroy the title and with it the savings bank
mortgage which depends upon that title AS all
know, when savings bank, acting as trustee
for its depositors, loans money a land mortgage
it demands the exhibition of good title to the land
vested in the borrower. This is his vested right,
which Mcguire proposes to destroy When it is de-
stroyed the mortgage which depended upon it is de-
stroyed also; the bank has title which to fore
close The owner has lost his land by Maguires plan
Of confscation, and if pursued by the bank to judg
ment on the debt has nothing left from which to
spond on a deficiency judgment.
By the last report of the Bank Commissioners for
1896 there in this State I5o856 depostors in
savings banks. They the owners of $I3I653,-
ga deposited in such banks. OF this vast sum over
one hundred millions are loaned real estate The
value OF land in the State assessed for taxation in
1906 is $76I $4,000 Add to this the land mortgages
of savings banks, and there is the grand total of
$86I, 348 go of property in this State dependent
solely on the vested rights, titles and ownership in
land
Therefore, when Judge Mcguire says, eve pro-
pose to destroy all vested rights. titles and
ship to land" he proposes to destroy at stroke
nearly one billion of dollars worth of property in
! California; If any think the State stand
that he should vote for Mcguire. If he think, how
ever that it would be blow destructive of the
State as it will be, let him oppose Mcguire with all
his might.