The herald., 1898-10-24
PATTON At POMONA
MAKES A STRONG ARoUMENT
FOR THE UNION TICKET
Analyses the Policy and Tactics Of the
Southern Pacific-A. r. Sprague
Wins Many Friends

POMONA, Oct. 23.-The Hon. George s.
Patton was greeted with Il full house last
night and made strong speech. He
showed clearly the effects that would follow
the adoption OF the bill proposed by Secre-
tary of the Treasury Gage, and how it would
leave the people at the mercy OF the ma.
tional banks, and giving the banks the power
of contracting the circulation at will, q
power which, the speaker believed, should
never be vested IN any class OF men, no mat
ter how good or how loyal they might be.
He also showed the danger of sending to
congress Republican congressman and a Re-
publican senator like de Young, as 1T would
give Uncle Coils an opportunity to refute
The fact that California is opposed to the
refunding bill and that Southern California
really wants harbor at San Pedro. The
speaker called the attention of his audience
especially to the fact that no work had yet
been done on the peoples harbor, and there
was no immediate probability of any being
done, and showed that herein lurked dan
ger that would bear consideration.
Mr.. Patton then took up the question OF
railroad freight rates and explained to his
audience the absolute necessity OF having a
commissioner from this district who would
represent the people and not the railroads,
and emphasized his statements in this re-
gard by showing the enormous amount paid
the Southern Pacific by the orange growers
alone upon a watered stock OF some S9O, ,0OU
per mile. He showed by comparison the dif-
ference between actual valuatlon and w wa
tered one by citing the fact that the Valley
road was constructed with all the most mod
ern improvements at a cost OF 1000 per
mile, and, taking this as basis. he proved
conclusively how the money paid out IN
freights on oranges alone this year would
nay the interest on the bonds and all the
operating expenses OF n road from here to
Kansas City. Mr.. Patton then produced a
couple of statements showing how profitable
two shipments of his oranges had proved,
and how outrageous was the freight rate in
proportion to the valuation, and how,
therefore, the successful production OF this
class of fruit was threatened by throwing
the power of the state government into the
hands of such men as Arnold.
The speaker paid glowing compliment to
the record of James G. Mcguire and showed
of this state was man who would SO far
forget himself as did Mr.. Gage at San An
dreas, and that one of the essential features
of public man was his ability to control his
temper.
Mr.. Patton also called attention to r. J.
Waters reference to the fusion party in his
opening speech at Los Angeles, and asked
what kind of representative would such q
man make, should he be elected, to that
sidered fit only for the slop bucket, and
how he could not possibly represent this
district as it should be Representations the
benefit of the people, and not in the inter-
ests of selected few.
Mr.. Patton made a good impression and
carried his audience with him. A. r.
Sprague, candidate for county recorder, fol
lowed and made common-sense talk, show.
ing the absurdity of hereditary party fealty,
and earnestly requesting the people to take
livelier interest in caucuses and to clean
out the disreputable elements that aim to
control party machinery. Mr.. Sprague
ed upon by the public generally after the
meeting.