The record-union., 1898-08-19
UNFAIR METHODS.
Attacks Upon Private Character
Will Not Win.
From the Oakland Tribune

| F'rom the Oakland Tribune)
Alameda County has pronounced in
favor Of the candidacy of DR.. Pardee
for the Republican nomination for Gov
ernor. DR.. Pardee from his boyhood
has been a resident of this county.
There is no valid objection to his can
didacy, and We believe that when the
people of the State of California come
to understand him as he is known and
understood at home, he will poll the
entire strength of the Republican par
| ty with such margins of reinforcement
as a strong personality attracts
OF the other candidates the Tribune"
has had but little and has less to say
But it has recently come to our knowl-
edge that unfair methods are being en-
/ ployed to break down the candidacy of
the Hon. Henry T. Gage of Los Angeles.
| The Democrats, in anticipation of the
nomination of prominent and popular
Republicans for State officers, will not
| fail to fOrestall their standing before
the public by covertly assailing their
private character and public record.
! Up to the present time, DR.. Pardee, who
now occupies a prominent position in
the field of politics, has not been the
victim, SO far as we know of any CO.
vert slander or vituperation; but the
charge is being covertly circulated to
the effect that Henry T. Gage was in
dicted by the Grand Jury for criminal
conspiracy growing out of law suit in
which he occupied the relation Of at
torney. The fact that such Indictment
was found against Mr. Gage has been
we'll known to the people of Los An
geles for a long time. The charge was
thoroughly investigated and Mr.. Gage
was completely 'exonerated by the re-
suit of that investigation. The Dis
trct Attorney, with a full knowledge
of the testimony upon which the in
dictment was founded. dismissed it
promptly, without entering upon trial
of the case, showing that the animus
of the charge was revenge. The suit,
out of which the charge Of criminal con-
spiracy arose, was between two part
ners Mr.. Gage was attorney for one
of the partners and the indictment was
found at the instance of the other and
defeated partner.
In it's animus and essence the indict-
ment was malicious, and was we'll
known to be so by the District Attor-
ney and by the bar of Los Angeles
County 1t is one of the circumstances
and incidents which are magnified
when a man becomes a prominent can
didate for high official station
In short, Mr.. Gage is the victim of
a political method with which all men
who have had observation of politics
are perfectly familiar The fact that
within the past few days an open pri-
mary of Mr.. Cages party has elected
a solid delegation to the Republican
State Convention, pledged to Mr..
Cages candidacy for the office Of Gov
ernor, is indisputable evidence of Mr..
Cages standing at home as a citizen
and as a gentleman.
1t is a matter of the highest signifi-
canoe that the contemplate scandal
which Isl launched in anticipation of
Mr. Cages nomination was not used
against him in the community where
the indictment was found and where
Mr.. Gage is best known. It's covert use
may do him injury where it's public
use would be harmless. For this rea-
son the story has been circulated
quietly, but industriously. It's publica-
ton will render it harmless.
Time was when false charges against
the private character of a candidate
for official position had force and eff
feet: but happily, the weapon of SLAM
der has lost its power to harm the in
tended victim, returning like the boom
erang to slay it's sender.
While the Tribune" is not interested
in Mr.. Cages candidacy for the nom
ination he seeks. it is interested in
the honest and fair treatment of all
andidates-especially for the honora-
BILE position of Governor.
Republicans. at least, should dis
countenance attacks upon the private
character of candidates for high and
honorable positions, treating such
slanders as attacks upon the whole
party. to be resented by every member
thereof To countenance malicious
charges is to court decentralization.
The Tribune" therefore, warns Re-
publicans against entertaining or cir
culating false and vicious SANDER
against candidates, remembering that
the vicious poison of calumny may not
only destroy the candidate, but weak
en- the virile force of the party.
| McMorry sells groceries. Agent for
| Coronado water and Stockton sarsa-
| m r;l1o nd iron E31 NJ street.