The record-union., 1898-12-16

| d
| ident intended to do any injustice to
! California in recommending that Zante
| currants be placed on the free list
from misapprehension as to the ef-
| feet which the removal of the duty
| would have upon the raisin industry
in California. 1t is not possible that
the President would knowingly recon-
mend the adoption of any measure
which would work injustice or injury
to an American industry. Without
| doubt he has been misled by state
ments made by persons interested in
the business of importing Zante cur
rants for sale in the American mar
| ketS.
ASSESSMENT AND VALUE.
| San Jose Mercury: The Baldwin Ho-
tel and the lot on which it stood We're
assessed for only 100000, although
there was a loan on the hotel for
S1,6OO,OOo, and $2OO0,000 has since the
| hre been offered for the lot alone. 1t
is fair presumption, remarks the AL
ameda 'EncinaI' that other property
IN that city is assessed in similar pro-
portion, yet the city papers have the
| presumption to talk about robbery
| When the Board of Equalization adds a
| little to these raScally assessments.
THE DIGNITY OF OLD GLORY.
San Jose Mercury: The common and
selfish uses to which the American fiag
has been put by thousands of Ameri-
cans since the beginning of the war
| with Spain has been an insult to the
| starry emblem of the Republic and a
| disgrace to the people who have sub
| Jected it to such desecration. Protests
| have been made again and again by
the American press, but without Wis
lDle erect. 1t has become apparent
| that existing laws for the protection
! OF the flag are altogether too mild, and
| every patriotic American will be glad
that the subject has been taken up by
the American Flag Day Association,
which has drawn up a bill whose rigor-
Gus provisions, should it be enacted,
VIII put quietus to the practices of
that class Of Americans, unhappily too
large, who see in Old Glory only an
| instrument of commercial profit
1t may be safely assumed that the
bill, or one equally stringent, will be
passed by Congress. 1t provides that
it shall be unlawful for any person to
print, stamp or in any manner impress
| upon the flag of the United States, or
any representation thereof, any word,
figure, design or impression calculated
to serve as an advertisement of any
persons trade, occupation or business,
or to publish, exhibit or use as an ad-
vertisement any such flag or repre-
sentation thereof, so printed, stamped
| impressed. Also, that it shall be I'M
lawful for any one to manufacture or
use the flag or any representation
thereof for clothing, awnings or in any
other manner which shall tend to it's
| desecra 1on. A violation of this Act
will be punished by a fine of not less
than 500 nor more than $500, and a
second violation will subject the Of
fender to imprisonment for one year
and fine of not less than 81 600. That
bill has the right ring to it. Let Ola
Glory remain unsullied from the touch
of vandals who, for little profit,
would make it as common as a dish
rag.
POPULISTS AND SOCIALISM.
Kern Echo: 1t is surprising and
possibly alarming to note how rapidly
the members Of the late Populist party
are turning toward socialism, There
is, however, one element in that party
which will not travel in that direction.
This is the part which believes that self
reliance is better than paternalism in
all things. 1t is probable that when
the lines Of battle are formed for the
next campaign that the great work be-
ing done by the party now in power
will claim the admiration and support
Of many Of these wanderers
THE SENATORIAL FIGHT.
Los Angeles Express: Given a safe
party majority in the Legislature and @
field composed of new aspirants to SEN
atorial honors, and complications will
| almost invariably ensue. 1t is seldom,
| under such circumstances, that the par
ty unites in advance on one man. Each
section of the State has one or more
favorite sons, and there are other men
who by reason of their services and at
tainments have a general claim on the
party. There may be other men who
think they have claims. Under these
conditions it is a foregone conclusion
! that there will not be perfect unanimi-
ty of opinion at the beginning Of SEN
atorial campaign.
| COLONIAL SERVICE.
Portland Oregonian: There is no
reason why special service for admin
istrative work in the islands should not
| be organized. Dismiss the idea
of politics altogether; make the tenure
secure under the practices which gov
ern business and professional life; open
the door to merit under tests calcu-
lated to discover personal qualifications
| and certain to reject all who may be
unworthy. Found the service on these
principles under positive rules, and
there will be no trouble about having
fit men in places calling for large
measure of trust and discretion.
THE ARMY BILL.
! Alameda Argus: The army bill,
whose main feature, of course, will be
to increase the standing army to a fig
ure approximating 100000, should also
make definite and important changes
as to militia and volunteer forces. The
late war demonstrated that this coun-
| try has magnificent material for the
rank and file of armies, but that it is
disastrous1y deficient in capable Off
GERS. This condition might be bettered
if politics could be eliminated from the
| citizen soldiery but there should be a
reserve force of trained officers for such
emergencies as the country has just
been called upon to meet. All the Col
| onels, it would seem, should be from
| the regular army, and the head sur
| geons and commissary officers as we'll.
More study should be devoted to the
| conservation of armies-to their trans
portation, victualing and the care of
| the sick These most essential feat
ures of the military business seem to
be wholly inadequate in the volunteer
branch.