The record-union., 1898-11-30
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
jects Of Living News
Interest.

W
sugar business. Before the war and
before Hawaii was annexed, this coun-
try was not sugar cane growing coun-
try except to small degree in Louisi-
ana, but the prospect was good for us
to become the greatest beet sugar coun-
try in the world-a prospect which Is
now likely to be entirely changed. With
Hawaii, the Philippines, Porto Rico and
probably Cuba as portions of the Unit
ed States, we suddenly become the
worlds greatest producer Of sugar c are
lin fact, approach the position where
We can almost claim a monopoly of the
industry With this unlimited cane
sugar production within our borders, 1t
does not appear probable that we will
ever be so well situated as are France
and Germany to become a great beet
growing country.
VOTING AND COUNTING.
San Jose Mercury: It is generally
conceded that the Australian ballot
system, as adopted in this State, is q
vast improvement over the old method.
1t insures secrecy, and it throws long
needed safeguard around the franchise.
But that it is not perfect was demon
average voter found it necessary to
spend from twenty minutes to half an
hour before his ballot was safely de-
posted. The ballot was lengthy and
the alphabetical arrangement required
that he go carefully through the entire
list, even though he desired to vote his
straight party ticket Much waste Of
time could have been avoided doubtless
had the officers at the polling places
been more systematic, but even at the
best the process of voting would have
been tedious. This delay could be OBJ
waited by altering the arrangement. Of
the ballot in conformance with the sys-
tenn employed in some of the Eastern
States. BY the system in vogue in
Iowa and Indiana, as described by the
Record Union" the nominees of par
ties are placed each in an independent
column, and the Independent canGi-
dates In distinct column Over each
party column is placed in distinct large
type the name of the party. In the
Indiana scheme there is a party en-
blem also, but that is not necessary. al
though 1t gives the illiterate voter more
freedom. In the system a straight vote
can be cast by single mark opposite
TO the party designation at the head Of
the column, but individual selection can
be made just as easily as in the case Of
the ballot used in this State.
A HAPPY FIND.
'Anaheim Gazette: The telegra oh
brings reports of the good work accom-
plished by the vedalia cardinals in
Portugal, where the depredations of the
white scale threatened during the last
year the extinction of the orange and
lemon trees. Two importations of the
parasite were made into Portugal frem
the United States, those in the first
succumbing before the
of the voyage OF the para
sites in the second importation only a
few survived, but owing to their won-
derful fecundity they have multiplied
so extensively that the groves of Port
ugal are now said to be inhabited by
millions of them, and the ravages of the
white scale are ended. The citrus IN
dustry of Portugal was last year
threatened with extinction on account
of the white scale, which 1t will be re-
ten years ago threatened the
orange groves of Southern California so
seriously. Now the Portuguese Or
chardists have taken new hope, and
with the cleaning of their trees will
come again actively into competition
with Italy and Sicily in the growing
of citrus fruits.
None know better the beneficent re-
suits following the introduction of the
vedalia cardinals than the orchard.sts
of Southern California. Ten years ago
the citrus groves of this State wore
indeed threatened with extinction, on
account of the deadly white scale pest,
the most destructive Of all the scale
pests that have appeared to harass the
life of the citrus fruit grower. 1t had
appeared in several of the counties in
Southern California, and it's deadly
presence had been noted in a number
of apparently doomed localities, when
the hideous looking pest made it's ap-
parance In the citrus trees in this local
ity. Had it not been for the introduce
tion of the vedalia a year or so subse-
quent to it's appearance, 1t is probably
not too much to say that to-day not
single orange or lemon tree would be
growing in Southern California. The
parasite was introduced by Professor
who was dispatched by the
State to Australia whence the scale
was imported, and where entomologists
held out assurances of it's existence
THE CANAL.
Placer Leader: One-seventh of the
worlds trade passes over the Pacific
Ocean, and Honolulu Is at the parting
of the ways. From there San Fran
cisco is 200 miles, Acapulco 5000,
Nicaragua $500. Valparaiso about
5000. Ladrones, Caroline Islands and
Samoa about $500; Japan. the Philip
pines, Sydney or Panama about 4,500
miles, The nation holding Honolulu
and the Nicaragua Canal will exert
controlling influence over the above
amount of the worlds trade The
Nicaragua Canal must be built and
owned by u.s.
FURE FOOD.
Oakland Tribune: The pure food
crusade is to result in placing before
the next Legislature a measure in the
interests of the movement. 1t provides
for a State Bureau of three Commits
sioners to be appointed by the Gov
ernor, one each for the northern. GEN.
trail and southern parts of the State.
They are to look after all frauds in
foods. drugs and unlawful labels and
are to have jurisdiction over local
health officers. With the right kind
of men on such a board. the project
ought to do world of good and 1t is
certainly a matter of necessity, as is
proved by the many disgraceful food
authorizations that have been discov-
cred OF late.
HIGH SPEED TORPEDO BOATS.
Los Angeles Times: 1t Is scarcely
that the new torpedo boat
Farragut failed to reach speed of