The record-union., 1898-10-11
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects of Living News
Interest.

Alameda Argus: The single tax issue
is treated by Mr.. Mcguire in his
speeches in two ways: it is alternately
ignored and declared not to be an issue.
1t was an issue with him in Congress
continuously. He injected it in almost
every subject upon which he spoke. He
left the Democratic party on its ac-
count, tried to found a new party for
the same reason, wrote and spoke and
electioneered all over the United States
to that end. No longer ago than Febru-
ary of this year he had long extract
from Henry Georges writing printed
in the Congressional Record" as part
of speech delivered in Congress. There
has been no time within at least ten
years when the single tax idea has not
been palpably dominant with Mr.. Ma
guire, yet the minute he gets to run
ming for the Governorship he disoWns it,
at least refuses to continue the avowal
of his acute faith in it, The reason is
that it would hurt his running. Yet
this ought not to influence Mr. Ma
guire. He is always moved by loftier
considerations than that. Besides if
single tax is a good thing he ought to
insist upon it, whether it loses him
votes or not. Saviors of the people are
not actuated by base considerations OF
expediency
A NEW ISSUE. 49,,
Fresno Republicans: In response to
the hysterical demand of the sensa-
tional press the New York and New
Jersey. Democrats have sought to make
political issue out of the alleged in
competence in the administration of the
War Department The earlier Demo
cratic conventions, under the inspira-
ton of the war spirit, generally gave
the Government half-hearted sup
port, or at most attacked the war reve-
nue. bill, but the glee with which the
later conventions have taken advantage
Of the first plausible opportunity to at
tack the Administration does not speak
we'll for the sincerity of the former
commentator.
However, the combination of the two
Verdicts on the war, both of which are
now generally included in the same
platform, is an interesting illustration
of the possibility of human inconsist-
Such success is not an accident, and
does not point to incompetency But
the Democratic critics, recognizing the
ability of those who planned and the
faithfulness of those who led the war
on every point but one, are put in the
attitude of attributing to them exactly
the opposite qualities on this one point
The same men who were able and pa
triotic in defeating the Spanish We're
incompetent and corrupt in taking care
Of our own men. The work of every
bureau of the War Department, except
those of transportation and commits
sary, was of the best, but if the work
of these bureaus was bad, the respon-
sibility is not on them, but upon the
Secretary Of War, who was at the head
Of good and bad bureaus alike
DENIES IT.
Los Angeles Times: The San Fran
cisco Examiner persists in the asser-
ton that the, Times" has predicted the
defeat of the Republican candidate for
Governor. The Times" has predicted
nothing of the kind. The Examiners
wish is evidently father to the thought
WHAT 1T MUST NOT DO.
The Oregonian: The London spec
tator" thinks that the United States
now needs the Nicaragua Canal impera-
lively, and that its construction will
be of vast advantage to the entire COM
mercial world. The Salt Lake 'Tri-
bune" says the real trouble is that the
company that owns the franchise prac-
tically wants the Government to build
he he
same time, wants to own the bulk OF
it. This preposterous assumption must
be set aside. The Government must
not enrich individuals in this business
SINGLE TAX ABROAD.
Stockton RecordJ Al Populist contem-
porary quotes New Zealand at length
on behalf Of single tax. We had beer
given to believe that single tax was
not an issue in this campaign. How
ever, since the question: has been raised
We call attention to the fact that the
results achieved in New Zealand car
be obtained in California without
turning things upside down. The
desideratum is that our system be
carried out both in spirit and in letter
In other words, when our Assessors
shall cease to be venal and our courts
Weakened, results satisfactory to the
majority Of the people will be the con-
sequence. The success of the New Zea-
land system is not so much the result
of the system as the manner in which
it is executed and the knowledge or
the part of landowners that appeal tC
the courts will be in vain. But single
tax a la Mcguire, that is the question.
This gentleman proposes to abolish pri-
vate ownership Of land, whereas, IN
New Zealand, this cardinal and central
principle of single tax has not been
the land to the Government that is de-
manded, a condition that must decapi-
taliZe the State in the sum Of a good
many million. Private ownership de-
stroyed, what adequate security can
be offered for a loan? With the dis
appearance of non-perishable security
why should not capital vacate the
State?
HANNA AGAIN.
Stockton Independent: Now that a
political campaign is on again, the Eek
aminer'' has resurrected Mark Hanna
and makes it appear that he is to raise
a fund with which to defeat Mcguire
in California. While there is not much
doubt that Mcguire will be over
whelmingly defeated, the taxpayers OF
this State will be very grateful to Mark
Hanna for any contributions and infiu-
ny-n - T% T. - I 111