The San Francisco call., 1899-01-29

4 4 -
/ | pleasant task to go sternly and firmly to the
duty that fell to The Call in the OF
Speaker Wright.
1t would be pleasure to know that in the leglsa-
tive incidents collateral to the election OF Senator
there was no call to such duty we have had put
upon us Its discharge has been unaffected by any
personal rancor, and have been vindicated by the
report OF the investigating committee in the appoint
r1ent OF which we had choice and by an investga-
ton that The Call did not direct nor influence even
in the calling OF witness, except by plain statement
Of truth and facts made by Mr.. Leake, which OF
necessity divulged the lines along which the invest-
cation must follow. ii projected in the direction OF
the resolution which ordered In Mr.. Leakes tes-
timony he very carefully separated the information
which was primary and secondary. The latter being
hearsay was given only its legitimate place in the
narrative and as is the fate and fortune OF secondary
evidence some OF it has been affirmed and some has
been denied by subsequent revelations This primary
evidence has been vindcated to the letter. Not ot
OF it stands impeached and the conclusion reached
unanimously by the committee stamps it with the Off
cal seal OF perfect credibility.
That testimony presented Wright in the attitude OF
COISNIlpl III Dul ls camp diiu q Spy anu NOi4-
dence operator in the ranks OF Bua, hired and paid
parasite OF Grant and suppliant to The Call for help
and confidence which he betrayed We put the coat
on the back of this man. and the committee report
is that it fits him and it will stay buttoned to him
always
What we have done in the matter was iof the honor
of our State and party. The good name of neither
can long survive such conduct Wright's. The
committee has appreciated this and did not evade its
duty to cut to the line.
But the report tells more than it tells 1t paints
Wright as he is, sneaking into FIVE antagonistlc
camps, swearing allegiance to FIVE antagonistic poll
cies. making himself polygamist OF pledges and
plighted faith and binding implications. Having be-
tayed The Call after seeking voluntarily help in
his ambitions having betrayed Grant after taking
his money; having betrayed Bula, after using his
friends as a footstoo to the Speakership, does any
one believe that this fve-py intriguer inscribed his
name on the Burns black list from any innocent mo-
tive? Does any one believe that virtue rose in him
and took his hand and led him into the Burns camp
and washed his sins OF betrayal away? Such belief
would be inconsistent with common sense. Picking
UP votes by pledges to- Bulla and influence by voun
support OF Grant what did he pick up by crawling
into the Burns tent under the canvas? The situation
illuminates the Burns campaign and exposes it as
mercilessy words and phrases had been used to
do it by the committee.
To those who hope for Republican future, for the
good name of the State for the elevation OF public life
and honor in high places, The Call sends greeting
and warning that the fight for these is not won until
it is won We merely the instrument OF public
opinion in making that fight. The people must sup
port it. Speaker Wright may be plucked from his
chair by the hand of justice, he sit there to
defle the place, the people choose to have it We
believe they don't desire share his disgrace by per-
hitting its parade in high station and it is for them
to burst through the asbestos of sehsness and design
which encrusts the carcasses OF managers touts and
tools at Sacramento and insist that judgment fall upon
this cuprt to the end that fear may fall upon any who
would initiate him.