The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-05
THE RAILROAD OPPORTUNITY.

The RAILROAD OPPOR UNI T.
n an interview published in The Call and in other
papers on Sunday last c. P. Huntington was re-
ported as discaimng any responsibility Tor the
violation by the Endorsement of the candidacy OF Dan
ie NJ Burns for the Federal Sepatorshp, OF pledge
given during the last Senatorial campaign in the name
OF the railroad His additional observations printed
on Monday substantially confirm the first report 1t
would have been better for the State and more salts
factory to the Republican party ii this qualified re-
pudation had come earlier.
1t is fact so we'll attested and so notorious as to
have become settled and accepted that the reiterated
assurance that all interference in party conventions
and canvasses and in elections by on behalf OF the
railroad had ceased was made in its name. 1t is
equally fact that the first announcement OF the can
didacy OF Dan Burns proceeded from William F.
Herrin During the entire deadlock, in the teeth OF
the people and the press Dan Burns backed by
the railroad forces Almost daily 1t was charged and
admitted that the railroad determined that its
nominee should succeed that Senator should be
elected 1t is solely for these reasons and because the
majority OF the Republican legislators kept the falth
represented their constituencies and guarded the in
tegity OF their party that the seat long occupied by
Stephen NJ. White remains vacant.
1t is apparent and has been boldly published and
Silently ICIClNcu lIidl ltISSS tlCdOiICOuS anu
proceedings were the result OF conspiracy, which
has fortunately been checked to dsintegrate the local
Republican organization and in 1900 the State
over to the Democracy. That the Examiner was in
VOWED in the conspiracy was proved by its tortuous
and disngenuOus course. 1t has never dared openly
and straightorwardy deny that secretly favored
the election OF Dan Burns and it had done So its
denial would have been refuted by its own columns.
In the public mind the responsibility for this in
sdious and dshonorable attempt to govern or de-
sroy the Republican party OF California is fas-
tened upon the railroad, which, under the testimony
as stands to-day has been convicted by falsehoods
against which It was impossible to guard OF having
sacrificed the public welfare to its inordinate greed
and arrogance. Mr.. Huntingtons published inter
views, after months of tact acquescence in the stua-
ton is practical acknowledgment that the action of
Mr. Herrin who IS himself a Democrat, was at least
permitted by the railroad authorities, and, to some
extent duplicates them in deliberate treason to party
to which they and their predecessors owe all the
legitimate support they have had and to which they
nolninally are attached Even though Mr., Hunting
tons personal disclaimer had been fuller and more
complete it would still have been ineffective unless
formulated and ratified by his associates and followed
by the definite and unquestionable withdrawal of the
railroad from its assumed censorship over parties,
from low political intrgues, and from virtual die
tatorship the various departments OF municipal
and State government
II such possibility exists, it would be of great ad-
vantage the threshold OF the epoch OF commercial
and financial prosperity now distinctly before us for
all controversies between the railroad and the public
to be settled in manly and in an honorable way
The Call has several times made this suggestion 1t
within the power OF Mr.. Huntington and his asso-
cates promptly to bring about this desirable result
II there be any individual and concentrated response
bilty for the conditions lately existing it should be
clearly and openly placed where it belongs and meas
ures taken only prevent repetition OF the dam
aging incidents OF the past few months but to CON
vince the people that their repetition is impossible
and that the railroad actually to attend to its
own business to rely upon the law administered in the
usual way for the protection of its rights and its in
terests, and to work in harmony with the public for
the common good. This revised attitude if genuine
would crafty solid and reputable citizens who are
without prejudice and whose ears are closed to the
outcres OF demagogues and cranks and nothing less
would meet the demand OF the Republican party
The Call, it has fully proved, has no desire to
perpetuate hostlites OF any kind but without dog
matsm and yet with frmness insists that neither in
the municipal shortly be initiated nor in
the national campaign OF next year. shall be possible
with superficial plausbility to connect the Re
publican party with the railroad, which in the Sena-
torial contest. it resisted and vanquished Mr. Hun
tington has frequently boosted of his Repubicanism
since the formation of the party in 1856 and OF his
contributions to its success in years when there was
no pending accusation of railroad corruption He has
opportunity to show the strength OF his eaty
to its principles by hardening mere pretensions into
recognized facts.I