The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-09
Rev. Il. S. Brush Of Alameda Declares the Crime
Of the Century Is Proposed by Politicians
Now at the State Capital
The Senatorial san Represents Nothing but That Of Which Honest Citizens
Are Ashamed and the Situation Makes Patriots Blush=CalS
q Burns PckpOcket Politician.

| thrown off and all good citizens do
not know which is the greatest, their
surprise or their disgust.
California has none too savory a
record in matters political But never
| before even in this State was such a
man a serious possibility for such an
Office. OF course, there have been men
who were the tools of corporations, but
they have had some qualifications, even
if they had disqualifications. What does
this man Burns represent? Does he
stand for the commercial or the manu-
featuring or the farming interests Of
this State? Why has he been selected?
ga Senator should be representa-
tive man. What does he representa-
Nothing save that Of which honest
stands for the chicanery and skull
duggery, the polluted politics Of a
large city.
Everybody knows what he repre-
sents. There are even good citizens who
will say that in practical politics such
creatures are a necessity, but these men
will say also that it is incredible that
such a creature should aspire to be
Senator. or that any men could be
| found who would favor his election.
Look at the record of the United
States Senate. 1t has stood for cen
tury as the pride and glory of the ma
ton In it have spoken and worked the
greatest of our American statesmen.
| There have at times been unworthy
| members. But never in the history or
! that body was man elected who was
without reputable standing at the time
! ~ hoc no n
recent years that the Senate represents
too closely the rich men of the land.
''But Burns has not even wealth
to commend him, save his large sal
ary derived from dirty politics and
an income from mine that he is un-
der indictment for stealing.
He does not represent the wealth Of
California 1t is certainly desirable
that the wealth of our country should
be represented in legislative bodies
The curse of our State legislatures is
that men go into them in order to bleed
the rich. Let the man of property go
there and look after his own interests
and not pay large sum in hush money
to be protected from practical robbery.
"The principal criticism of the United
States Senate has been that the mem
bers do not feel sufficiently their re-
sponsibility to the people and many
now favor the selection Of Senators by
popular ballot. 1t is questionable If
Burns could poll thousand votes in
this State for Senator. His name has
twice already brought defeat to the Re
publican party.
"Every man that works and votes
for him at Sacramento gets paid for
it. Yet already the Chief Executive
of this State, just honored with
large majority of votes, has made a
threat as to patronage that means a
sop to Burns. The action of Cover
nor Gage in this matter is astound-
ing and lasting disgrace to the
State of California.
THE mere rehearsal of the situation
makes all true patriots blush But we
do not propose to hang our heads. but
to raise them up and fight for de-
cency and honor.
Certain men, in order to cover up
this atrocious scandal, tell us that
the great dailies, The Call and the
Chronicle, that are making this fight
against Burns, are acting from inter
ested motives. Very well. We are
glad there are editors in California
whose interests are opposed to pot
house politicians like this creature
Burns. What amazes me is that the
Southern Pacific corporation, which
is unquestionably back of him, can
not see the same thing, namely, that
it is to its interest also that Burns be
not elected.
This company has been very severe
ly criticised in the past. Many good
people have not known what to believe
or how much to believe. But if this
corporation favors this mans election
then it is not difficult to believe any
thing said about it. By standing for
Burns is will array against itself the
strong and even bitter hostility of the
people of this whole State.
''Mr. Huntington himself cannot be
charged with a lack of brains. 1 under
stand that he is a vestryman in an
Episcopal church in New York City.
He knows just as we'll as l do what
kind of men should go to the United
States Senate. He knows just as well
as I do that corporation like his can
accomplish many of it's ends if some re-
gard is shown for outward respect
ability. Positively the company can
not do anything that would hurt itself
more in this State than to stand as
sponsor for Burns.
$50 it is not the great dailies alone
whose lf-interest is in the direction
of his defeat. The whole State has a
self-interest in the same thing.
There is scarcely anything this State
could do that would so injure it in
lie eyes of the East as just such
political crime as is proposed.
"It Is true other men have served the
Southern Pacific only too we'll in public
offices, but they were men whom the
!. world could at least respect for some