The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-12
AN EXTRA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
IMPERATIVELY NECESSARY.

There should be called an extra ses-
sion Of the Legislature and very soon.
There will be raised no objections by
the proponents of the idea to any re-
strictions and pledges as to the con-
tinuance Of such a session that the
Governor in his wisdom may require.
as conditions precedent, as long as the
main purpose Of such extra session is
kept in view, namely, the filling of the
vacant seat in the United States Senate
which vacancy represents inharmony
and lack Of good Judgment on the part
Of California legislators.
+ Since the days of the great rebellion
there has been no time when it was
more necessary for National welfare
and State interest that California
should be fully represented in both
Houses Of Congress. It is due to the
courageous and manly administration
Of President Mckinley that the Re
publican party of which he is the head
should see that every seat is filled to
which in order of political descent the
party is entitled.
1t is due to the highest best inter-
ests of the people of this State that the
two votes to which it is entitled in the
United States Senate should be cast on
all those important measures now be-
fore and yet to come before the Fifty
sixth Congress involving national con-
Germ and California's interests.
For instance, the policy of the Nation
towards the new Pacific is to be de-
clared and settled. A single vote may
determine that policy for or against
California Questions of notifications
OF tariff, and approval of treaties in
volving the productive, Industrial and
commercial interests of California, may
at any moment demand the full vote
to which the State is entitled, in order
to preserve our interests and rights
1t was to have been expected that
the Democrats would oppose a call for
an extra session, for the very good po-
itical reason that they wish the Sena-
torial election postponed until period
when they may possibly become domi-
nant and be able to elect a Senator for
six years from Democratic ranks.
Viewed from the standpoint of the
mere politician that would be good poll
tics, but from the point of view of the
good citizen who places State and Ma
tional interests before partisan am
billions, the objections the Democrats
raise are offensive and unpatriotic.
There are known to be other subjects
proper fortthe consideration of the Leg
isiature in extra session assembled, but
If there were no other, and the selection
Of Senator for the vacant chair at
Washington was the sole purpose, that
alone would justify the call. This State
should not consent to be disfranchised,
to be shut out by even so much as a
single vote from the chief legislative
body Of the Nation.
Such exclusion imperils State and in
dividual rights. It places at the mercy
of those not immediate to the wants,
thoughts and desires of this people, the
vital interests Of every community in
California 1t puts in peril the COM
merce which we see in rich promise for
US upon the Pacific. It exposes US the
more to the Vaccinations and misdi-
rected efforts Of the anti-expansionists
who are at this moment circulating Pc
fitions, for signatures in the State, for
abandonment Of our seat Of vantage in
the Orient, the pulling down of the flax.
and confession that the Nation has
been wrong and engaged in indefensibls
warfare in the Philippines.
Such voluntary exclusion puts in dan
ger our trade with the Oriental side
of the Pacific, and risks internal rights
and interests which Congress may
undo by mistaken legislation. 1t fur
nishes to the opponents of the Republi-
can party weapon with which to beat
out It's brains in the next campaign,
since whatever i'll may befall us be-
cause of the vacant seat in the Senate
will be rightfully charged to the Re-
publican party, and it cannot escape
the inevitable judgment that will fol-
low.
1t will be political suicide to permit
the present opportunity of the Repub-
lican majority in the Legislature to pass
unimproyed. The fact is that the chief
opposition to an extra session comes
from the political opponents of the Re-
publican party. 1t is an axiom of war
and of politics not to take counsel with
the enemy. There never was time in
our political history when we could af-
ford to do so.
On the 18th of February last the
Record Union declared that a Senator
in Congress for a term of six years was
the capital prize in the late State cam
paign. The party then achieved tri-
umph for the principles it represents;
that in view of these facts it was the
duty of the eighty-four Republicans in
the Legislature to deliberate for the
purpose Of discharging the trust COM
mitted to them by the party.
What we then said is as true to-day.
{ In September last the 'sRecord- Union
pointed out the conditions under which
the co1fnfrv y.oeto henor1ca NJ fhe war