The record-union., 1899-12-22

SACRAMENTO FRIDAY
should be its strongest, to care for our
interests Not that California's rep
resentatives in Congress are unable to
meet the emergencies, but that they
may do more and do it easier with a
full quota 1t was not to the credit
of a Legislature with a large Republic
can majority that it failed to elect a
United States Senator; and there is no
need Of presenting reasons or apollo
gies why the calling Of an extra ses-
sion at this time should not have for
its prime object the doing of that
which the main session failed in. Cal
ifornia. is to be benefited by having
votes in Congress; two are twice as
effective as one. If this were all, the
extra session should be called at the
earliest possible time; but in our sell
fishness, our love of party success, we
believe the Republican side of the Leg
islature owe to themselves and the or
ganization they represent, an obliga-
ton which the opportunity alone can
fruits of shat victory should be placed
where their organization will be
strengthened, and the work of an Ad-
ministration whose policy is shaped to
the advantage of California should be
made effective beyond doubt. There
fore we earnestly believe that Gov
ernor Gage, as a Republican elected
through Republican organization,
should take the initiative, and Repub-
lican members of the Legislature
should be loyal to him and their party.
and stand together, that the certainty
of a Republican Senator may be as
sured. that the work and the contin-
gencies that are to confront them the
coming year, which is to place Cali
fornia's votes in the Electoral College
for William Mckinley, may be the
easier Of accomplishment. If the OPP
portunity is missed, who can grasp the
consequences?
THE SENATORIAL VACANCY.
San Jose Mercury: If Mr. Quay shall
be permitted to take the seat in the
United States Senate to which the Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania has appointed
him there will be many to suggest that
the Governor of California appoint a
man to the vacancy in the Senate from
this State. Unquestionably, should the
Pennsylvania be seated a Californian
would be seated. Appointment at the
hands of Governor Gage would indeed
fill the vacancy at Washington, but it
would be a poor and unsatisfactory So
luton of the yeXed political situation
in California. 1t is not likely, in the
present conditions of our politics, that
anybody the Governor might name
would be satisfactory to all, and the
probable effect would be to make a new
cause of political friction and irritation.
Nobody knows how the Governor feels
about it, for he has judiciously kept
his own council, but it is likely that
he will shrink from a course bound in
the very nature of things to yield
harvest of dissatisfaction and to plunge
his party into Commissions even deeper
than those by which it is already dis
tracted. He does not lack courage, as
his many vetoes of last winter bear
witness, and he will no doubt meet
whatever emergency comes with firm
disposition; but we can easily believe
that he would prefer that the Legis-
lature should attend to it's share Of
the public duty; and the choice of a
Senator is clearly a legislative rather
than an executive function. If the
Governor shah appoint-no matter vino
he may name-it will simply prolong the
fight of last winter and throw 1t into
the campaign of the coming year.. AL
ready this contention has given the
State a profound sense Of disgust, and
in spite of all, the large considerations
of the time there is a possibility that
it will give California a Democratic
Legislature next time. We will not say
that this would not be serving the Re-
publican party Of California as it de-
serves, and we will say that it would
be serving California worse than she
deserves if the State should come to be
represented at Washington by by a
Democrat. Above any other State in
the Union California is now interested
to sustain the policies of the Republi-
can party, for our interests, foreign and
domestic, are absolutely bound up in
these policies. 1t would be an outrage
beyond words and beyond repair if at
this crisis of the national life California
should be y brought through the
wrangling Of politicians to support in
the Senate the false economics the
anti-national spirit and the absurd per-
sonal leadership to which the Demo-
cratic organization now stands commit
ted And this is possible-not to say
probable-if to the confusions which
now rule in the Republican politics
there shall be added a new cause Of
irritation, and if the final selection of a
Senator shall be thrown over to a Leg
islature to be chosen next year. The
right way is always the best way. 1t
is the duty of the Legislature now in
Office to elect a successor to ex-senator
White for the full term ending in 1909
The better part of a year has gone by
since the disgraceful failure at Sacra-
mento. The members of the Legisla-
ture have had time for reflection and
the opportunity to study the public
will. They ought to be able to come
together in such a spirit of compromise
as would lead to generally satisfac-
tory result. Both public interests and
the interests of the Republican party
call for the putting aside of the passions
of last winter, and for a determined
effort to come together in the choice of
a Senator who would stand with the
Republican Administration in support
of those Republican policies whose en-
forcement is essential to the general
we'll being. Is there among the MEM
bers of the Legislature a spirit that
would lead to wholesome result, If