The record-union., 1899-02-22
VOICE OF The PRESS.
State and Coast Opinions ON SUBJ
jects Of Living News
Interest.

breaking out of a pestilence among our
troops now stationed in the Philippines
Nothing but a National disaster can
give the Democracy glimmer OF hope
of success in 1900. Topics does not
mean to intimate that Democrats would
welcome a scourge of our troops before
Manila, but if it should happen tney
would not be slow in making the most
of it politically, and yet there IS put
one thing to be done and that IS 10
take the chances, restore order, estap-
lish authority and erect government
OF some sort, although it cost heavily
in life and treasure.
SAMUEL IN A NEW ROLE.
Eureka Californian: AS the days pass
it becomes less and less apparent that
America will retain the Philippines. To
say nothing of the hostility developed
among Republicans that our proposeu
colonial system has evoked the oppo-
sition of the minority in Congress is IN
the main determined. President NC
Kinley is not pledged to imperialism.
He is by no means sure that it is what
the American people most desire. Last
year the country seemed more welded
to the idea. Reflections and invesiga-
ton are causing them to doubt the
wisdom of departure SO radical from
the precepts of our forefathers.
Besides. things are beginning to take
shape for next year. There is at hama
a great political campaign, and Repup-
lican leaders would regret to see that
ratification of the Treaty of Paris had,
in the eyes of the masses, committed
the party to imperialism. 1t is even
affirmed that in the event of Repubh-
can persistence in it's friendliness to ex-
pansion some of the most respected
members of the dominant party will
ally themselves next year with the
Democrats-proyided only the Demo-
Gratis will make opposition to imperial
ism ard expansion the issue.
AGAINST THE PRESS
Woodland Democrat: The Stockton
independent is criticising legislation
intended to hamper, cripple and pos
sibly legislate out Of existence the De-
partment Of Public Works, says: This
is the one State institution or commits :
sion that has served the people faith
fully, performed its whole duty and has
a record that is beyond criticism. In
fact, the success of it's operations has
silenced opposition completely"
PROVIDE FOR MACHINES.
San Jose Mercury: 1t is unfortunate
and inexplicable that almost no kind of
a measure that is essentially of merit
can be introduced in the Legislature
without having attached to it an ex
nj No oil r1Qcd1ccc
There are the ballot bills,
for example, which provide for making
a test Of ballot machines with the view
of the ultimate adoption of some one
for use in all the State elections. The
bills appear to be all right, with the
single exception of the accompanying
appropriations, but the latter are all
" rcng. Why should the State pay for
a practical test of machine whose in
ventor or owner desires to sell it, and
who, it he succeeds in so doing. will
make many thousands Of dollars by the
transaction? Business is not done that
way in ordinary business life.
WAR ON NEWSPAPERS.
Woodland Democrat: The lawyers in
the Legislature and in some of the
State Departments are making merry
war upon the newspapers. They begin
with a bill which if it ever should be-
come a law, practically puts the coun-
try new spapers at the mercy of every
and scoundrel in the coun-
try. Ne horest country editor objects
to being held responsible for whatever
he may write, but he does object to be-
ing subjected to unnecessary expense
and Inconvenience by men who have
no just cause of complaint, but who,
mourning any risk or liability,
will be authorized to use the State
courts to crafty personal spleen or
malice. The man who has just COM
plant of libel will not find any fault
With the law that requires him to fur
nish bond, as an evidence of good
faith, before beginning damage or
libel suit
NO MORE NORMAL SCHOOLS.
San Jose Mercury: The authors of
the bills establishing three more Nor
nal Schools in this State know, as well
IS every intelligent man and woman in
California knows. that there is not the
slightest demand or use for another
Normal School, but that on the con-
Lrary, there is at least one too many
now. AS shown by this paper a few
lays ago, the schools we have are turn
ing out teachers at the rate of from
100 to 500 a year, and there are in the
State fully LOO teachers who are
without employment. What nonsense,
hen, to pretend that these four schools
10 not suffice, and that others should
be built!
In the face of the patent fact that
there is a multitude of teachers, the
majority, if not all, of whom are well
qualified in every respect, for whom
there is no employment, representa-
tives of three separate counties have
the assurance to ask the taxpayers to
put up 100000 for constructing three
additional schools, and, should the
measures succeed, it would not take
ong for the half-million to stretch into
the millions, every dollar of which
would be worse than uselessly expend-
ed; for the effect would be to increase
oy some hundreds annually the large
army of teachers who see no prospect
Of ever being enabled to follow their
profession. The scheme for more
schools originates in the selfishness OF
individual communities, who wish to
have the credit and profit which at
taches to- town that possesses a State
Institution. The motive would not be
if there existed need for
other schools, but under the cIrcuin-
these bills are simply bold at
tempts to raid the Treasury, and the
passage of any one of them would be
q treacherous and disgraceful act on
the part of the peoples agents.
NEWSPAPER REWARD.
Woodland Democrat: Nobody ever
accused lawyers, as class, of excess
i've modesty in the matter of fixing