The San Francisco call., 1899-04-14

f1ict upon others an injustice against
which he, if he were interested, would
protest.
When the defeat of Dan Burns for
United States Senator was happily as
sured two measures began to receive
prominence in the Legislature. One
was the anti-cartoon bill and the other
makes it compulsory for newspaper
writers to use their signatures in publi-
cations. Both these measures We're
aimed against the independent
press. Both were inspired by the
Southern Pacific Company and both
were signed by Governor Gage. Under
these remarkable laws newspapers of
California will not be allowed to tell
the truth. BY the provisions of these
curious statutes newspapers dare not
expose the dishonest act of an in6i-
vidual or of a corporation except in a
way that will destroy the effect of the
expose. Public abuses, of which the
Southern Pacific Company is monu-
ment of shame, cannot be discussed
criticized or condemned without plac-
ing the newspaper daring enough to
undertake the task in jeopardy of a
punishment provided by law. In this
way and with this weapon the Southern
Pacific Company has opened its cam
paign to kill Independent newspapers.
The railroad company wants to elect
its own United States Senators, its
Governors, Legislators, commissioners
and Supervisors. The great corpora
tion wants to be the political dictator
of the State and it wants no criticism
of its policy. 1t wants to fix rates and
tariffs, bleed farmers, merchants and
producers, rob municipalities of privi-
leges that aggregate millions of dol
lars. More than this, the great corpo-
ration wants to ride rough shod over
the rights of private people, plumber
and even kill them and then with cor
rupt laws, corrupt courts and corrupt
administrations escape unscathed from
a punishment of its gigantic abuses.
This is why the Southern Pacific
Company does not wish to see unre-
stricted a publication of the truth.
The truth and not falsehood is what
the managers of the corporation fear,
so battle will be given to those that
dare tell the truth. When the anti-car-
tOon bill and the signature bill were
advanced toward adoption in the Leg
islature shrewd men suspected that
something more than the personal
venom Of a few discredited public Of
ficials was behind the measures. When
Governor Gage with undue haste made
these measures laws there was a strong
suspicion that something more than
his personal spite inspired his action.
The inspiration was in the yellow
building on Montgomery and Market
streets. The Southern Pacific Company
loves its friends and will protect them.
A bargain in bribery is dangerous.
under the law, for the briber as well
as for the bribed. One need not over
tax his memory 10 remember that there
have been serviceable Governors in
this State. If the Southern Pacific
Company. in the exercise of its multi
tude of affairs, should ever have occa-
sion to use a serviceable Governor. it
would be wise to possess the means to
protect such an official from honest.
public, newspaper criticism. Men
! cease to be serViceable after they are
exposed in their rascality, and to pro-
tect itself the Southern Pacific Com
pany will try to protect rascals from
the lashing of an honest press.
While the railroad company has gone
very far in its campaign against an
Independent press, it intends 10 so fur
ther. It is generally understood that
the Southern Pacific Company will use
every possible influence to secure the
enforcement of the iniQuitous measures
adopted and signed through railroad in
fiuence. If suits be instituted the
Southern Pacific COmDanv will give
secret assistance to those who bring
the actions. The battle promises to be
interesting-to the Southern Pacific
Company. 1t will be a contest to de-
termine whether the people of the
State shall be the prey of every pow
erful criminal influence or whether the
press will be permitted to lash. with
the criticism of truth, some of the evil
energy out of such corporate malefac-
tors as the Southern Pacific Company.