The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-01
THE PARTY aND THE SENATOR

bers OF the Legislature simply developed that
Burns is not the choice of the party, and that he
alone stands in the way of making that choice. 1t
was further developed that not even his own hackers
dared declare that his election would be Endorsed by
party victory in the State next year.
Republicans are aware that the party has MAJOR
ity and large one in the next Senate though all the
States yet in deadlock should leave vacant the seats
that are being contested Nebraska, Delaware Penn
sylvania and California leave theft four seats va
and affect the parys interests in the Senate
of the coming Congress 1t is felt by the best SEN
tinent in the party in Delaware, Pennsylvania and
California that the only peril ahead IS IN the election
of Addicks Quay and Burns
The party here took high and manly ground last
year in affirming its independence of railroad in
huence and its firm purpose justify the confidence
which it asked the people to give it. No voter IN its
ranks suspected for a moment that any OF its candl-
dates were bound by any private obligation or prom
Use which was out OF line with that position 1t was
an unpleasant revelation that such obligations
had been assumed by any who sought votes by
taking public position exactly opposite to the pri-
vate bargain.
That it was the intention OF Burns that these Sc
cret obligations should be secretly discharged under
cover of caucus is now plain to all who will fairly
see the situation. The partys great prize was to be
drawn bindfold and its bestowal was arranged IN a
manner repugnant to the party's wish and Will and
destructive to its future Seeing this, the best repre-
sentaves of the party refuse to sanction the secret
discharge of personal obligations by the legislators
which, known and made public before election,
would have defeated the party last fall This IS the
memorable logic of the situation From it there is no
escape Let men think for moment. II the cand1-
dacy OF Burns were so revolving that to have made
public would have brought party defeat what is to
be expected next year if that candidacy is now sue
cessful through the secrecy of a caucus ?
Instead of becoming reconciled to it the party is
more in rebellion against it now than when 1t was
first made public last December. None OF its objec-
tionable features has been mtgated or softened
They have all been heightened and emphasized,
The persistent attempt of the Southern Pacific
Railroad to give the lie the partys solemn decara
tions has reused the feeling of resistance There is
no desire to make reprsals against that corporation
by any policy OF annoyance or injustice but there is
firm determination to show that it is not the die
tator of the Republican party OF California.
That party met and vanquished the united forces OF
sandlotism upon its declaration that the charge OF
railroad domination of its action was false. Surely
it is i'll requtal OF manly fight and great victory
for the railroad to push Burns and SO file public
proof that what the sandlotters said true
In our judgment, which is that of every good prin-
cipled Republican in the State, there is way only
in which the party can file claim to future conf
dence and can deserve future success and that is by
- +ta
untitled We are perfectly well aware OF the threat
that is out that if this is done the railroad will avenge
itself by helping the Democrats carry the State next
year The way to this revenge is already open in the
apparent alliance between Burns and the Examiner,
ard therefore between that paper and the railroad.
But Republicans must not forget that the
last election by solemn1y pedgng the people that the
party was not under the suzerany and control of the
railroad and we can win the next only by making
that solemn pledge true.
Let the railroad and Burns go to the enemy if they
wish They cannot do it and escape detection Their
secret agreements in this Senatorial contest have all
been exposed and secret treaty cannot escape pub
licty
We hold it to be the right OF Democrat in the
railroad company to vote his party ticket and OF
Republican to do the same But we deny the right OF
the railroad regardless of party principles throw
its whole weight to any party to secure its own
porate advantage or to wreak corporate revenge.
Let the Republican party refuse now and forever
the ratification in its and through its nstru-
mentality OF any secret bargain the discharge OF
any secret Obligation and its lease OF power will not
terminate 1t can lose in the future only by subject
ing itself to base uses now.
tIUrVr,xE