The record-union., 1899-04-21

ciary of our State or nation, and when
the large daily papers, which, we must
admit, have more or less influence with
the people, and to a certain extent ed
ucate public sentiment, combine to de-
feat the law that was evidently passed
with the best of intentions to protect
the public from the scandalous abuse
that was heaped on some of our people
by the same papers when they did not
do as these papers dictated to them,
it is time for every man to stand UP
and support it. Many times have pa
pers with circulations up into the thou
sands printed articles that by insinua-
ton and innuendo have caused finan-
cial wrecks, broken homes and blasted
hopes, and all this without. taking any
chances of being punished, for the rea-
son that the law of libel can be easily
overcome in many courts by the fear
of political death. The victim can
easily deny positive statements, but his
voice reaches very few, and he goes
down with a blasted reputation because
he cannot find the individual that has
struck him. The editor says he did
not write the article and refuses to give
the name of the person that did, and
the poor victim cannot get any redress.
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
Redlands Facts: Prohibitionists can
not feel very greatly encouraged over
recent returns from Massachusetts,.
That State, as is well known, has
very high percentage of intelligent, edu-
Gated men and women. 1t once had
prohibitory law, which was succeeded
hx- ion rr-1,i tO-
day Recently the towns voted on eli
cense or no license" Staid old Wor-
cester County occasioned some sur
prises. License j. gained three towns.
Outside of the large cities, the SS1 ma
jority against license of 1898, was
changed to So majority for license last
month. For the first time in its his
tory the old town of Hubbardston
Topped to the license side
BAD NEWSPAPER POLICY.
Santa Rosa Republican,: The Presi-
dent, Vice President and most of the
stockholders of the Southern and Cen
trail Pacific Railroads are in California.
They came a few days Ago to attend
the annual meetings of these great cor
porations. This is their privilege and
the management of their properties
seem to require their occasional COM
ing here. They own or control nearly
all the railroad lines of the northern and
central portions of the State and should
naturally feel an interest in the welfare
and prosperity of the commonwealth.
The returns from their property are
largely dependent upon California pro-
ductions and shipments If we do a
large business the railroads are sure to
be prosperous. When failure overtakes
US their receipts are reduced. We are
interested in having them obey the laws
and promote the desirable interests of
the State. 1t would seem that the own
ers of these railroads should be per-
mitted to come here to transact the
business of their corporations and be-
come better acquainted with the State.
its needs and possibilities, without being
DETAINED by lot of newspaper scullions.
They are men of commanding influence
in monetary affairs. They own and
control many millions of dollars not in
vested in California property-money
that most people would like to have put
into business enterprises here. But
there is no disposition to cultivate their
friendship. On the contrary a corrupt
and venal metropolitan press, that has
been purchasable in the past and doubt
less has its price to-day is doing all in
its power to promote animosity between
the railroad people and the residents
of California. This may be business for
such newspapers but it is not going to
do the State any good. Such course ii