The San Francisco call., 1899-04-27
APPROACHING COLLAPSE.

he spectacle WElCn, at the age OF elgnty or
thereabouts the typical representative OF rail
road monopoly, Mr.. c. P. Huntington presents
to the American people demands public scrutiny. He
is not merely a disturbing influence in this
State but national menace. Born in Connecticut
raised in the atmosphere OF Amercansm transferred
10 California among the early pioneers, and with
business experience extending over sixty years. his
lie would naturally have eliminated in thorough de-
votion the institutions Of his country and to the
welfare OF his fellow citizens. But although possessed
OF large intelligence and OF magnificent opportunities
he has assumed the right, by every influence subver-
siye OF representative government to dominate the
interests and the communities with which he has been
associated
For thirty years, without concession or relaxation
he has and held his railroad enterprises in harsh
resistance to public opinion. He has acknowledged
no right that conaicted with his imperious will He
has persstenty sought fasten Asiatc cheap labor
upon the country and he is now openly endeavoring
to neutralize the exclusion laws by throwing his in
fuence in favor OF Asatic expansion. He has main
tanned firm opposition to all the small communities
in the State that could be injured by railroad strategy
and by railroad tyranny. He has strenuously OBJ
structed public justice and aimed to dominate the
legislative and executive departments of the State
and of the Federal governments. He has applied
such continuous pressure finance commerce, trade
manufacture, horticulture, all the industrial and
weathproducng factors that required transportation
facilities as to obstruct and retard natural progress
in every direction. His assumed dictatorship has in
cluded every phase of individual, social and political
lie
But all past assertions of his authority have now
been ecipsed AS the nineteenth century and his own
career approach their inevitable collapse he appears
to have fallen into that dogmatic excess which
-eJ +l,a a,.oe n 7 a
strenuous effort was made last year to place the re-
aticns OF the people and the railroad upon an
amic5 bic and enduring basis Pledges OF withdrawal
from political manipulation were authoritatively
made by Mr.. Huntington, through his factotum
William F. Herrin. When, however, after the cam
paign, based upon principle and openly and honestly
conducted, so far as the Republican press, the ma
;olity OF Republican candidates and the mass of Re
publican voters were concerned the ticket headed by
MIR. Gage was elected, the arrogance of Mr. Hun
tington became 50 intense and so conspicuous that it
soon degenerated into weakness The mask was en-
t1rey dropped. All DISCUSSES were thrown aside 1t
openly announced in effect that Mr.. Huntington
owned the State. He proposed and maintained the
candidacy of Dan Burns. He undertook to destroy
the freedom OF the press. He reduced the Railroad
Commission to possession. He occupied so much of
our water fornt as he desired upon his own terms
lie exercised the functions of sovereignty over the
Governor even to the extent of demanding the viola
ii n OF law by the appointment of the candidate re-
Jcc!ed by the Legislature to the Federal Sen
storshp.
In all these acts the will of Mr. Huntington was
exerted through the direct management of Mr.. Her
rim It is automatic that delegated authority fixes
responsibility on the principal But in the instance
before the entire series of treacheres and of die
tatorial assumptions has been personally ratified by
Mr. Huntington, who has used social opportunities
for that purpose and in measured and clear terms has
paraded his intention to permit restriction upon
his determination to enforce his rule upon the State
and the nation
It has been said that 'those whom the gods wish
to destroy they first make mad" Apparently this
stage has been reached by Mr. Huntington, whose
liberty must necessarily be crcumscribed in order
that the public safety may be protected