The record-union., 1899-01-17
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects Of Living News
Interest.

IHeSSdSe OF. Governor OdSe 10 iSSCisiA5
the hearty commendation of the Re
publican papers of the State, with few
exceptions, and has even called forth
words of praise from a number of hide
bound Democratic journals.
THE NEW GOVERNOR.
Oakland Tribune: That Henry Gage
will make a good Governor for Califor-
MIA every fair minded citizen in the
State should be willing to believe.
Throughout his campaign he showed
that he is made of the right kind OF
stuff, for no man was able to run
him." and when he was satisfied that
his way of doing any kind of PROPOSE
ton was the proper one, nobody could
swerve him from it. He will be an in
dependent, fearless Governor, and as he
is a man of ripe judgment and sound
common sense, he can be relied upon to
discharge the duties of his high office in
manner that will ba, conducive to the
best interests of the State.
OF LEGISLATION.
Oakland Enquirer: Over-legislation
is an evil, but increasing legislation is
something which is unavoidable, be-
cause the subjects of legislation are
Gage says, that simple laws work best,
but it is also true that such laws spring
out of a simple system Of society, and
the statute book cannot be very simple
where Industrial and social conditions
are complex, as they tend to become IN
every part of the United States. We
cannot get back to the simple, practical
legislation Of hundred years ago, be-
cause we cannot return to the prfmi-
tive ways of which those laws were a
reflection
GOVERNOR CAGES MESSAGE
Los Angeles Herald: Governor Cages
message is noteworthy for brevity of
text and expansiveness of ideas. 1t is
delightfully."- short. Whether this re-
suits from the Governors purpose to set
good example for other message max
ers, or whether it is because of present
lack Of acquaintance with the executive
Office, we have no means of knowing.
Nine-tenths of such messages are long,
dull and dreary; and fully half of them
are stupid. Governor Cages effort is
nothing of the kind. 1t is brisk in
style, concise and generally creditable.
1t is also modest in suggestion, differ
ing in this respect from many initial
messages, whose makers aim to i'm
press constituents with opinionated
ideas. The Governor admits a want
Of familiarity with his Office, alluding
to ''the official burdens thus early cast
upon me, and the brief time necessary
to acquaint myself with the details of
the various Offices etc. In the first
sentence of the message, however. he
evinces determination to give his best
energies to the State. He says: Faith
fully to fulfill the solemn duties i'm
posed upon me by the official oath just
administered is my unalterable pur-
pose" 1t is commendable resolution,
and will not be forgotten in the next
four years.
A PROPOSED FAIR.
Alameda Argus: We see there Is talk
Of great international fair to be held
in San Francisco in 1901 Such fair
would be good thing, and discussion
of it at this time is entirely reason
able. Action in the near future. how
ever, on a large scale will be necessary
if the project comes to anything. 1t is
to be feared that brains to manage it
will not be forthcoming. The success
Ol LIE NlHlGI = DIX HdS SAlIdOI
airy, taking everything into considera-
ton. But it is doubtful if the man
who managed that would take the su-
pervision of another, or If he would
have as great success if he did take it..
And there are not many men who can
get up a great exposition and make it
pay.
GENERAL SHAFTER AND HIS IRA
DUCERS.
Los Angeles Times: Ever since the
opening of the Santiago campaign Gen
eral Shafter has been subjected to per-
sonal criticism, misrepresentation and
vituperation Of a more or less ma
licious character. Even while the battle
of FL Caney was impending, disgruntled
newspaper correspondents were send
ing out disparaging accounts of the sit
uation, and were ignorantly criticising
the commanding officer, though in most
cases they were obviously as destitute
of a knowledge of military tactics as
they were of the courtesy and fair
treatment due to a commander in the
field, engaged in a most difficult and
hazardous undertaking. Chief among
the newspaper correspondents who per-
sistently attacked General Shafter was
Richard Harding Davis who incurred
the just displeasure of the General by
conduct which was both dishonorable
and unprofessional. Davis and other
correspondents. magnifying the minor
mistakes of the campaign and taking
advantage of the petty jealousies of
talkative subordinates and chronic
kickers in the service, succeeded in in
augurating campaign of disparage-
ment which has no doubt served to de-
tract, in some degree, from General
Skaters high reputation as a military
commander. But this effect will not
be permanent The impartial history
of the Santiago campaign, which is yet
to be written, will vindicate General
Shafter and will silence his detractors.
When all is said and done, military
achievements are measured, and justly
SO. chiefly by results. Judged by this
standard. the Santiago campaign was
one of the most brilliant ever fought
LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES.
Fresno Republican,: The Legislature
created a bad precedent in breaking
down the law limiting the number of
employees in the Legislature. Even a
small increase is an entering wedge for
more. If more employees were really
needed to do the work, they could cas-
lily have been placed on the temporary
roll by the consent Of four -ffths of the
members But we venture the guess
that If the entire routine service of the
Capitol building We're farmed out to one
man for a fixed price, he to find his
own help, he would do all the work
| with fewer employees than the minimum
fixed by law, and would find plenty OF
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