The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-07
THE CAUCUS TRICK.

State bv their determination to force his election,
even though it should wreck the Republican party,
have declared their intention to continue the dead
lock at Sacramento unless their kind OF caucus is
held These gentlemen elected from Assembly
and Senatorial districts, one OF which tolerates
their choice, and every vote they have cast was a
breach of their representative Obligations They in
struced Senator Perkins to vote for the treaty OF
Paris and against his personal convictions he obeyed
the instruction But they have arrogantly and con-
tunlaciously asserted the right to disregard the
voices of the communities from which they came, to
instructions pieces and to crafty their pri-
inclinations, in whatever controlled, IN
direct opposition to public sentiment.
The word caucus" is generally used as des1g-
nation of political gatherings TO discuss party
measures. 1t is proposed to twist its sig
rifcation into method OF securing unanimous
and secret Endorsement OF incompetent and dis
9raced candidate for Senatorial honors in such man
that the responsibility shall fall upon an en-
tire party and on individual legislators. 1t is
we'll that Republicans throughout the State, who
among its most entcrprising, intelligent and hon
ored citizens, shouli be formally appraised of the
treatment to which is designed to subject them at
The bidding OF the railroad But they too indie
pendent and too recent, and they have too much
pride in the history and the achievements OF the poll
teal organization to which they are attached, by the
lie of principle and not of pelf to submit to de-
berate act of treachery that could not be con5um-
mated in the face OF day without secret mani
pulaton of the most dishonorabe No man TT
to be Senator OF the United States could endure the
situation over which Dan Burns fendishly gloats
With antecedents to recommend him, called Tor by
no substantial portion OF his party, and indeed, out
side of the Legislature, almost unanimously repu-
dated because he has the railroad push and the Ex-
he he has
ton and threatened in terms deprive the State OF
Que representative in the upper house OF Congress-
and thus to insure the defeat OF the party unless the
prolonged intrigue his behalf is successful his
bareaced assumption is that he can turn his minority
into majority if new recruits only be saved from
personal identification.
Out respect for the Legislature forbids us to anti
cpate anything less than the ignomnlous failure OF
this last and most abomnabe effort to debase the
Republican party and place in the attitude OF pro-
claiming its own shame by accepting the railroad
fasehoods during the last and the candidacy
it failed to disclose until after the election. These
twenty-seven Senators and Assemblymen in their
manifesto which amounts almost to threats and to
nenaces within the definitions OF the Civil Code, ap
peal to representative institutions supplying the
logical reason for the conspiracy they label as de-
mand for caucus. This stuff is unworthy Of de-
bate in corner grocery. When they advocate Burns
whom do they represent? Do they represent the
citizens who elected them? Do they represent their
own families or their neighbors? Do they repre-
sent the intelligence, the educated citizenship, the
manhood, the honor of the State? If they do, the
evidences OF these facts scintil1a of which has
so far been offered to the public eye or the public
ear without caucus can be dsnected and produced.
Do they represent the railroad? II they do and that
they do is ndisputabe, they would not dare to avow
that unspeakable dishonesty as vindicaton OF the
representative idea of their fidelity to Republican
principles or to Republican policy. 1t takes sixty
votes as the Legislature is constituted if all the
members are present, to elect Senator If through
a majority of caucus, minority OF both houses,
thirty-three votes, should be added to the twenty
seven and by this papabe fraud, against the will OF
the Republican party and the people as whole, Dan
Burns should be chosen, whom would the sixty repre-
sent and at what point would the representative prin-
cple come in? II majority OF Legislature, which
is the immediate constituency of a Federal Senator,
can disregard their pledges and their constitutional
votes and by secret, unofficial meeting convert that
minority into ma GRITTY It IS too plain Tor argument
that the principle OF representation is trodden into the
dirt and the fundamental theory of American institu
tons contemptuousy violated No chop logic
brazen defamation overturn this proposition.
There is not sentence in the manifesto that IS true
or even plausible. Its bold assertions could not de-
ceive child 1t falsely paTades ignorance stuplolty
and venalty as the leaven that raises Republicans
to distinction 1t is the edict of the railroad
its last resort when other have failed to justify
its rampant inebrety by driving its incompetent and
characterless agent like wedge into the body OF the
Senate and by pushing the beaten Democracy far into
the road toward victory
This spectacular exhibition, fortunately for the
country, has never before been equaled. Why not
elect Crimmins or Kelly or even Buckley? Any OF
them would be as acceptable Dan Burns to the
citizens of California who would prefer, however, and
have often demanded, the prompt selection of Re
publican statesman and gentleman.
n DNIR an THE ACIIPV