The San Francisco call., 1899-03-25
A WORD TO MR.. HUNTINGTON.

irq settlement OF the difficulties between the railroad
and the public much embtered by the late deadlock
in the legislative joint convention. When the Repub-
can State Convention Of last year held and dur
inc the canvass that followed it was believed by con-
servative men that such opportunity had occurred
in many years for the obliteration OF old anmostes
and the restoration OF amcabe relations with the rail
road corporations. Congress had ended the con-
troversy over the debt due to the Government from
the Central Pacific Railroad Company and there was
no other practical issue open to interfere with the
intelligent cooperation OF the railroad and the peo
pie that the interests OF this and OF the nation
demanded and especially in view of the approaching
transfer of the scepter OF from the Atlantic
to the Pacific In 1896 the Chicago platform had in
troduced species OF demagogsm that the solid
citizens OF the country successfully resented In 1898
with platforms that attacked the vital principles
in our American institutions, the fusion candidates
and their organs concentrated upon loud and un1ean-
ing clamor against the railroad The opportunity thus
furnished promptly seized. The local railroad
authorities distinctly announced their complete and
final withdrawal from politics. The announcement
did not mean that any class OF citizens should be i'm
peded in their political action, but it did mean and
was accepted as meaning that the railroad had ceased
its efforts to dominate municipal and State govern
ment and, for its protection, would rely upon
its conceded equality before the law.
1t was on these lines that the Republican victory in
California was achieved But without any reasonable
cause and with an actual proclamation OF treachery,
the candidacy of Dan Burns lnaugurated and the
most disgracefu struggle that has been witnessed
in America prolonged until it ended in the loss OF
Federal Senator the State, but in the triumph OF
the Republican party
Why the railroad wanted Dan Burns unless to dis
play its absolute authority and to disrupt the Repub-
lican organization it is difficult to conceive. While
Mr. Huntington and its other chief owners and its
officers are together it is only proper but essen
tial that they examine the situation and dehne their
future intentions Our people and the solid press OF
the State have never indorsed fanatca and personal
attacks upon railroad proprietors and upon railroad
interests. They have scarcely been amused by the
coarse brutalities and insulting carlcatures through
which the Examiner has simulated independence
did not actually possess and curried favor among
the lower strata of population. Mr. Huntington, 1t
must be admitted is one OF the ablest in the
country identified with practical business for almost
sixty years There is inclination to dlsparage him
personally among who represent intelligence and
weghty public opinion There is sentiment any
where able to control election that is in favor OF
cinchng the railroad depriving If OF one Jot or
title of its rights or OF conscang its property to the
amount of dollar OF infcting any injury upon It's
owners, its officers or its employees.
IS, q
absolutely prevail as it has already prevailed in the
Senatorial contest that the railroad shall be con-
tented with fair treatment and with equality before the
law and that it shall not substitute itself for the gov
ernment and dictate official selection and executive
legislative and judicial action. 1t IS this determlna
ton expressive OF all upon which The Call and other
independent papers, with the community behind them
have insisted, that, upon reflection and upon wise
calculation OF chances, the gentlemen who control the
railroad may deem it wise to respect. The pledge OF
non-interventon in the last campaign ought to have
been unnecessary, but it demanded and 1t was
made, in form and with solemnity that bound the
railroad The pledge was undoubtedly broken and
conflict initiated that has hurt the State while the in
jury was reduced to the minimum through the integ
rity OF the majority OF Republican Legislators. Where
the individual responsibility for this treachery is to
be fastened do not attempt to determine. 1t
must rest somewhere 1t attaches the railroad
itself through its political managers. Whether it has
the Endorsement OF Mr.. Huntington and OF other pro-
prietors OF railroad interests it is for them to settle
and the sooner the better There few facts that
cannot be disputed. The Republican party will not
be run by the railroad 1t will reject the bad in
fuenccs that clustered about Dan Burns. It will in
sist upon entering the important campaign OF 1900
without nanaces on its hands or letters its
ankles 1t will represent the State and the nation
with all the responsibility and dignity that such
representation implies, and its leaders will be the
actual products of the times and not the indecent pro-
trusions from corrupt and low politics.
These railroad gentlemen should remember few his
torical facts and should also realize present conditions
They owe much to the nation, but more to the State
Let them look back to 1861 and examine the account
between themselves and the public Their tremen-
dous accurnulatons of which only the anarchists or
the unphilosophical socialists would deprive them,
have been principally derived from the sweat and the
toll of the masses. Half million dollars probably
represented the combined resources OF the original
corporators of the Central Pacific The nation, the
State municipalities, contributed to the original sue
cess OF the enterprise. The people have been contrib
uting ever since. Consider what the Central Pacific,
outside OF some land grants OF comparative insignif
cance has produced. 1t has built all the tributary
railroads that perfect the State system. 1t has
structed and equipped the Southern Pacific Railroad
+ba Railroad II has produced the Stan