The record-union., 1899-02-13
Weather Forecast.
PARTY TRAITORS TO BE HELD
RESPONSIBLE.


that the Senatorial deadlock should
cease, and traditional party methods be
employed to ascertain the choice OF the
majority of Republican legislators, has
occasioned a wonderful stir in political
circles; it has had the effect of calling
a halt in the program that was to rob
California of her righ.ful representation
in the United States Senate.
AS was expected, there has been
deal Of sneering and intimation and
some feeble assault upon the motives OF
the Record Union" on the part OF
journals which have selfish purposes
to conserve in promoting the deadlock
condition. None of these intelligences
rise or ever have risen-with now and
then an exceptional instance, in Which
they went right" because it was next
to impossible to go wrong-to the con-
ception of questions political from the
standpoint and upland of statesman
ship. The horizon of journalistic con-
Germ sin their cases is lowered and lin
itedst to their own immediate sphere of
daily gain and notoriety.
What the Record Union" has de-
manded, in the name Of the sincere and
loyal Republicans of this State, is sim
pie reason, justice and exercise of good
political sense. There is behind 1T no
other motive than promotion OF the
best interests of the party and the
State. The justice, simplicity and per-
feet fairness of its demand are SO
strong, so irresistible and convincing,
that the obstructive and self-sufficient
press and sensation mongers are driven
to the resort of the insincere and cow
ardly, the assault upon motive. The
Record Unions proposition stands
upon its merit. On that it alone must
remain or fall. It is not iconoclastic,
novel. strange or startling = the more
the wonder that the obstructionist
press should discover in it something
marvelously cunning and sensational.
What has the Record Union" said,
advised or demanded? Just this: that
the dominant party in the Legislature,
representing the overwhelming voice OF
the people of California, shall no longer
permit State interests to be sacrificed
and State legislation delayed by this
deadlock on the Senatorial question;
that traditional party methods, ap-
proved in a thousand times of trial and
stress, as well as oftener in the ord1-
nary ascertainment of party will, shall
be employed; that the members OF the
party shall, in the common interest,"
and ITO prevent the possible vacation of
which it is vital to CALIFORNIA; interests
shall be filed when Stephen NJ White
retires from it, shall counsel together,
openly vote upon the question OF VINO
shall be the party choice for Senator,
and manfully and honorably stand by
the decision, no matter what 1t shall
be-
Our proposition is wise or erroneous
for reasons independent Of the propo-
nent of the idea. the personality or am
bitions Of any candidate, or the prom
ises and pledges of any legislator. II
there is in it any single suggestion of
unwisdom, let it be pointed out, rather
than devote time and waste energy
in assaults upon the journal that sug
gests 1t. The weakness of a cause is
never more apparent than when its
supporters enter upon courses of abuse
and ivituperation of its opponents. The
reason of a cause is never greater than
is borne upon its back; its strength
never more than that which resides in
its reason.
Upon that proposition we submit that
the demand for party council, an open
vote and adherence to the rule of the
ford to go forth for the judgment of the
people of California Legislators, cam
didates. candidate trainers, political
manipulators and jockeys dare not defy
the judgment of the Republicans of
California upon that proposition. Let
them look now to the Republicans at
home for approval, or for their polit-
ical winding sheets.
A dominant majority that can take
time and expend gravity and sore con-
Germ over a caucus upon the allotment
of the position of a rear porter or the
dispensation Of patronage among
pages in knickerbockers, can scarce
afford to return to its constituency with
miserable excuses for failure to take
counsel with itself concerning the rep
resentation of the State in the loftiest
legislative body of the nation.
1t viii receive scorn and lashing If
1t attempts to justify further refusal
to adopt for the conclusion of this
costly, obstructive. irritating and gem
orally discreditable deadlock, the COM
mon, wise and traditional methods of
the party organization, and thus ex-
clude from further participation in the
party concerns the enemies of the or
ganization who for all practical pur-
poses sit daily In the councils of the
party, secretly chuekling over the novel
situation that makes them partici-
pants in the management of the affairs
Of their political enemy.
The sRecord- Union freely expressed
itself upon the whole subject on Sat-
urday. It was exhaustive Of it then.