The record-union., 1899-02-23
A Political Crime.

A Political Crime.
Eds. Record Union: Isn't the fall
ure of the majority of our California
legislators to elect a United States Sen
ator a political crime against the Re-
publican party of this State and wan
ton and inexcusable disregard OF the
wishes of their constituents, regardless
of party Affiliations?
Should the present Legislature fall
to elect a United States Senator-whch
election was made the paramount issue
of the last campaign, and upon winch
issue a large majority of Republicans
We're chosen as legislators-Wln hot
such failure be interpreted to mean that
the Republican party cannot be reileo
upon to perform the plairest ana most
sacred duties devolving- upon 1t? VIII
not those who desire to see the over
throw of the Republican party proclaim
from every rostrum and through every
available newspaper column that the
Republican party dared not choose any
one of its avowed aspirants for the po-
sition of United States Senator for fear
of popular condemnation from the peo-
pie, nor were the legislators free agents
enough to turn against candidate
from whom they had perhaps received
considerations in the past or expectan-
cies for the future?
The people of this State are beginning
to seriously doubt the honesty of mo-
tive ON the part of legislators who stand
in the way of breaking the Senatorial
deadlock, which they believe is so over
shadowing other duties of legislation
that the best interests of the State are
suffering injury thereby One can
hear on every hand reasons advanced
as to why the deadlock has not been
broken. These reasons vary. to some
extent, perhaps, according to personal
feelings of the speakers toward the
candidates he chances to favor. One
will say: 1.-The legislators have not yet
got all they can out of this or that as
pirant'; they dare not go against the
wishes and dictates of the bosses .;
there are yet others who have the Sen
atorial bee .buzzing in their hats, who
have lots of ducats with which to in
spire legislators to think they are
statesmen worthy the Senatorial toga,"
ETC., etc. But motives of patriot
ism are not apparently thought of in
this connection.
While each and all of these views
may be an injustice to those who stub
bornly refuse to make honorable con-
cessions for the purpose of breaking the
deadlock and settling on a party choice
whose election would be certain and
without delay, yet the fact that such
views are growing in popularity ought
to cause our representatives to con-
slider the matter as reasonable men, and
as patriotic and loyal members Of the
party which they should honorably rep
resent
The question for Republicans in the
Legisla ture to decide-and to decide
without further delay-is: to do, or not
to do. If they intend to elect a United
States Senator they ought to do so at
lonce. and not subject themselves to the
criticism of bleeding candidates and
befogging legislation in the interest of
"boodling' and. 'cinch" bills If they
do not wish to choose a Senator, and
thereby make Republican success I'M the
future an impossibility, all they have
to do is to continue just as they have
since the balloting for Senator first be-
gan. If the latter course is pursued the
entire Republican party will be held
responsible for a, criminal neglect of
duty. 1t behooves the party in every
part of this State to demand of its leg
islators action on their part, which is
OF vital Importance to the party-ab-
solutely necessary to its future suprem-
acy in California-and of the greatest
moment to the State and nation.
There has been but one solution to
the unfortunate problem offered or sug
gested. believe there is no other. And
that is the holding of party caucus.
There is no reason why the majority
comprising such caucus could not
within the next twenty-four hours Sc
lect suitable and satisfactory nominee
of the party, and within the next twelve
hours have him declared the duly elect
ed Senator for California. Such nom
inee need not of necessity, nor by any
rule of courtesy. be any of the candi-
dates heretofore mentioned or voted
for, unless some such candidate is
the known choice of the Repub-
lican party. If any candidate named
is the party's choice, the sooner
he is elected the better If none
of the candidates are satisfactory
to the party, then the sooner they are
kicked out of the ring, and represent
alive Republican statesman selected,
the earlier can we feel that the Re-
publican party has not been fatally
stabbed by its trusted servants.
1t is time to warn those Republican
members who will not act within rea-
son and for the salvation of their party
that If they persist in their fatal course
they VIII be held personally responsible
for the consequences SO far as future
party consideration is concerned.
I have not heard how a, caucus can be
held in the interest of any Individual
candidate or scheme. When the trusted
Republican Legislators. representing the
party from every county in the State.
meet in caucus, I believe they can be
trusted 1 know they can if they are
honest. and there is no reason for believ-
ing that the friends of any one Senator
ial candidate is any more or less hon.
est than the friends of other candi-
dates. If the caucus sees fit to elect
Mr.. Grant, let it do so; if it chooses
Mr.. Burns. well and good: if Mr..
BARNES or Senator Bulla is chosen, the
people cannot complain. If any other
iS the choice will