The record-union., 1899-01-13

which all cand10ateS have been pledged
by their party platforms
GOOD HORSES WANTED.
Petaluma Argus: Our exchanges from
levery direction agree that the demand
for the better class Of horses is greater
than the supply, which Is leading di-
rectly up to horse famine, when
farmers generally will wish they had
some good horses to SELL Scrubs do
not count; the price cannot advance for
the common small horses, for the mar
kets do not require that class Of horses
any more. We have but few horse cars
to use up cheap horses and mules. The
markets want better horses, more size
and quality in city draft horses, and
more size, style, beauty and knee ac-
ton in carriage and coach horses AS
times improve prices will advance ac-
cording to the natural laws Of supply
and demand. Extreme speed in run
ming and trotting horses brings good
paying prices, but breeding for extreme
speed is too much Of lottery game for
the ordinary man to indulge in.
DIVERSIFIED FARMING.
Dixon Tribune: We have been taken
to task for our advocacy Of diversified
farming and the consequent division Of
large land holdings, by a gentleman
who is prominent in farming operations
and who is an admirer of the one-crop
plan. The one-crop idea and the en-
couragement of the retention of lands
in large tracts has long since been re-
cognized as unhealthy to the growth
and prosperity of the town or commun-
ity that is compelled to rely upon the
system. To bear US out in the state
ment that the subdivision of lands and
the cultivation of variety of crops in
sures for the vicinity in which the plan
is in operation an increased population
and prosperous condition of affairs, it
is only necessary to call the attention
of our friend to the places where such
conditions exist, viz, Riverside, Orange,
Santa Clara and other counties.
PURE FOOD BUREAU.
San Jose Mercury: The Manufactur-
ers' and Producers Association will at
tempt to have a bill passed by the Leg
1slature creating bureau for the in
speetion of foods, and for enforcing the
law against frauds and authorizations.
The bill should be defeated. The bu-
reau, which would cost the State not
less than $4,000 year, is not needed.
The pure-food laws are explicit, and
the provision for their enforcement is
sufficiently plain and simple This State
has too many costly bureaus and com
missions, and the number should be
reduced instead of increased. Let US
have less bureaus and salaried boards
Of commission, and better enforcement
of the present laws.
LA GRIPPE.
Alameda Argus: 1t is interesting to
read, in view of the grip-wave that is
spreading over the land, that a French
savant has announced that this is q
disease Of civilization, and, what is
still more unusual, of cities. He says
that it had its genesis in St. Petars-
burg at g time when the snow was al
lowed to accumulate all the filth Of the
roadways, and, sudden thaw coming
on, the stored dirt generated the new
disease. He declares that it never
starts de novo in the country, and that
1t wreaks its worst effects in the cities
Whether or not this is fanciful idea.
it has been established that epidemics
of grip are usually associated with GER
tain conditions of the atmosphere ard
that the mortality is greater in the
crowded centers. The one popularity
that is attracting attention is that its
visitations always result in the death
of number of valuable citizens who
are we'll advanced In life The chances
Of escape from pneumonia when the
victim has passed the age of so are
said to be one in five. Youth generally
fights 1t off, but the veteran succumbs.
It is this fact that has led to meet
ing of British experts at MARLBOROUGH
House, under the direction of the Prince
of Wales. to take into consideration the
extra precautions that should be OBJ
served by men and women who are no
longer young.
SWEPT OFF ITS FEET.
MERGED Star: William J. Bryan's
anti-expansion utterances are making
him very unpopular among q great
many leaders Of the Democratic party.
and a large number Of leading Demo-
cratic organs which have always been
enthusiastic supporters Of Bryan In the
past, are now loud in their opposition
to him as the Presidential candidate in
1900 on account Of the unpopular stand
he has taken In fact the Democratic
party has never before found itself so
much in need of principle that will
strike a responsive chord in the hearts
OF the American people as at the pres
emit time. The great popularity of Nc
kinley and the most gratifying re-
suits OF the inauguration of Republic