The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-06
OUR BRoaD-GAUGE GOVERNOR.

OOK BNOHD-OAOOC OOVEr\iiON.
is the fashion OF the press refer to our present
Governor as narrow gauge: Some misappre-
hension is liable to result from this inference In
respect to his intellect is correct But the road on
which he travels is strictly the broad gauge that
leadeth to destruction"
The Governor bothers himself very little about the
State Capitol but seeks and finds variety the tracks
OF the Southern Pacific Company. Just now he is on
his way to Yosemite and when he enters that valley,
cleft out OF solid rock, and observes the exquisite
beauty and purity of the Bridal Veil, the tumultuous
nagnhcence OF the larger falls and the silent
grandeur OF the sentinel mountains that appropriately
ypiiy broad gauge country, he may perhaps be en-
abed for once to comprehend his littleness And
if from the top OF Clouds Rest he should look down
perpendiculary for 1000 feet the smiling landscape
beneath he may succeed in realizing the sensations
OF corrupt politician who foolishly imagines that
he reach the eysum OF ambition by fatal drop.
H has left behind him the other twin OF his heav-
emily combination work the legislative lead for the
Federal Senatorship during his absence. But he
RES with him abundant food for reflection. Among
other things, he go the long sequence OF his
appointments to determine whether IN any given in
stance he has broken the smooth record of his ODE
dience to the railroad, and for moment even pre-
tended to renew his allegiance to the people. He
ci MS thralldom to induce than temporary dis
gust.
The Call on Sunday last furnished him with
materials for thought It had previously notified the
public that as Ulysses S. Grant at least temper
arly out OF the way if the railroad executive could
discover enough votes to elect Daniel NJ. Burns he
would promptly relieve himself OF the personal re-
sponsbility OF appointment and discover some
pretext for an extra session so to invest his Sen
atorial choice with the additional dignity OF having
largely increased the burdens OF taxpayers. This
ditional prediction the Governor resented, and in
proof OF its naccuracy said Il only need cite the
incorrect announcements OF the executive appoint
ments that paper has made from time to time"
The Governors statement being absolutely false,
the inference was that he rather intended convey
the impression that if possible he would fulfill our
last qualified prediction In order that the public
might observe his recklessness, as evidenced by a
remarkable series of fulfilled announcements in
its issue Of Sunday The Call gave a detailed account
OF its principal successes in this department OF proph-
ecy Under specific dates and with literal quotations
it proved that in some mysterious way it had sub
stanaIly anticipated nearly every executive appoint
that has been made this year. The list was
formidable and included his private secretary, the
executive secretary the stenographer the secretary Of
the State Board OF Examiners three members OF the
Board OF Health, the Warden of San Quentin the
Registrar OF Voters, the Highway Commissioners,
various other officers and two Code Commissioners,
whose appointment for the moment deferred will
complete the present list
AS The Call is under the gubernatoral ban its in
formation, apparently marvellous in its verify, must
have been derived from some other source The
heavenly twin, momentarily wrenched from his
alter ego, was undoubtedly perplexed and may even
have regretted his premature contradiction OF fact
that no one could know so thoroughly as himself But
if he will remember that the railroad and Burns arc
he easily deduce the conclusion that exceptin
such rare instance as the selection OF w w Foote
for OF the Paris Commissioners, it was only
necessary to discover whom the railroad and Burns
wanted for each position, and if there were two or
three with whom they had coquetted which of them
preferred and the basis for calculation was prac-
tically complete
The Governor has provided for his own Los An
gees force, who probably acceptable to the
powers he serves He has taken care OF the friends Of
Dan Burns including Legislative voters for that I'M
speakable aspirant for Senatorial honors He is giving
the State its first avowed railroad administration He
is not our first executive to deceive or betray the
people. and especially the who elected him. or
10 violate his pledges but the first whose treacherv
has been open and confessed In the Yosemite Val
ley he will have fine chance to analyze his own re-
vealed character by the study OF the mingled OBJ
snacy and stupidity of the mule, animal useful in
its place but untitled for the higher civilization of ed
ucated quadrupedS