The record-union., 1899-12-11

business men, is vague, indefinite ana
almost meaningless because of uncer-
tainty, it is suggested that the grange
by the action it has taken, has dl-
rectly promised to violate the law
which forbids candidates for the Leg
islature or the Board Of Supervisors
from making any such pledge or prom
Use, and which also forbids any per-
son demanding or soliciting any such
pledge or promise. (Stat. 1897, p. 53)
We are not at all taking into account
the justice of the demand Of the grange.
1t may be that the salaries paid Off
Gals in San Joaquin County are too
high; that the necessary ability Tor
proper discharge of official duty can
be secured for much less; it may be
that there should be general reduc-
ton of salaries in order to conserve the
interests of tax payers; and it is per-
fectly certain that were the salaries
cut in two, there still would be clouds
of candidates for the places.
These questions involve consideration
of what is true economy in the conduct
of public affairs, of the capacity of tax
payers to bear the burdens of govern
ment. and of other essentials-the sim
pie question is one of the law, ana
whether the grange proposes to defy it,
and to make the candidates who take
the pledge and are elected, incapable OF
taking their seats in the Legislature.
since that is the penalty for the viola
ton of the law.
The grange should consider other
methods of attaining the ends it desires.
For instance, the law itself points out
that it shall not have application to
pledges required by or taken before
convention nominating the candidate,
or to those signing a certificate of NOM
ination. If the grange wishes to pro-
coed effectively and lawfully, it should
direct its labors to the selection of del
egates to the nominating conventions
which are to name the candidates.
The law, in short, was passed for the
express purpose OF preventing exac-
tons by, and pledges to associations,
clubs and organization outside of the
conventions through which candidacy
Is announced.
1t had a wise purpose, and is really
promotive Of good, freeing the candi
dates from intimidation, the raid of
81, ;1a1 10 fhaY1
and above all to free them in large
part of the chicane of lobbyists who
traffic in legislative votes, buy and sell
legislators very often without their
knowledge, trade strength on bills, and
by exaction, pledge and intimidation.
play havoc with legislation.
Likewise the law was intended to free
candidates from the conflicting and
multitudinous exactions of hosts of as
sociations and organizations having
special ends to promote by legislation.
1t has been common experience that
candidates for the Legislature have
found themselves between the fires Of
so many associations demanding
pledges, exacting promises and threat
ening opposition, that there was moth
ing for 1t, but to leave the field or sink
conscience in a mental resolve to ig
more all prediction promises.
1t seems to US that the right prin-
ciple is expressed in the law, that it
is best for the interests of all the peo-
pie that legislators should go up to
the sessions free handed and unpledged,
except to the platforms upon which
they have been nominated Better
men aspire under such a system and
better results follow. The Lodi grange
must change the method of its plan if
it hopes to accomplish anything, for if
it waits until men are nominated, and
then demands a pledge to reduce sal
aries it will be confronted by the law
we have quoted, and find that it has
failed of it's purpose, and rendered the
agents of its demand criminally liable.