The San Francisco call., 1899-10-29
THE ENDORSEMENT OF WHEELER.

DROMPTLY and spontaneously the merchants
~ the manufacturers, the business men OF the
coast generally have rallied to the support OF
William R Wheeler, the Pacific Coast candidate for
the position of Interstate Commerce Commissioner.
The Endorsements have come from individuals, from
trade organizations OF various kinds, and from Cali
forna, Oregon and Washington alike The sneak
tactics OF the Southern Pacific Company to defeat
the desire Tor Commissioner from the coast having
been exposed by The Call, the people have taken
vigorous measures to battle them. The outlook for
success is now promising. For once at any rate the
Pacific Coast States united.
Mr. Wheeler was agreed upon for the Office by
the delegates representing Washington Oregon and
California at their conference in this city because
they recognized in him the who is best fitted to
fill the position and perform its duties. The mem
bers OF the conference knew their constituents wish
business man recommended for the place and acted
in accordance with the wish There was no intention
on their part to antagonze the Southern Pacific.
They seek from the Interstate Commission moth
ing that would infct any wrong that or
any other corporation. They were engaged in con
siderng all the interests of the coast and sought only
to promote the general good The opposition made
|
its own was due solely to that spirit of domination
which appears to animate Huntington in everything
and which prompts him to actions which show de
termination to rule to ruin the State.
Just as the railroad resolved that if it could not
elect to the United States Senate representative OF
the road rather than OF the State there should be no
Senator, it has determined to have from this
coast a railroad lawyer the Interstate Commerce
Commission or prevent the choice Of any man at all
from this coast. Such is the antagonism that has
been raised against Wheeler. From no other
source has there been manifested any opposition to
him at all The issue therefore, is between the coas,
and the Southern Pacific. 1t is the choice Of the
representative Of the business of three States
the representative OF Kentucky corporation doing
business in California solely for the purpose of i'm
posing upon its industries as heavy burden as the
traffic will bear.
The Senators and the Representatives in Congress
from the coast are expected in this issue to side with
the people and stand firmly for the candidate they
have put forward Assurances have been given from
all sides that business unit for Wheeler
He has been indorsed by associations which neve
before have recommended any candidate for politica
office. The support given him is as cordial in Lo
Angeles as in San Francisco, and in Oregon an,
Washington as in California 1t is, as was said by thu
Portland Oregonian last Wednesday when Mr.
Wheeer's selection by the conference was announced
The people OF the coast do not want politician
they want business who has not only knowl
edge of the details and principles of traffic, but il
also familiar with the necessities OF the coast Their
choice has fallen upon such man, and the unan
nous Endorsement OF so representative body O
men the executive committee of the Pacific Coas
Jobbers and Manufacturers Association is certainly
entitled to consideration"