The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-20

Why Deadlock Must be Broken.
From the Alameda EncinaL)
Last fall the people of the State of
California held an election.
The principal issue before them was
the Endorsement of the national admin
istration. There were no other issues of
prominence.
BY a goodly majority Republican
Governor was elected, more as an in
dorsement of President Mckinley than
for any other reason.
The principal interest of the cam
paign, however, was in our represen-
tation in the National Legislature.
There were men in both Senate and
House who were not in sympathy with
the administration and whose votes and
influence had been cast against it. It
was the determination of the people to
change this state of affairs and send
none but patriots to represent them.
Accordingly instead of sending four
Democrats and but two Republicans to
the lower house, matters were more
than reversed, and only one Democrat
was returned, the other five members
elect being all Republicans.
Having made sure of a proper repre-
sentation in the House of Representa-
tives, a representation in accord with
the prevailing sentiments of the State
in support of President McKinley's pol
icy the next step was to replace the
Democratic Senator and obstructionist
with a Republican To do this it was
necessary to elect a Republican Legis-
lature. Again, the almost sole issue
was the Endorsement of the administra-
ton, and SO heartily were the people
in accord with that administration that
they elected Legislature with an over
whelming majority. There was no mis-
take about the will of the people in
this connection. They were determined
to be represented only by Republicans
in the Senate
But having so declared and having
chosen men whose principal duty at the
present session of the Legislature was
to elect a Republican Senator, they
rightly believed that all that remained
was for their Representatives to agree
on some capable man and confer upon
him the honor.
The people had done their duty, and
it only remained for their representa-
tiveS to do theirs
But instead of carrying out the duty
for which they were solely selected, ;.
what do we see? We see the Republi-
cans split in three factions, each of
which swears that neither of the others
shall be successful. If they cannot have
their own way, then the expressed will
Of the people shall be defeated.
The very foundation stone of Repub-
licanism is submission to the will of the
majority, yet a large number refuse
even the opportunity to determine what
that viii is. and refuse to join in a con-
ference for the purpose Of ascertaining
it,
There are even some members who
now declare that they prefer to see the
deadlock continue and the State go
without any representative in the Sem
ate rather than that their own petty
personal ambitions shall not be success
full. This they maintain, in spite of the
fact that if the session passes without
an election there is good ground for
thinking that the opportunity will also
be gone and that the next Legislature
will elect Democrat
The "EncinaP' believes that every
member of the Legislature who calls
himself a Republican owes duty to his
party, to his State, to his national
leader, that is far higher than any duty
to personal friends. We believe that it
is time the Republicans cast aside per-
sonal preferences and Joined hands in
selecting Republican for the Senator
ship. We care not who that Republican
is so long as he is a Republican.
There is just one way in which this
can be done and that is by getting to-
gether and submitting to the will of the
majority, whatever that will may be.
That is straight Republicanism. It is
straight patriotism.
California cannot afford to refuse to
send Senator to Washington to work
in accord with the President. Such a
step would be a direct slap in the face
to the President, and that is something
California Republicans will not stand.
1t will not do for representatives in
the Legislature to come home and try
to defend themselves if they persist in
any such action There is no excuse
for not electing some one, and the peo-
pie will not excuse any one who does So
We have had our personal prefer
ences, but these cut no figure at all in
comparison with the GOOD or the coun-
try and the good of the party. In
common with the greater portion of the
Republican newspapers of the State,
voiced by the members of the Execu-
TIVE Committee of the State association
in session at Sacramento this week. the
"Encinap' insists that the Republicans
shall break the deadlock at once and
proceed to elect a Republican Senator,
we care not who he may be.
But we must have a Republican Sem
ator!