The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-21
THE SECTIONAL ISSUE.
Tired Of the Demands Of Southern
California

(From the Stockton independently
In another column will be found an
interview with Charles A. Wetmore,
the well-known wine producer of this
city. on the Senatorial situation, that
contains a very pertinent suggestion.
Mr. Wetmores views in regard to the
sectional issue are. largely true and are
presented in a novel manner that will
bring the subject close home to the
people of Northern California
The question Immediately <ariseS
whether Southern California as a Sec
ton is entitled to one of the Senators
I from this State, and whether it is
just or expedient to concede Senator
on sectional grounds, and whether
there is not danger in establishing such
a precedent Southern California, by
which is usually meant the counties
south of Tehachipi, is represented in
this Legislature by twenty members
This section, including the counties of
Ventura, Santa Barbara and Inyo, has
therefore just one-sixth of the legisla-
tive strength. 1t has presented. how
ever, three candidates for Senator,
Grant, Bulla and Bard, who jointly
poll forty-two votes, or more than
double the number that represent the
section.
The Southern California representa-
tives claim the Senatorship on section
al grounds. Why? The counties COM
prising this section cast just one-fifth
or twenty per cent. of the vote at the
recent Gubernatorial election in this
State. Why should not any other sec
tion Of the State containing one-fifth of
the qualified electors demand the Sena-
tor with as much justice? The coun-
ties that comprise Southern California
contained just two-elevenths of the
population of the State at the time of
the last Federal census. Is it just that
the other nine elevenths of the inhab-
itants of California should grant this
small fraction Senator constantly in
order to bind its loyalty to the State?
The section now under discussion
contains less than a fifth of the popu-
lation and has already been granted
the last two Republican Governors
elected in this State. 1t was given the
State Treasurer, one Of the three Rail-
road Commissioners, one of the four
members Of the Board of Equalization
and has had one of the two Senators
from this State for the last six years.
Two years ago when Republican prin-
ciples were in the balance and Cali
fornia was called upon to decide be-
tween Organism and the Republican
party, the whole Southern California
section gave Mckinley only a bare p1u-
rality of ] 200 votes, and both Republi-
can Congressman were defeated. And
now it comes before the State and de-
mands in addition to the four State
officers given it, one of the Senators
of the United States.
What particular interests belong to
Southern California that it should give
her two-elevenths of the population
equal political power with the other
nine elevenths? 1t does not produce
the wheat. nor the gold. nor the wool,
nor the lumber that make the State a
factor in the worlds commerce. It is
not the dairying section nor the meat
producing section of the State 1t raises
fewer deciduous fruits than the Santa
Clara Valley. 1t has no particular COM
merce The little harbor of Humboldt
sends out more cargoes in a week than
| San Pedro and San Diego in fort
night 1t is true there Is branch of
the sugar trust in Southern California
with a couple of mills, and the Stan
dard Oil trust has some oil fields in
Ventura and wells in Los Angeles.
Aside from these the only notable pro-
ducing interests are the bean growers
of Ventura and the orange growers of
other counties. There are no great
factories, no coal, few mines, and a
scarcity Of everything except sand, cli-
mate and cheek. On these the people
claim half the honors and privileges
belonging to the people of the State
The legislators of the North who are
voting for Southern Senatorial candi-
dates urged on sectional grounds,
should take Mr.. Wetmore's advice and
advocate the division of the State. If
that section is to be continually allowed
to thrust the sectional issue in politics.
and demanding the lions share. then
let US make it a division in fact SO
that the land of the cactus may have
two Senators and full line of State
officers all her own. 1t is time that
/ the Republican party and all other par