The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-06

to this city has raised a storm in
the big yellow building on Mont
l. gomery and Market streets. The
coming of the railroad magnate
was the signal TO revive the battles OF
the last campaign at Sacramento
Huntington found. on his arrival, that
he was in a peculiar predicament- de
had INSTRUCTED his representatives IN
the Southern Pacific Company, parti-
cularly William T. Herrin, to espouse
the cause Of D. NJ Burns for United
States Senator HerTin had Obeyed the
Instructions Of his employer to the let
ter. The influence Of the big corpora
tion was exerted in political affairs
after the general election more openly
than it had ever been before perhaps
in the history of the State. Railroad
agents, known as such and employed
70 protect Southern Pacific interests at
the State capital. were avowed and
active supporters of Dan Burns. The
cause Of the Mexican became the cause
OF the railroad people. The men chosen
BY the officers of the railroad COM
pauy TO keep a sharp eye on rail
road legislation We're the. men
selected by Dan Burns to assist
him in making his fight for an
exalted position which the representa-
tives Of the people refused, in rebellion,
TO grant him. It was a matter notori-
Ously known to everybody that Dan
Burns was the Senatorial candidate of
the Southern Pacific Company. Hunt
ington had publicly announced his pref
erence for Burns, and Huntington 5
preference became valuable through
the work of his employees.
This condition of affairs would have
created no discussion if the absurd
ambition of Burns had been crowned
with success. Huntington has been,
for so long. a meddIer in the political
affairs Of the State that his interrer-
ence in the recent Senatorial campaign
would have created no comment if
Burns had won. The defeat of the
Mexican, however, has completely
changed the aspect of affairs. Hunt
ington seeks now to repudiate his own
actions. even his own words. and place
upon the long suffering shoulders of
Herrin personal responsibility for
any railroad espousal Of the lost cause
OF Burns
Huntington wishes the public to be-
lieve that his servant spent the money
of the Southern Pacific. employed
lobbyists and welded every influence
within the grasp of a powerful cor
poration to assist Burns without any
authority from those who employ him.
The matter is of serious moment for
the railroad magnate realizes that it is
a dangerous undertaking, even in Cali
fOrnia, for him to show his hand and
then lose. He wishes the people of the
State to believe that William F. Her
rim. forgetting by whom and for what
he is employed. used the tremendous
power of the railroad to satisfy a per
sonal friendship. Huntington forgets
that the people of the State are thor
oughly informed on the incidents Of the
Senatorial campaign which has lust
closed. He is striving to make Of VIII
liam F. Herrin a scapegoat for actions
that look evil in the eyes of Cali
fornians.
William F. Herrin acted under the
direct, personal instructions of c. P
Huntington in supporting and advanc-
ing as far as he could the candidacy of
Burns. Herrin had a favorite of his
own for United States Senator, but his
choice was not the choice of Hunting
ton and as a matter Of necessity had
10 be sacrificed at Huntington's COM
mand Herrin would have thrown to
NJ H de Young whatever influence he
possesses as head of the law depart
ment of the Southern Pacific Company,
but Huntington nominated Burns. Her
rim therefore exercised every energy to
assist the Mexican. It is a gross in
justice, therefore, for the railroad mag
nate to attempt to throw the odium of
his own defeat upon his employe. Her
rim and his political methods have been
criticized in The Call as occasion de-
manded. The head Of the law depart
ment Of the Southern Pacific Company
has been censured or praised as his
conduct warranted, but whatever he is
or whatever the people of the State
think him TO be, he is not guilty of the
offense Of keeping Dan Burns before
the public. G. ?. Huntington is re-
sponsibie for that indecent exposure.
The Incidents Of the Senatorial fight
at Sacramento demonstrate this fact to
a conclusion. It will be remembered
that NJ II. de Young believed that he
had the support of the Southern Pa
cific Company in his candidacy for
United States Senator. Practical poll
ticians and men Of affairs knew that
the railroad people intended to dictate
the choice of the Legislature if it we're
possible to do so. Mr.. de Young be-
lieved that he had Huntington's in
dorsement since he already had the
support of William F. Herrin. The
head Of the law department had in
formed Mr.. de Young that everything
he could do would be in the service Of
the proprietor Of the Chronicle. Re
lying upon this assurance Mr.. de Young
was buoyed up by false hope. He
soon learned that Herrin's personal
preferences played, however, but q.
small part in the affair. c.. P Hunting
ton arrogated to himself the right to
name United States Senators for Cali
COruia Ha decIa red in Neuy Yorlr +t,o+