The record-union., 1899-02-25

Fro1n the Stockton independently
Grove L. Johnson may be elected Sen
ator by the California Legislature TO-
day. If that be the outcome the peo-
Die may attribute it to the just 1ndag-
nation aroused among the members by
reason of the outrageous and brutal
personal resentment of Sam Leake as
exhibited in a shameful cartoon in yes
terday's Call
The Works anti-cartoon bill was re-
considered and passed by the Senate
Yesterday. and the Assembly promptly
concurred in the Senate amendments,
and the bill now goes to the Governor.
For this legislation and for the deep
feeling of resentment which prompted
it the press of the State are indebted to
the low and vulgar personal tactics en-
ployed by the Cali yesterday at the
dictation of Sam Leake, it's Democratic
manager, in attacking Grove L. john
son in a cartoon that no thoughtful
publisher and no manly manager would
permit to disfigure the columns OF a
newspaper.
The Works bill was virtually beaten.
A vote had been taken, and though a
motion to reconsider had been made,
there was no prospect of its passage
until the Call came out with the cow
ardly and disgraceful cartoon that bru-
tally attacked a member of the Legis-
lature. This aroused such general in
dignation that it swept the Legislature
like storm. And when the members
saw the cruel fruits of this new form
of new journalism on respected fell
low member, victim, they were al
most unanimous in the demand not only
that such attacks be prohibited, but
that the victim be vindicated.
1t need, therefore, surprise no one if.
in arranging a complimentary vote for
Grove L. johnson to-day, the members
become unmanageable in the first IN
loosening Of the deadlock and flock to
johnson in such numbers as to make
him Senator.
The methods Of carrying out the pol
icies of the managers of yellow news
papers that have come into vogue in
the last few years are unworthy of the
press and an abuse of that generous
liberty which the fundamental laws of
our country have bestowed for the pro-
lection of fearless public. sentiment.
They have brought the press into dis
repute among honest, truthful and in
telligent people, and have perceptibiy
lowered the standard of public morals
and the standard of patriotism. if
there is defiant tone in the Legisla-
ture it is because the members have
been goaded to desperation by unneces-
sary and brutal attacks on the part Of
the San Francisco morning papers. A
conviction has settled upon the Legis-
lature, and it may be said upon the
people, that some of the newspapers are
among the worst of criminal agencies
of the State. The whole press has suf-
fered because of the excuses of those
papers that are unrestrained by any
sense of decency, or human sympathy,
of political honor or personal man
hood.
No wonder the Legislature is aroused.
The people are aroused. One of these
days mob will be aroused that will
tear to atoms the great structures on
Market street and pitch the men guilty
of these assaults-these detractors and
shameless vuatures that prey on char
acter-pitch them into the streets. All
this is bound to come unless restraint
is imposed from within or from with
out. Nor need the State be startled It