The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-21
THE LAST REFUGE OF RAscALs.

N ESPAIRING Of success by open balloting, and
J confronted by indignant public whose de-
nunciations rapidly weakening the nerve
G. their followers, the railroad bosses in their efforts
to elect Dan Burns to disgrace California in the
United States Senate. trying by every in
their power coax bully, to entce and to delude
the Republican majority in the Legislature to con-
sent to hold secret whose decision is to be
binding all who take part in it.
The scheme is. cunningly devised No member of
the Legislature who has hitherto voted against Burns
be expected by the bosses of the railroad to
openly join the black list gang II any to swell
his disreputable vote some covering must be pro-
vided for them. That covering the proposed caucus
Is designed to give. If any number of honest men
be induced to take part in it the rascals will have
the game virtually in their hands. The honest men
will be bound by the caucus to vote for Burns, and
the black sheep will pass in with the innocent and
profit by the hypocrisy.
AS the situation stands Grant is virtually retired
from the race. Since the disclosures made by The
Call and confirmed by evidence given before the As
sembly investigating committee, the candidate from
San Diego is discredted his followers demoralized
anu hopes ulSSlpdleu Inc one danger tudl
mains to threaten the honor of the State and the pres
ge of the Republican party is the candidacy OF the
from Mexico, backed by all the corrupting
power of the Southern Pacific Company.
So long the voting can be kept in the open, and
every remains free to vote as he pleases, that
danger is comparatively little Burns cannot win in
fair contest carried before the eyes of the peo-
pie His one chance is to SHIFT the struggle to the
seclusion, the secrecy and the darkness of
where, under the forms of party discipline, he may
delude a few honest and prepare the way for
dishonest ones to sneak into his camp
By the disclosures made before the investigating
committee it has been shown that vast amount of
intrigue bribery and rascalty has been practced by
the INSCRIPTIONS bosses in arranging for the election
of Senator. Burns candidacy kept carefully hid
den from the public and from the rank and file of the
Republican party during the whole period of the re-
cent canvass. When it was announced by Herrn
it to the great majority of Republican voters
like stab in the back No mans candidacy for
high office in the United States was ever before car
ried on in so cowardly so vicious and so dsreputabe
way.
Against that candidacy the press has protested the
party has protested and the State has protested The
only papers that support Burns railroad organs
and the Examiner, which is evidently trying to regain
the favor of Huntington and the blacknail subsidy
OF $1,000 month which it enjoyed a short time ago
Political jobbery, fraud, misrepresentation and open
lying have been resorted to by the supporters OF
Burns, and the full extent of the abomnation as yet
unknown. No in the Legislature having any re-
spect for his constituents himself will follow the
Shiny track of Wright into the black list gang.
The with its possibilities OF voting
and rascal trickery, affords the only possible chance
for the railroad and its candidate The honest Re-
pubcans of the Legislature have only to keep out of
that trap and victory will be theirs.