The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-21

can politics closed when the Legislature ad-
journed
There had been failures before to elect Senator,
There had been contests which ended IN taking UP
side candidates and electing them, by the help of the
minority. like Christiancy in Michigan, Cameron in
Wisconsin and Upton in Nebraska But IN each case
the seat was contested for by the incumbent. Zach
Chandler in Michigan, Mat Carpenter in Wisconsin
and Thayer in Nebraska pushed aside by the fu
sion of a Republican minority with the Democratic
minority
Here the case was different. A change in party con-
troll had found seat vacated by Democrat to be
filled by a Republican. The record OF the outgoing
Senator, with but little exception, was strong and
commendable and his great ability had proved itself
in the Senate. His Republican colleague, without the
advantage of legal training, is yet equipped in the
school Of experience that he ranks well up and is
most useful and credtable Senator
1t was the aspiration OF the Republican party to fill
the vacant seat with Senator worthy in ability to
coed White and the equal in influence and usefulness
to Perkins.
When the candidacy of Burns appeared the party
was appalled, He represented force that had here
tofore been invncibe For than thirty years the
Southern Pacific Railroad had never lost battle in
California politics. No matter which party had a
majority in the State the wishes of that corporation
had never been resisted nor denied successfully by
either Indeed so supreme had its power become that
it did not have to solicit alliance. Both parties
sought its favor and the that denied seldom
put up stout fight but content to wait until it
was needed when the tickle corporation would change
and Use the fundamentally of its purpose With
this record behind the power that supported him
Burns had grounds for the swagger with which he
tered the fight The Call recognized the natural
politics involved in giving the Senator to Southern
Co1 b1,+Iu had reaS
are now history we opposed both Grant and Burns
As the long fight wore on it became plain that the
heretofore irresistible force behind Burns would lose
point spare any to effect his election
and after clearing the air in the revelations of Speaker
Wrights serpentne and sinister part thereby laying
bare also the ante-election incidents in Grants
paign we enlisted all the resources of The Call in the
service of the majority opinion and public judgment
OF the State which clearly against the election OF
Burns.
The contest settled down finally to a siege The
majority of the Republican members, representing
majority OF the party and the people, and standing
for the States good name stood the siege we'll. They
pursued no offensive tactics but stood firmly the
defense The excellence of their discipline and their
loyalty the right proved by the fact that from
the first ballot the last only six deserted them
Every Establishment which can dazzle men and make
them forget the future and the past in the delirium
OF the moment was exhausted but the Republican
Old Guard stood firm, yielding not We believed that
our position was right when The Call announced it,
and our initiative was taken in advance OF the OF
means for ascertaning public opinion, but as
sumed that the people were right this issue, and
our confidence not misplaced. The Call in
line with the party and the people, and therefore
its fight. 1t voiced public opinion when it pulled
Wright out of the Speakers chair in which he had
sat only seventeen days enjoying briefly the fruits OF
chicane and deception, and The Call has continued to
utter the public will the close of this battle royal
from which Burns retres defeated and discredited
and in which the Southern Pacific Railroad has met
the first defeat in its history
We by no means underestimate the value of the for
titude shown by Grant, Barnes and Scott. Grant de-
ported himself with dignity and decency serestraint
and wisdom while Barnes and Scott never lost sight
of the fact that they with Grant less candidates
future and the States honor Through all The Call
has fought the front has fought fairly and has
every objective point which it sought The Southern
Pacific has discovered that is the sole power in
this State for the people OF the State, must be
reckoned with. We have not set down anything in
malice against that corporation. 1t has rights which
we will as readily defend against demagogues and
anarchists have just defended the people against
the corporation in matter where it had rights at
stake and wherein its presence should have been
known. We have taught the lesson that newspaper
to have influence and power must align itself with
lightened public opinion and then fight without
flinching.
DIPLOMACY IN THE PHILIPPINES.