The San Francisco call., 1903-01-14
Has Backed Senator Per.
kins From Beginning
and Does So Now.
-
Special Dispatch to The Call.

~ ENATOR w. B. LARDNER of Au-
~ burn made a decided hit when he
told how "od'' Placer County had
stood by Senator Perkins from the
beginning Of his political career. He
spoke as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Senate:
California is happily situated. An inland State
is surrounded with other States; the surround
ings and people are similar. Ii is a struggle
ad rivalry along level lines. while we have the
US, friendly republic on the south an an on the
west a placid ocean and the islands apd the
oriental world anxious TO trade with u.s. With
the new cables now being laid San Francisco
Will be the distributor of the commercial news
of the Orient rather than London A State
bordering the sea has a commanding impor-
tance in trade and commerce over inland
States Our Atlantic States must compete with
the densely crowded populations of Europe for
supremacy in commerce and with similar
portations. while we of California have diver
anxious for our products. With these favor
able circumstances before us-acknowledged
advantages-we should with broad and gen
When the constitution formed the great
compromise was made that the smaller States
should have equal representation In the Senate
with the larger ones and Rhode Island Della
ware and other small States have had dis
fact must be borne in naindEthe New England
and South Atlantic States have retained their
Senators in Congress In many cases quarter
influence and power other Senators like
Clay. Webster Calhoun and Benton became all
powerful from their long experience and in
huence at Washington
The mistake of the West, and especially OF
California, has been short terms in Congress.
About the time a man becomes useful to his
State or district the Legislature or people turn
him out without adequate reason. Maine,
Ohio and Iowa have learned the secret OF power
at Washington and the latter is to-day one
of the strongest States in the councils of the
nation. She has a well-trained iong-termed
corps Of Congressman and Senators-the
Speaker of the House and two Cabinet officers.
The question is gentlemen, will we profit by
the facts before us; will we elect a strong pub
lie servant and become stronger at Washington.
lose much Of our power?
Our duty to our State and ourselves must
be to elect a man to the Senate OF the United
States big and broad enough to meet our new
conditions. He should be OF mature age, wide
experience. industrious and a thorough Calfor-
in beginning the injury in material prog
ress in advance Of the old one,
And If we have such man, how easy our
task. man who has had the requisite ex-
perience in the halls of Congress who is al
head of his committees rather than at the foot
where a new selection, no matter how compe-
tent, must stand for a number of years.
nior Senator, the Hon. George c. Perkins. He
| Congress since 1898, and by his industry and
ability has reached proud eminenee in the
national capital.
trade trade 70 70 this state and San Frs2ciseo. even
| after the Massachusetts and Northwestern
/ railroad magnates in the United States, were
already boasting that they had Il in their
saye9 that vast bnses ~ man
| at1r Perkins did?
Gentlemen, George C. Perkins has been tried
in various official positions, and the State has
always found him equal to the highest de-
mands made on his abilities. AS State Sena-
has always been a faithful servant of the
people He is practical man; he worked as
a miner. He laid the foundation of his pros
perity as a merchant. He is thoroughly in
formed to our merchant and naval marine !:
no man in California is better Informed and
more thoroughly in earnest as to our success
/ with foreign commerce..
With rival railroads and rival steamship
lines grasping for our trade; with our chief
| commercial city, still dreaming of the golden
days of '49. hardly awake to the glorious COM
rlercial future that will soon be here, whether
| she strives for 1t OF not; with a matchless
| land-locked harbor. soo.. to be whltened with
the sails of half the commerce of the world
memories. we cannot afford TO experiment: We
! cannot afford to make change at this par
! tcular time
! believe il to be our plain duty not to be
| diverted from our true course, and that is to
re-urn to the United States Senate. as his
'Old" Placer County has always stood hv
him. She gave him the final casting vote in
1895, when DR.. Noble Martin Democrat
being neededand that his eonPT Note
told" Placer, was Republican; that the Re-
| election or George C..
! Perkins that his own party was in hopeless
minority, and that he, therefore gave the cast
| ing vote for his county's choice.
Placer County is still for George c. Per-
| kins. and instead of one Democratic vote as
| eight years ago, her Representatives are now
| instructed to give him two Republican votes.
! and they propose to do II, believing they are
serving the best interests of this great state
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the Senate
have the distinguished privilege and pleasure
| OF seconding the nomination of the Hon
| George c. Perkins as Senator for the State of
| California In the Congress OF the United
| States.