Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-19

an imposing body seen from it's own
gallery-if you happen to have knowl-
edge OF how most of its members We're
elected and what they really represent
1t is hardly more impressive than the
state senate at Sacramento.
This is apropos of the opposition
offered to the confirmation of Frank.
lin x. Lane as Interstate commerce
commissioner. The opposition pretends
to political motive No doubt there
are few old gentlemen among the
senators whose one remaining passion
is their partisanship, and who cherish
1t as merit compensating for the loss
of most of the virtues which enable
a man to keep his self-respect. Their
sole objection to Mr.. Lane is that he
Is q Democrat, and, being Il Demo-
crat, has been faithful to hts party.
If he had deserted it they would for
give him his previous loyalty. lie
stood by Bryan and that damns him
with them, though It Is no sin in the
eyes of Mr.. Roosevelt who knows that
it was to Bryan Democrats he owed
the magnificence of the majority which
elected him president and passed from
Greeley to Parker the distinction Of
being tho worst defeated candidate in
American history.
But the senators who are antagoniz-
ing the Lane appointment energetically
and who will negative 1t If 1t shall be
negatiVed. are not the Republican do
dos. They are not burning with the
fire of a pig-headed partisanship.
Neither are they moved by lofty IL
lusion of public service. They are sim
ply obliging the railroads and the cor
porate interests whose influence the
railroads are able to command.
The rebate giving and otherwise law
defying and law-cvading railroads are
quite right. from a business standpoint.
IN objecting to Mr. Lane. They would
get no favors from him, but only JUS
tce. So far as his power should go
he would compel them to obey the
laws, and that is the last thing the
railroads want to do. Mr. Lane is too
good for the place to which the presi-
dent has appointed him. That is the
real objection of the railroads. Neither
they nor the senators who speak and
act for them care any more about
Mr.. Lanes Democracy than they do
about the color of his hair.
The appointment is a proof of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's honesty of purpose
IN his endeavors to bring the railroads
under governmental control. 1t is also
proof of his knowledge of men. A
fact that has been locally overlooked
Is that he and Mr. Lane are old friends.
4
twenty years and those meetings have
inspired mutual liking and respect.
Mr.. Roosevelt is aware that no influ-
enec Is strong enough to induce his
friend to do what he believes to be
wrong. That is why he wants him on
the Interstate commerce commission.
[ know Frank Lane thoroughly.
When he was nominated for governor
was asked about him in New York,
f1,nt 4 aha
acter he was superior to any man
named for the office in my time by
either party. He has the kind of hon
esty to tie to. 1T is instructive. His
aversion to unworthy conduct of any
kind is like a cats wetting it's feet.
He has mind and Il heart, good sense,
humor and courage. | have met no
where one who seems to me better
fitted for public life in any station,
however high. He began with univer-
sity training, and life has taught him
a lot. He has. read and observed and
thought and worked, and has lacked
cnly opportunity to bring his large
powers into play. He is beloved by
the doctrinaires, whose doctrines he
understands and whose enthusiasm he
respects. But experience has cooled his
own youthful ardor for Transforming
the world at a single sitting. With
good cause, he has marked Sobriety of
judgment. His is an eminently level
head. Were he to get the interstate
ommissionership-and let all honest
and straightforward men hope that
President Roosevelt will stand by the
appointment no matter how many bill
lions of corporate wealth may array
themselves against it-nO railroad
which is not in the wrong need fear
LIT, l.. tn Ia atVnn
all the qualities of calm and just
Judge The clamors of the ignorant
and vindictive would be quite as in
capable of swaying him as would the
pressure of confederated wealth. He
is too clear-headed and too brave,
moreover. to have greater respect for
cowardice which calls itself conserva-
tism than for demagogy, which calls
itself patriotism.
Lane is a patriot. To hold place OF
power and use it for the public good
is an ideal that appeals to him strongly.
He has always held that ideal, ever
since he was boy. That know. And
it is this ideal, 1 am sure, that moves
him to accept the presidents appoint
ment. 1t is an ideal that has kept
him poor when he might easily have
become rich by contracting his mind
and concentrating it's strength upon
money making. lie ) IL rare SUI VI
citiZen-the kind of citizen whose rarity
explains the descent of the republic into
the wallow of commercialism which
has given us Rockefeller and the re-
spectacle insurance pirates and made
graft in government so common that
most communities are hardened to 1t
and accept it as of course.
The opposition to Lane is disgrace
full to the senate in whatever aspect
It Is viewed. If the opposition were,
as pretended, grounded on the nomi-
nee's Democracy that would argue a
pettiness to be looked for in board
of supervisors rather than i'm the SEN
ate of the United States. AS the oppo-
sition, in reality, comes from the rail-
roads themselves, which fear a man Of
known honesty and courage, the thing
widens vastly. 1t is an invitation to
the people of the country TO hspect
tbe senate and ask how their general
interests can be uprightly served by
body so readily controlled in partlcu-
lar matter by that organized predatory
wealth which has become the common
enemy. The holding up OF the nomina-
ton Of such man as Frank Lane
u NAa.