Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-20
A TEST OF STATE LOYALTY

The Sacramento Union insists that
"The Los Angeles Herald doesn't seem
able to understand the Unions position
respecting the governorship,' and then
proceeds at some length to restate that
the Union isn't Scared" but just honest
enough-to use it's own language-to
Infinitely rather have in the governor
ship a good Democrat than bad Re-
publican"
That sounds very good and loyal and
patriotic, but the trouble with inde-
pendent Republican newspapers, So
before convention, but after the or
ganization has made up the state ticket
the Independent Republican organ usu-
ally goes blind and accepts the ticket.
1t is very difficult to convince any
newspaper that has a streak of Re-
publican in it's makeup that any Demo-
crat can be any better than Repub-
lican who has been nominated by a
regular convention of his party.
But, accepting the Sacramento
Unions own statement of its position
as being equally lasting with its honesty
of purpose, there is a great work in
California which the Union can do-a
work in which loyalty to state and
people may readily stand higher in its
estimation than mere party subserv-
ience. The Union favors the renomna-
ton of Governor Pardee At the same
time it must know that Governor Par
dee hasn't a chance in a thousand of
denomination. The cards are already
stacked against him. The Ruef and
Schmitz influence behind the railroad
Republican machine will not even con-
slider Governor Pardee as a possibility.
We are informed by friends of MEM
bers of the local machine-which is a
recognized branch of the state machine
that Southern California will go up
to the state convention in solid array
against Governor Pardee or any man
his friends may select to support. The
Herald does not know of a certainty
that this will be true-for the machine
might change it's mind-but the present
indications generally are that both
North and South California are already
in combination against the governor
and that his denomination is considered
here a political impossibility. To Demo-
Gratis this has every appearance of in
gratitude. for Governor Pardee has
been very loyal and true to the ma
chine in this section In the matter of
appointments. Numerous are the let
ters written to Los Angeles by the
governor in which he has said: IF
your citizens desire such man 9p-
pointed, let him be recommended to me
by the party organization and L will
appoint him" Their quarrel with him,
therefore, must be upon other grounds,
But, admitting for the sake of the
Unions argument that Governor Par
dee is better than a Democrat and be-
lieving with the Union that there may
be a Republican not as good as a Demo-
crat who will defeat Pardee for the
nomination, the Union cannot do its
state and people a greater service than
to declare itself after the conventions
are over in favor of the Democrats.
This is no yellow dog year." says
the Union. ut is a time when the
party must nominate a man competent
to command respect if he is to COM
mand the party vote" That is abso-
lutely and unqualifiedly true-true
because the people are aroused
to the fact that the Republican
party is no longer "the party of Lin
coin and Grant" but party dominated
by the railroad machine and engineered
by Abe Ruef of San Francisco. 1t is
within the power and the disposition of
this machine to defeat Governor Pardee
or any other good Republican for the
nomination this year, and the nominal
tions-uo matter how goodwill bear
upon their face the stamp of this ma
chine. Why, therefore, should not the
Sacramento Union, with its splendid
position and independence, its avowed
and known loyalty to state and people,
support a good Democrat for governor
in place of any Republican nomina-
ton that may be made by the Ruef
Schmitz railroad bosses?
There is test of loyalty and patriot
ism ahead for the Sacramento Union
and for all other respectable Republican
newspapers who love California better
than they do the commands of a domi-
nant party power that has misruled,
misgoverned and sold out the people
of this state to the railroad corpora
tions. And The Herald believes the
Union will meet that test faithfully and
bravely.
X,THIDDEn Nv uIC N,UrE