Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-12
rHr oNlY STATE ISSUE

The ONLY STATE ISSUE
Mr.. Griett. who IS now IN oul
midst" as a candidate for governor Of
California, has been momentariy
forced from his vacuous discussion Of
pure food laws and hygienic nursing
bottles into squirting at something Of
the real living issue that is agitat.
ing this state from end to end. True
he hedges ana hesitates and lodges
but he does show an appreciation OF
the fact that he is up against some
thing more practical intense and Inn
portant than pure food laws
Pressed into corner, Mr.. Gillett
says: "The Democracy this time is be-
fore the people without an issue and
is conducting campaign built upon
abuse"
Now let us see. Abuse Of what? The
Southern Pacific railroad to be sure,
with its freight extortlons and its pollt-
ical machine whereby It controls abso-
lutely the powers Of state, county and
city government for its own uses and
purposes.
Isn't that a good state issue2 Isn't
that the most important question today
before the people of California? Isn't
1t fundamental and paramount?
Abuse Of whom? Why, of the South
ern Pacific railroad hlrellngs, who cold
bloodedly trample under foot the will
and wish of the people-Republican
and Democrats alike.
1.-THE Santa Cruz convention" says
Mr.. Gillett, twas made up of the best
citizens of California, representing
men in every walk of llfe."
But what chance did they have? Who
was this Judge Mckinley who presided
over that convention and ran it rough
shod In the interest Of the Southern
Pacific? Who was this william F. Her
rim, who openly conducted the speakers
to the PLATFORM? Who was this Abe
Ruef, who voted the San Francisco del
egatlon? Who was this Walter Par
ker, who named the committees and
organized everything into a Southern
Pacific ring?
Moreover, who is this r.. H. Harri-
man, who introduced Mr.. Gillett at
banquet in washington last January
as "the next governor of California"
long before Gillett was candidate and
before the Republicans OF this state
were ever thinking about a candidate?
These are important personal ques-
tions which the people are discussing
in California. They want to know
things. They want to know why it is
that Mr. GilIett refuses to say word
in behalf of the people, when he should
know that the autocratic power Of
machine boss and railroad supremacy
which nominated him for governor is
strangling the liberties of the people
of California.
Abuse" says Webster, sis generally
prompted by anger and vented in harsh
and unseemly words" The people of
Southern California are certainly an
CRY enough to use all and any kinds of
language not prohibited by statute
If the use of such language would ac-
complish the purpose of freeing them
from the Southern Pacific machine.
They would even go to the extent Of
employing ''unseemly words If they
could find words of that character to
properly characterize the despotic and
un-American power which has been
bound hand and foot,
Unfortunately, however, abuse"
avails not. and Mr.. Gillett should know
that the Democrats are not conducting
a campaign of that sort. 1t is merely
trying to voice the sentiment of the
people against a railroal machine and
its hirelings, Herrin and his tribe and
Hearst and his tribe, and it will be
only votes that will count. And it may
be regrettable, but 1t is none the less
certain, that the only way to kill the
machine is to defeat it's nominees-one
of whom / ) Mr.. Gillett.