Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-18
DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY

good citizenship and better govern
ment.
California is dominated, misgoverned
and robbed of it's rights and opportun-
tiles by a railroad machine that pro-
fesses to be Republican and uses the
name and power of that political or
gandzation to do It's worst, while at the
same time 1t is non-partisan in it's
devilment, non-political in it's success
and impartial in its robberies.
There Is no use to talk Of advanced
principles, new theories or reforms of
ary kind SO long as the railroad ma
chine, masked behind the Republican
name sits in the seat Of authority,
names the state officials, bosses the
legislature and usurps all the forms of
governmental control. The Republican
party itself always has a high-sound-
ing platform which its honest ad-
herents intend shall be carried into
effect, but so long as Boss Herrin, Boss
Abe Ruef, Boss Schmitz, Boss Parker
and others of that ilk are able to do
what they will with California all the
platforms that can be made are not
worth the paper on which they are
written.
Therefore, the state Democracy of
California, responsible to the people
for honest endeavors in behalf of COM
mon rights and justice, has to consider
only the one paramount issue-THE
DEFEAT OF THE RAILROAD MA
CHINE.
There are other live issues, but they
are all corollary-consequen upon the
success of the one issue named, and
the main issue should not be clouded
with others of secondary Importance.
The Democratic opportunity in Cali
fornia lies in this fact, that the people
are tired of being boss-ridden, weary
of the long record of graft and mis-
government incident to the domination
of one of the worst railroad machines
ever organized in this country, and
z-o 5as;ro,,s % fo,.y,oipo a now alliance
for the sole purpose of unseating that
machine from power. They are watch
ing the Democratic party narrowly, in
the hope that it will rise to the occa-
sion and show itself equal to the task
of meeting the great dragon in honor
able and successful combat.
The Democratic party, in order to
win, must have the encouragement and
votes of thousands of Republicans, as
well as voters Of other parties. To pro-
cure that encouragement and those
votes it must act in perfect harmony,
moving forward shoulder to shoulder
with the precision of an army with
banners. 1t cannot pause at every
crossroad to indulge in Kilkenny cat
fight. 1t cannot have leaders who will
sulk in their tents and insist upon all
the honors of leadership or else they
n1I al
ments in accord, so that success may
be apparent by the solidarity Of the
movement.
Democrats of California are begin
ming to understand and appreciate these
important facts, and to that end con-
ferences are being held, not only in Los
Angeles today, but in other centers, in
order that by an exchange of views and
an earnest, enthusiastic effort to achieve
familiarity with the weapons to be used
there may be an auspicious opening of
the state campaign, ticket nominated
that will appeal to all the people, and
a warfare waged that will draw into
Democratic ranks the great mass of
California voters who want honest gov
ernment and a government by the peo-
pie themselves. instead of by a railroad
machine.
The Herald welcomes the state Dem
ocratic committee to Los Angeles, and
believes that its informal session in
this metropolis will be fruitful of good
results, arousing fresh enthusiasm
throughout the state and giving to the
common people OF California the op-
portunity they seek to make the state
government clean, honest and in the
interest of all citizens.