Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-15

Two matters of great Importance to
the people of California will be con-
sidered by the lawmakers. The first,
the primary cause of the governor 8
act, will be the consideration of meas
ures for the relief OF. the taxpayers and
banking institutions of the state,
which are deemed necessary by reason
of the dearth OF ready money. The
second will be the question of the re-
moval from office of Andrew Wilson,
railroad commissioner and boodler.
Other matters will be considered, in
cluding the ratification Of the amend
ments TO the charter of San Francisco
and the granting Of authority to the
courts to proceed with their business
during the period through which the
states special holidays may be extend
ed.
Both the latter propositions undoubt-
edly will be favorably acted upon by
the legislature. This will enable San
Francisco to proceed in an orderly
manner with the administration Of her
municipal affairs and the trial of the
grafters now on the rack and those
who are to be brought to the bar Of
justice after Ford's trial is ended.
All these matters are important but
none except the financial problem and
the Wilson case are of such a vital
character as to warrant the great ex-
pense of an extra session at this time.
AS necessary as an immediate adj
justment of the temporary financial
difficulties of California appears to be,
no principle is involved therein. This
is simply a matter of expediency. But
the case of Railroad Commissioner
Wilson stands in different light.
Wilson, occupying an office of grave
responsibility and trust; placed in
power by one of the most corrupt and
corrupting political machines known
in the history of American common
wealths; backed even to his political
and social death not only by this now,
thank God, safely undermined political
bureau of the Southern Pacific rail-
road, but by the so-called regular Re-
publican state organization whose uni
form it has stolen; intrenched, safe
guarded, bulwarked erstwhile by the
nauseating supineness of a vast con-
tingent of men whose political moral
fiber has been shrunken through a
long period of disuse; a stupid moral
coward himself, seeking to escape the
prison garb by confessing his infamy
that others than he might be made to
suffer; with unparalleled effrontery re-
fusing to abandon his powerful office
at the demand of an overwhelming
public sentiment and upon both the
verbal and written request of the gov
ernor of his state-this man Wilson, a
traitor to his obligations to the state
he has sworn to serve faithfully,
should be removed from the office he
holds if to accomplish this thing it
should be found necessary to put in
motion all the machinery of every de-
partment of state government in Cali
fornia, regardless of the expense in
volved.
Wilson and wisconsin are vital is
Sues BY depriving him of the office
he still holds not only will a great
precedent be established but notice will
be served upon the infamous and once
powerful Southern Pacific cabal whose
intriguery has reduced California to
state bordering on vassalage that
henceforth the people are to govern
themselves; that henceforth William
F. Herrin and his lieutenants, if not
made wards of the state, must retire
to private life of the most innocuous
and inoffensive character; in short.
that California shall be free!
When, about three weeks ago, The
Herald pointed out to the railroad COM
mission and the legal and executive
departments of state road which, If
Travelled, would lead to the certain
punishment of the Southern Pacific
for the crime of rebating, 1t naturally
anticipated a long and strenuous fight
to accomplish what it sought in be-
half of the people. 1t claims no more
than a share of the honor for the pre-
cipitation of the step which it believes
will lead to Kidding the states official
roster of the name of Andrew Wilson,
for the campaign it has inaugurated is
chiefly to the end that the entire rail-
road commission may be forced to pur-