Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-08-18

LEGISLATION based on this theory was de-
/ feated in Massachusetts,, New Jersey,
Colorado and Nebraska, and passed In
Missouri and in Iowa in a modified form.
Two-cent fare bills were passed In
| PENNSYLVANIA, Nebraska, Iowa and New
| Jersey. A 2-cent fare bill was passed In
| this state. too, but was vetoed by Gov
ernor Hughes who sent a message of dis
sent explaining his reasons. New York,
| Wisconsin, Nebraska, New Jersey and
Indiana passed bills providing for public
| service commissions or increasing the
power of existing railroad commissions.
| In Nebraska telephone and telegraph
companies were included under the pro-
visions of the public service commission
act. which in that state is somewhat
more stringent than the laws passed by
other states
! Socialstic Trend Legislation
Massachusetts, easily leads III legisla-
| ton of tendency toward Socialism,
though the measures passed did not en-
anate from Socialists, but from either
Democratic or Republican quarters Much
of the Massachusetts, legislation is such,
however, that 1t would be difficult to say
whether 1t should be classed as Socialis-
tic or broadly humanitarian. Nebraska,
Kansas and Missouri come next In Ne
braska scarcely measure bearing the
marks OF SOCIALISM, ldlltu VI pdoSuBSt
though there is not a single outspoken
Socialist q member of either house of the
legislature.
In Wisconsin, which has become the
leader of all the states in the Union in
the outspoken campaign of the Socialists
to secure a new order of affairs, social
and political, dozens of bills frankly So
cialistic were introduced by the two So
cailist senators and the five assembly
measures were defeated, but the Wiscon-
sin Socialists are nevertheless jubilant,
because the serious consideration their
bills received at the hands of conserva-
tive legislators prompts them in the be-
lief that before long Wisconsin, at least,
will have to figure on Socialism as fact
and not merely as theory.
California. which in proportion to its
population has the greatest Socialist vote,
has seen reaction In the growth OF the
party which, after doubling in number in
three years, suddenly has begun to de-
cline as rapidly as it grew. The fact
that labor unionsm has drawn heavily
from its ranks, and that the Hearst In
dependence league, which draws practi-
cally it's entire voting strength from the
Socialists has been busy in the state,
are given as a reason by the Times cor
respondents for the rapid decline Of the
legislature was deluged with measures
introduced in the interest of organized
labor and of a somewhat Socialistic tend
ency These bills were supported by the
Socialists, and many were passed, while
the Socialists and trades unionists in con-
junction were enabled to kill many meas
ures directed against labor.
Little Social Unrest In South
The reports from southern states show
a total absence of Socialistic legislation
or of any appreciable degree8of social
unrest State and municipal ownership
ideas have not reached the south. There
Is no Socialistic propaganda In any OF
the southern states. with the exception
of Louisiana, where 1t centers in New
Orleans. In the state of Maryland and
in it's neighbor, Delaware, the Socialists
are preparing to arouse public sentiment
in favor of their doctrines. In Maryland
the Socialists poll only 21e per cent Of
the entire registered vote of the state,
but some slight growth is noticed. In
Delaware in the last election 160 Social
list votes were cast out Of total OF about
AZ 900. OF these $50 were in Wilmington
and the other ten nj the rural districts
of the same county.
In this state no Socialistic tendency was
manifest in the work of the legislature.
There was mucn raulCal REFORM leSlSld-
ton in addition to the public service
commissions act, but practically all this
legislation bore the mark of Governor
Hughes, and was passed on the strength
of public confidence in the governor,
where it would not have had the slight
est show had it emanated from either
Socialistic or radical sources. The ac-
tivity of the Independence league has
caused a considerable falling off in the
Socialist vote in the state. but the party
lines are now in process of forming again.
In New Jersey many bills were intro
duced during the last session showing
social unrest and extreme resentment
against the trusts and large corporations,
but it cannot be said that Socialism has
made any inroads on the New Jersey
LEGISLATURE The vote for many years
has betokened a similar condition of the
public mind through the victory of can
iddates who have run for Office on an
independent or reform platform. Social
ISM as far as votes are concerned, has
not made any Roadway in New Jersey.
In 1904 gubernatorial year, the New Jer-
sey Socialists polled altogether 9445 votes
out of a total of 429,629. The next year
the Socialist vote dropped to 7501 of
total of 977,932, and again, In 1906, the
Socialist vote was 7431 out of total of
1854, 464.
Utah, according to the correspondent
at Salt Lake City, is as firmly con-
trolled politically by the railroads as
ever. and the legislation passed at the
last session was reactionary, if anything.
AS a general thing Utah is remarkably
free from any tendency toward social
unrest. The Mormon church employs its