Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-09


the people in matter vitality affecting
their material interests.
The members of the state railroad
commission, Attorney General Webb
and Governor Gillett have enjoyed one
of the most splendid opportunities to
take steps that would disprove forever
the charges made against them from
time to time by responsible men and
organizations, charges that they feared
to attack in it's lair or in the open the
most contumacious enemy with which
the inhabitants of California ever have
had to contend-the Southern Pacific
political bureau, Dull, short-sighted
officials, apparently unable to compre-
hend the magnitude of the movement
against which even so strongly bull
warked an institution as the Southern
Pacific political machine cannot much
longer stand, they have allowed to slip
through their fingers an opportunity
to some extent at least, by falling
back upon the supreme authority of the
constitution of California.
With sections 81 and 20 of article IL
of the constitution in one hand and
a copy of the evidence to be found in
the report of the recent investigation
of the alleged rebating on the part of
the Southern Pacific made by Inter-
state Commerce Commissioner Frank
lin K. Lane. any of these officials
might easily have erected to his MEM
ory monument that would have tow
cred above all other official acts But
as it is, private individuals will prob
ably receive all the credit for the ex-
ercise of a privilege which was to these
officials a duty.
Events promise to follow one another
rapidly. Not only have the shippers
Of San Francisco organized for action
against the Southern Pacific company, |
but the Office of district attorney for
that county and city, with Heney and
Langdon working, as in the past, each |
with an eye single to the punishment
Of all criminals who have had a hand |
in debauching local politics, threaten
ing the notoriously corrupt Southern |
Pacific politicians, the people OF Cali
fornia may rest assured that they Will
soon gain control of their heritage
honest government. Further than this
a movement already is afoot for the
of Railroad Commissioner
Andrew M Wilson, who by his own
confession is guilty of having accepted
1 bribe while member Of the board
IF supervisors of San Francisco.
If Governor Gillett can be prevailed
upon to call the special session OF the
legislature which, according to an AS
;ociated Press dispatch last night. will
be demanded by powerful
Influences working in behalf OF the
,eople, the legislature must either re-
move Wilson from office or go upon
'ecord as condoning a most monstrous
,ffense, made criminal by the statutes
If every state in the Union.
If. before the meeting of the legis-
ature in special session, if such
Meeting be called, Wilson and the other
members of the railroad commission do
cot obey the mandate of the consti-
.ution and institute proceedings for the
punishment of the Southern Pacific for
the crime of rebating, there will be a
double reason why Wilson should be
mpeached and forever disgraced; and
IFS fellow commissioners certainly
should share his fate.
So surely as that the present legis-
ature rests under a solemn obligation
o remove these officials, If they per-
list in their refusal to obey the decree
# the constitution, it is certain that
n the event of it's failure to do so, If
he special session be called, a legis-
ature that will impeach them will be
elected by the now thoroughly aroused
Ind determined people of California.
There used to be a saying in presi-
iential campaign years that "As goes
New York, so goes the nation" Like
wise may it now be said, LAS go San
francisco and Sacramento, so goes
california"
The people have spoken.
III