Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-05
THE PRESS CONDEMNS

/ III HE OAKLAND ENQUIRER has
shrewdly guessed something, and
- the more we ponder over the hazard
the better it looks. The Enquirer's
Wayfarer," who is always pretty well
up to snuff on political matters, sug-
gests that Governor Gi1lett's Soreness"
at the newspapers causes the real mas
ter of the destinies of the state, Boss
Herrin, to smile. Herrin, says this
long-headed observer of men and af-
fairs, thoroughly realizes that the
more the governor is criticised the
more he win rely on Herrin. who will
act as the governors sympathizing and
loyal friend so long as. by so doing. he
can use Gillett. The more things Her
rim can get Gillett to do that will call
forth adverse criticism by the news
papers, the better Herrin will be
pleased. For he knows that the more
he is criticised, the 'sorer' Glllett will
become, and that the 'sorer' he be-
comes the greater influence he, Herrin,
will have over the governor. Tt is the
old, old game so long and so success
fully played by the designing political
boss to get next to those who hold
public office. 1t seems to be working
all right in Governor Gillett's case. But
even a governor can pay more than 1t
is worth for the selfish friendship of
Herrin and a Hartman. Maybe,
though, the governor thinks it better
to be 'jollied' by Hartman and Herrin
than it is to have the confidence, the
respect and esteem of the press and
the people of the state. But when he
gets through being governor and can
be of no further use to Hartman and
Herrin, then, perhaps, he will realize
that the good will, respect and esteem
of the people of California are, after
all, more to be coveted than the tenn
porary, evanescent and selfish friend
ship of those who profess friendship
in order that they may use him."
There is no denying that the COVER
nor is, as our Oakland contemporary
suggests, "sore" on the newspapers of
the state for the adverse criticism
passed by them, with rare exceptions,
on account of the manner in which he
has yielded to the wishes of Herrin.
With two or three exceptions, the in
fiuential newspapers of the state, re-
CARELESS of their politics. have had
few kind words to say of the governor
when commenting upon his allegiance
to the cause of the abominable South
ern Pacific political machine. And
when we stop to consider 1t, is II not
strange that a man who has attained
the highest office within the gift of
the inhabitants of his state should be
possessed of so small degree of acu-
men and foresight as to fail utterly to
comprehend the intent Of and portent
in the almost unanimous condemnation
of the press?
| Governor Gillett will awaken some
day to a realization of the fact that
his political adviser has wrought his
downfall. When that time arrives 1t
will be too late for Mr.. Gillett to re-
habilitate himself in the esteem of the
people he has affronted repeatedly since
he assumed the duties of his high
office. He has had abundant oppor-
tunities to prove his boosted indepen-
dence and strength. One of the great
est of these followed the resignation of
Boodler Wilson from the railroad COM
mission. If at this time Governor Gill
lett had named as Wilson's successor
man personally known by him to
stand ready to do his duty in the mat
ter of compelling the arch-criminal of
the state of California, the Southern
Pacific, to abide by the laws enacted
for its governance and to proceed
through the courts to punish it for it's
confessed criminal operations, he
would have made himself the most pop
ular governor the state has had for
many year, instead of one in whom
no honest man and no newspaper
even those which are encouraging him
in his presentA course-haye confidence.
Gilett has made his own nest and
he must lie in it. He has nobody but
himself to blame for the adverse criti-
cisms which his contumelious and
contumacious attitude toward all Cali
fornia has brought upon his head.