Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-22
VICTORY PLEASES
FORMER ANGELENQ
DR.. Gates of Nashville, Tenn, Re-
ioiCes Over CaIifornia's
Change in Politics
THINKS DEMOCRATS WILL WIN
College President Says Fight Is
One of Principle and
Not Party
THINKS DEMOCRATS WILL WIN

Although he has not been permitted
to participate during the last few
months in the great fight for decent
government in California, DR.. George
A. Gates, former president Of Pomona
college, rejoices from afar at the sue
cess that has crowned the efforts of
The Herald and other agencies that
have been waging a campaign Tor re-
form. DR.. Gates Is now president OF
Fisk university, Nashville, Tenn. He
writes q letter warmly commencing
the work of The Herald and express
ing his Joy over the victories that
have been won In this state.
DR.. Gates, during his residence IN
Los Angeles county, was active In
the work of reform and states that in
his opinion the fight Is one of prin-
ciple rather than of party. He says
he would not be surprised II the Dem
ocratic party carries the state this fall,
but adds that this is a mere detail OF
the greater movement in which the
forces OF Righteousness are winning q
state long dominated by forces quite
the opposite.
DR.. Gates letter follows:
Editor Los Angeles Herald:
recent editorial in The Herald,
whose exact title have forgotten,
but the substance of which is
'Then and Now" (the editorial be-
ing a comparison of conditions of
California politics four years ago
and now), moves me to send you a
word this morning. Having been
connected in a very modest way
with the beginnings OF that which
has recently come to SO fine sue
cess, the warmth of my appreci-
alton Of the recent achievement in
California politics can be some
what understood.
HOPEFUL IN DEFEAT
I felt from the first that such a
movement must win out in the end.
Simply because it was founded on
those solid principles of human
nature which have never since the
world began met ultimate failure
Those principles have often in the
weary ages Of history been cruel
fed, but they have never failed of
their resurrection a few days"
later It must be so, or we should
despair of the universe. 1 was
present as a delegate at the first
convention in Sacramento, where
the Lincoln-Roosevelt movement
met defeat. 1 have seldom felt
surer of anything In the uncertain
future than that the tables would
be turned on the men who 30 nois-
lily and impudently rode roughshod
over us that afternoon.
OF coufse the fight is not over.
Indeed 1t would not surprise me
to see a Democratic victory In CAL
ifornia this fall, but that, from my
point of view, is a mere detail. 1t
is the forces OF righteousness that
are winning into power In state
long dominated by forces other
than righteous
write to congratulate you. sir,
upon the splendid spirit in which
The Los Angeles Herald is con-
Quoted It seems to me SO far
above cheap partisan politics that
rejoice greatly in the contribution
which 1t is thus making to the
great commonwealth.
While writing this I viii add
that 1t was my pleasure to attend
as a spectator the independent
Democratic convention held two
days ago in Nashville. I believe
that that movement is sharply an
alagous to the Lincoln Roosevelt
movements in California. The is
sues are different, but the spirit
is quite similar. It is the imperial
uprising of the better classes of
people against intolerable condi-
tions. whether that movement
wins in its present important con-
tention is a matter of secondary
consequence; 1t is of the same high
character and rugged determination
which always wins in the end.
GEORGE A. GATES.