The San Francisco call., 1910-01-06
Democracy Prepares to Fire
Broadside on the State Board
OF Railroad Commissioners
First Gun of Theodore Bells
GubernatOriaI Campaign to
Be Turned Loose
Conferences TO Be Held in This
City This Week by the
Party Leaders
Political Ammunition Will Be
Distributed and a Free for
All COnfab Held
BY GEORGE A VAN SMITH

railroad commission, on the
ground of willful neglect of duty, will
be one of the prominent and sensa-
tionaI features of the conference of
the state democracy, which will begin
in this city tomorrow.
Before the flower of Canfornia's
democracy goes home it win fire from
the first gun of Theodore Bells guber-
Material artillery a devastating charge
of grape, canister and railroad scrap,
aimed ostensibly at the commissioners,
but expected to break a few bones for
James n. Gillett and result in repub-
lican slaughter generally
Demand for SCaIps
The demand for the seaIps OF sum
meEland. ct al, viii be based on the
commissions failure 10 bestir itself in
accordance with the provisions of an
act of the last legislature. Democracy.
of course, need not be expected to
make any exception in the case OF
Commissioner LoveIand, who has done
and is doing good work for the people.
The legislature empowered and di-
rected the railroad commission 10 file
complaints with the interstate com
meree commission against any changes
in transportation charges arecting the
state Of California.
Democracy is expected to inform Gov
ernor Ginett and the people generally
that the transeontinentaI railroads
made last year arbitrary changes in
rates that win cost the people Of Cali
fornia something like $4,000. 600 a
year. The people have heard some
thing about those rates before
The UnhoIy Alliance
Democracy is expected TO tell Gov
ernor GilIett and the people generally
that the transcontinental railroads are
in an unhoIy alliance with the steam
ship companies. contrary to the letter
and spirit OF the law made and pro-
vided in such cases aforesaid Also that
such unholy alliance has resulted in
working further and more grievous in
jury to the people OF California in a
ratio corresponding TO the pseuniary
benefits reaped by the railroads. Both
the governor and the people have heard
something OF this before.
But this is not all. Democracy pur-
poses to inform the governor and the
people that the railroad commissioners
have sat unmOved by the injuries to
the people; that the commissioners
were fully cognizant Of these wrongs.
as the result of frequent warnings and
much public eIamor Wherefore de-
mocracy viii set forth and declare that
in it's opinion and the opinion OF sundry
other persons. mostly shippers. CaIifor-
MAS railroad commissioners have been
guilty OF deliberate and negligent vio-
lation of duty. for which they should
be punished by removal. instanter or
sooner.
May Appoint Committee
Democracy does not expect its de-
mand for the removal OF the commits
sioners to be granted by Governor Gil
lett. In fact. democracy would con-
slider GiIlett guilty OF unfair politics II
he were 10 take democracy AT its word.
Anticipating GHIetts inability TO
hear its demand. democracy is prepar-
ing to appoint a committee to prose-
cute its campaign on behalf OF the peo-
pie and democraey's candidates
A committee OF I'VE is contemplated
1t will be charged with the duty of Pc
titioning the attorney general to per-
nit il TO file complaints with the inter-
state commerce commission in the
name of the people OF the state OF Cali
fornia- These complaints are to be
directed at the unhoiy alliance between
transcontinental railroads and steam
ship lines and also 10 constitute the
basis of actions for the refunding or
the millions Of whien. democracy de-
cIares. the people Of California have
been despoiled-
Quite incidentally. the conferences
are expected 10 clear up any lingering
doubts about democracy's ability to
coerce Theodore Bell into running for
governor. Senator j. B. Sanford OF
Ukiah is on the ground and prepared TO
capitulate gracefully II democracy's
coercive methods should be Ioosed on
him. The indications are that Bell win