Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-01
To the Voters of Los Angeles.

The crowning glory of our country,
that which makes it light to all the
nations of the earth, is that here, in
very truth, the people rule. Yet here
in our city, today, this vital principle of
all free government lis assailed and the
peoples will, deliberately expressed
with all the formalities prescribed by
law, is openly defed.
Majorities decide who are the people,
and minorities must submit or free gov
ernment is at an end. TO the decision
of the people, in the recent election on
Sunday closing OF saloons, obedience is
refused by the mayor OF our city, who
boldly declares his purpose, by virtue OF
the office he now holds and to which he
aspires again, to rule you according TO
his will, and in direct and positive dis
obedience to your own. We, therefore,
ask your careful attention to plain
statement OF the case, your dispassion-
ate judgment thereon and your patriotic
condemnation Of the offender. The Sun
day closing of saloons has been live
issue in this city for months and months
past, and every time its friends and op-
ponents have measured strength, Sunday
closing has had majority, and the larger
the number who could be got to ex-
press themselves on the question, the
larger was the majority favorable to the
measure. Thus, out of II 1888 who petit
toned the council, the majority for Sun
day closing was 2l37; and out of 6777
votes cast at the last election, there was
majority the same way of 5S3. 1t is
believed, and apparently with good rea-
son, that if the entire 1900 voters in
the city could be brought to vote on it,
the majority in favor OF Sunday closing,
now that the reasonableness of the meas
ure and the moderation of its advocates
have become better known, would
be nearly or quite 1000; but
be that as it may, the question was sub
mitted to you and majority decided in
favor of Sunday closing. The council,
immediately after sssscerttaaining this fact.
by count of the votes, passed an ordi-
nance to carry your will into effect. The
mayor, however, decides to veto it. You
decided that the saloons shall be closed
on Sunday the mayor says they shall
not. He is a candidate for reelection.
We respectfully ask every voter to join
with us in rebuking this grave offense
against free government, this affront to
the majority of legal voters of the city.
To whatever party you belong, patriot
ically rise above party and vote againo
the men who, by their action asst
policy, seek to make void the will of the
people.
We present as candidate for mayor
to your consideration as electors a man
who embodies in himself the courage
and integrity to carry out the will of the
majority when expressed. That man is
John Shirley Ward.
There will be furnished 80, 900 ballots
with the name of JOHN Shirley Ward
printed thereon for mayor. OF these,
except for the name of John Shirley
Ward, 10000 will be the straight Repub-
lican ticket; 10000, with the same one
exception, the straight Democratic
ticket, and the last 10000 the Reform
ticket, headed by John Shirley Ward as
candidate for mayor.
As to the nominee for mayor by the
late Democratic convention, we are as
sured that the respectable elements OF
that party are desirous Of his defeat.
Mr.. Ward has lived in Los Angeles
four years and in Southern California
fifteen years, is taxpayer in this city,
is man of fine natural ability, and has
the perfect health of mind and body to
enable him to discharge to your satisfac-
ton, we believe, the important duties of
mayor. We confidently commend him
to your support.
j. M. G. MARBLE, Chairman.
W. A. JAMES, Secretary.