Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-27
A DIRTY INTRIGUE-Ir WON'T WORK

NAnlte House OF TroVer OteVelauu, anu
the election of mayor, city officers and
city council, that the HERALD has
thought it inexpedient to talk politics
for the past couple of weeks. We
felt that ir would be in good taste to
give our people rest. We never for a
moment, however, believed that the
lesson of the municipal election should
be forgotten. 1t was, in substance, that
the people desired change.
They desired change because they
elected Tom Rowan mayor by nearly
thousand majority, Notwithstanding the
fact that Harry Hazard, his predecessor,
had been elected mayor by an unprece-
dented majority = Harry Hazard, the
uncompromising Republican.
They desired a change because they
came very near electing a Democratic
council. As it is, that body will stand
iourDemocrats and four Republicans,
and one disqualified Republican in the
person of candidate for San Quentin.
We ought to say possible candidate for
San Quentin. We have nothing harsh
to say about Mr.. Campbell until his
guilt shall have been proved. But, as
the case stands, it looks very much as
if the allegations against that gentle
man are true. His friends have been
going around saying that there was no
intent to violate the law on the part OF
Mr.. Campbell. Whatsoever force this
plea may have in extenuation of his
first offense will be wiped out if. know
ing his disability, he shall seek to quail.
ify for office. This last act will show
that he believes that the laws can be
trifled with with impunity.
The fact must not be forgotten that, in
the Fourth ward, Mr.. Chanslor was only
defeated by majority, on the face of
the returns, of ten votes. The allega-
tions seem to be sustained that this
sterling Democrat was counted out.
Now was there ever, in the history OF
the municipal government of any city,
| more sweeping revolution than this
Was there ever more clearly expressed
desire to have clearance all round the
board? There is bewhiskered anec-
dote that really prefgures the situation.
1t is embodied in the old, old story OF
the traveller who sat himself down at
the table of railway restaurant, and
who was approached by the waiter with
the sepulchral inquiry, "Coffee, sir ?"
The man en- route looked his interlocutor
in the eye, and said. "Look here, old
fellow, if that was coffee give me tea; if
it was tea give me coffee. want a
! change"
Precisely that was the attitude of the
people in the late municipal election.
They wanted change, and they indi-
Gated their preference by an overwhelm-
ing vote. And great and universal will
be their disgust if they do not get it.
Notwithstanding this decisive popular
verdict there are whispers around of an
intrigue which shall continue the pres
ent chief Of police, Glass, in his posi-
ton. If, by any chance, such political
iniquity should be consummated, there
would almost be a riot in this commu-
nifty.
The city charter expressly says that
the board of police commissioners and
of fire commissioners shall be composed,
in effect, of two Democrats and two
Republicans, and that the mayor shall
er oticio be the head of each board and
shall have the casting vote in the ap-
pointment of the chief of police
and chief of the fire depart
ment. The meyor-elect, the Hon.
Thomas E. Rowan, was indicated
by splendid vote OF the people as the
man who should name the heads of
both of those departments. This plain
declaration of the will OF the people
could only be defeated by the election
of sham Democrats as members OF the
two boards named-men elected with
the express understanding of betraying
their party and defeating the popular
will by methods of despicable trickery.
The scheme will fail. victorious
majority may sometimes venture to
trife with the popular will-although
even they can't afford the expensive
and demoralizing experiment-but who
ever heard OF defeated and routed
minority having the impudence to en-
tertain such a scheme for moment ?
This is the only case we know Of.
Just let it be attempted, and see the
howl of Indignation that will 90 up on
all hands. 1t will not stop short of
splitting the empyrean. The people OF
Los Angeles would not tolerate for q
moment such finicky and unprincipled
municipal politics. The exact situa-
ton contemplated by the charter, of an
equipoiee OF parties in the commissions,
has arrived, and Mayor Rowan was
especially elected to make those bodies
Democratic.
We think we know Councilman
Strohm. He is Republican, but he
believes in the will of the people. He
may have presented to him the oppor-
tunity of his life; and, if 80, we hope
and believe that he will be equal to the
occasion. The people of Los Angeles
will not submit to any dickers at this
juncture. Any one who shall be instru-
mental in defeating their clearly ex-
pressed will at this time will never
again be heard of in municipal or other
politics. He will 60 at once to the bot
tom of the deep sea, and no plummet
will hn either long enough or heavy