Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-03
HE SHILLY-S -SHALLIED.
MR.. j. Q. TUFTS AND THE COUNCIL
OF LABOR.
The Republican Mayoralty Candidate
Again Detected in Trying to
Carry Water on Both
Shoulders.

Some time ago the Los Angeles coun-
Gil of labor OF the federated trades of
this city submitted the following propo-
sitions to the various municipal csndi-
dates: "Are you in favor of the city
ownership of gas, water and electric
light?"
care you in favor of practical men in
the Office of plumbing inspector?"
"Are you in favor of eight hours con-
stituting days labor ?'
"Are you in favor of the rapid COM
pletion of the outfall sewer system ?"
These pledges were unhesitatingly
signed by Mr.. Rowan but Mr.. Tufts re-
fused to do go, whereupon the council
of labor, at it's session last Wednesday
evening, unanimously adopted2the fol-
lowing resolution, which is taken ver-
batim from the report of its proceedings
as published in the Labor Review, the
official organ:
1.-The committee appointed to wait
upon the candidates and secure their
opinions in regard to the eight hour.
anti-Chineee, water question and
other matters made a voluminous and
very complete report. 1t appears that
nearly all the candidates are in favor of
the propositions presented to them, the
only notable exception being that OF
Mr.. Tufts, candidate on the Republican
ticket for mayor, who failed to respond,
and it was the unanimous sense of the
council that the election OF man who
would not endorse the propositions
would be detrimental to the interests
of the industrial masses"
The report was received and the many
communications fled.
When Mr.. Tufts learned that the
Council of Labor had taken action on his
refusal, he became wildly excited and
hurried to certain members of the coun-
Gil with the pledge signed, but it was
noticed at once that although the pledge
was dated November 14th, the ink on
the signature of Mr.. Tufts was hardly
dry. The facts are, the pledge was
taken to Mr.. Tufts store by James f.
Cusick, chairman of the committee ap-
pointed by the Council of Labor, but
Mr.. Tufts was out. His son then copied
the pledges desired, and stated he would
see that they reached his father at
once. Mr.. Cusick stated he would
return for the paper in little
while. Mr.. Tufts was seen to enter
the store several times, but when Mr..
Cusick returned for the pledge it was
still unsigned. M. Cusick returned six
times, and still found the pledge lacked
Mr.. Tufts signature; becoming dis
gusted, he notified Mr.. Tufts son to for
/ ward the signed pledge to Theodore
Summerland's Office, where he got his
mail. He waited until Wednesday, the
night of the councils meeting, and not
having obtained Mr.. Tufts signature,
reported to the council. At the time
Mr.. Cusick was in Tufts store, j. w.
Hinton, the Republican candidate for
city assessor, was also present, and took
copy of the pledge and left it signed in
Mr.. Tufts store, where Mr.. Cusick re-
ceived it on his second trip to the store.
The pledges we're taken to Mr.. Tufts
| by Mr.. Cusick on November 14th, and
copied on that date by Mr.. Tufts son.
| Mr.. Cusick reported on the following
| Wednesday to the Council OF Labor tha
Mr.. Tufts had failed to sign the pledges,
and the committee was given another
week to secure the signature of Mr..
Tufts, and that week went by without
Mr.. Tufts having signed the pledge, and
then the committee reported to the
Council of Labor. 9
Mr.. Tufts now attempts to bolster up
desperate cause by asserting that he
aigned the pledge on November 14th,
but the facts are all against him. The
| laboring people are up in arms over the
matter and MIR. Tufts will receive no
votes from organized labor.