Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-10
LETTER BAG.
A Card From Rev. John II. Collins.

a Card From Rev. John II. Collins.
EDrroRs HERALD: was much SUR
prised at the attempt OF Mr.. A. 4. Davis
to clear the board of supervisors from
the charges made by the masses Of fair
minded men and women throughout
this county. do not like newspaper
controversy, but in his letter the ap-
pearance OF ''double dealing" is so plain
as to demand attention.
There is no law to compel the board
of supervisors to grant license to any
person. The granting OF such is entirely
optional with the board. Otto American,
who is in no way connected with the
soldiers home, applied to the board for
license to run saloon at the home,
and the board granted it. Mr.. Davis
will find that the application is marked
No. IL and that he himself moved that
the license be issued and his motion
was carried on February IS, 1892. Now,
who is responsible for that saloon?
Could it have existed without their
permission? Ii 80, why did Otto Amer
Ian apply to them for license and pay
for the same? 1t is not customary for
saloon men to pay unnecessary licenses.
Now as to "those protests" Mr.. Davis
says: EVERY one had more or less
names attached that were not qualified
electors" 1 would respectfully refer
the gentleman to those from Ell Mon te,
Glendora, Lancaster and Pico Heights
Il might name others) and ask him to
reconsider this statement, or else it
honestly mistaken, but the statement is
not true.
Allow me to quote from Mr.. Davis's
letter sentence which, if true, places
the board in the light of INHALED Grim
inals. He says: "And to the shame of
Parson Collins's zealots it was proved
that some of the signatures were forged
yes, forged" Now, may ask this ques-
ton: Is it not good law and good COM
nonsense to charge that holding public
office at the expense OF the county, and
being in possession o. such evidence
yet making no effort to bring the So
called forger to justice is criminal !?
If "the. fact still remains, and it is in
evidence that some of these names were
forged" and that the board has such
evidence, were not my ''rants" and
clashes" of last Sunday evening heavily
loaded with the essence of truth, for l
only said while they (the present
board) are in Office we (the people) are
in disgrace, decency and honor are at a
discount, and trickery alone is at pre-
MUM"
1 defy Mr.. Davis to find the words
Improper persons" in section II of that
ordinance. We had right to protest
against any and all persons asking for
licenses to sell liquor. 1t is true that
men Withdrew their names from the
protests at the personal solicitation OF
saloonmen, and it has been said (and is
yet uncontradictedl that members of the
board OF supervisors did soliciting" OF
this kind.
There is no truth in the insinuation
that the temperance people wished to
"trample the rights of citizens in the
mire.'' The American principle oi
majority rule" was trampled in the
mire by the supervisors in requiring q
two-thirds majority on the protests. As
American citizens we demand that the
majority shall rule, and it seems to be
an established fact that at the next elec.
tiou this American principle will be ap.
piled and Mr.. Davis and his colleagues
will be hunting job.
JOHN H, COLLINS,