The herald., 1894-12-04
WHY 1T HAPPENED.

Even enthusiastic Democrats are not
surprised at the result OF the municipal
election in Los Angeles. The coneerva-
tivss arc content to congratulate them
selves on the faot that 1t is no worse-a
tidal wave" an "upheaval," LAND
slide" or something OF that sort.
The defeat OF Mr.. Ryan is q misfor-
tune-not for himself or hin party, but
for the city. It is unfortunate that par
tisan prejudice blinded so many citizens
to the fact that the Democratic candi-
date gave better promise OF a progress
sive, public spirited administration than
either OF his opponents. But the result
as far as he was concerned might have
been expected, basing a calculation OF
probabilities on the Republican major.
ity OF the gubernatorial election. Still,
the figures show that II the Democrats
OF Los Angeles had voted as q minority
party as in duty bound to vote they
would have won. The apathy of o Los
Angeles Democrat in a crisis is some.
thing to make the heavens weep.
Mr.. RAIDER, as spokesman and pledge
maker for the Republicans, has made
many fair promises. If these promises
are redeemed or il an honest effort is
made to redeem them, that portion oil
the Democracy who have the welfare
of the community at heart will swsllo W
their regret at this defeat and hope for
a more satisfactory Issue next time. II
the ensuing administration is not true
to is promises if it does not make an
earnest effort to advance the interests
of the city; if it does not exercise .
public spirit commemorate with the
community's ambition there will be q
reversal OF the current decision at the
next municipal election. Even without
full Democratic vote the popular YER
dict will be adverse. Los Angeles will
have good government at any cost.
1t is apparent from the returns that
the Democrats did not all vote their
ticket. They chased after strange gods.
including Hazard and Schnabel. Some
OF them, for reasons best known to
themselves, voted for RAIDER. The Re-
publican votes for Ryan may be counted
on the fingers Of two hands.
And OF the wreck the Democrats save
four councilmen-Snydsr from the Sec.
ond ward, Pessell from the Sixth. Ash
man from the Seventh and Savage from
the Eighth-and with that the tale is
told. 1t was not rout all along the
line, but our flank was turned, our
center broken and our baggage train
captured. We saved our picket line
and We covered the retreat of our light
horee cavalry. We didn't even get a
school director. The victory is clearly
with the enemy.
The Republicans fought nobly. They
polled 55l5 votes for RAIDER, which is
only ISL less than they gave Mr.. Estee
for governor. The Democrats fought
ignobly. They gave Ryan 1906 votes
96l less than they gave Budd. Come to
think OF it, the result does look like a
tidal wave" and all that sort Of thing.
But the Democrats have only them
selves to blame.
There ia one CLEAN of sardonic exulta-
ton that flashes like scimetar in the
moonlight. emanating from the defeat
of Henry L. Hazard-not because Henry
T. Hazard WAS defeated. for he was only
an interloper in the fght-a guerilla
bush hacking on the outskirts of the
melee-but because mis- defeat is re-
buke to the man who equipped him for
his predatory campaign. There was
wild rejoicing at the overthrow of this
political Baal, and even the "widows OF
Ashur" were not cloud in their wall. "
There is some compensation even in
this Democratic defeat.