The herald., 1896-12-06

president Of the campaign committee.
called the meeting to order and in stat
ing its object said such a fine audience
could WELD enough power If properly ap-
piled to carry through to fruition any
reform which 1t might undertake. Mr.
Wells introduced w. c. Patterson, the
president of the evening.
Mr.. Patterson, after expressing his ap-
probation of the honor of being called
upon to preside over so fine an assem-
blage, announced that the speaking
would be prefaced by music.
The Seventh Regiment band then
played a medley of patriotic airs, and
chorus of fifty voices, under the direc-
ton of Prof. c. s. Cornell, sang the Cali
fornia anthem recently composed by
Mrs. Josephine c. Gro. The performance
brough forth very hearty applause.
The first speaker introduced was the
Rev. Burt Estes Howard, who took for
his theme the abnormal growth of ur-
ban population as compared with the
growth of the entire country, and point
ed out the serious questions of govern
ment arising therefrom. He quoted
from numerous authorities on civic eco
nomicS to show that most American cit
les are very poorly governed and pay
very dearly for their public service. He
concluded by saying the question of the
success Of local government was
today at stake, and 1t was in united non
partisan movements like that begun by
the Better City Govrnment league that
the hope of the future lay.
w. A. Spalding was introduced as a
close student of social questions and eco
nomics. He took for his text, From him
to whom much is given, much is re-
quired," and stated that such great
privileges and blessings are enjoyed un-
der our present civilization and govern
ment that the responsibilities are cor
respondingly onerous. 1t was our duty
to guard our heritage and pass it on to
the next generation increased and bet
tered The danger to our country was
not from external foes but internal de-
cUonce 1t was through uEselfsh, pa
triotic movements like that undertaken
by the Better City Government league
that our liberties were conserved and
public interests fostered.
George H. Stewart spoke in very
happy vein of the reforms and improve
ments we might have in Los Angeles, all
of which would go to make this the
real City of the Angels: but before this
could be accomplished the voters would
have to quit fighting each other on ac-
count of imaginary political differences,
and concentrate their energies against
the common enemy, which he defined
as incompetency, venality and vice.
T. w. Brotherton made strong plea
for non-partisanship in municipal poll
tics. Although a Republican all his
life, he refused to be bound to vote for
a man for local Office simply because
he belonged to that party or any other.
A man could not stick to strict party
lines without sacrificing his sovereignty
as an American citizen. The Better
City Government league was organized
on the right lines, and every good citi-
zen should support it's candidates, be-
cause they were men carefully selected
on account of their worth and not be-
cause of their political affiliations.
c. D. Willard briefly reviewed the
history of the Better City Government
league and it's work. He said it was not
expected that it would succeed in every
thing undertook at the start, but fair
beginning had been made and the good
work would be pushed ahead till its
purpose was accomplished. Mr. Willard
read the ticket nominated by the league
and commended each name upon it to
the thoughtful consideration of the vot-
ers.
Burr Bassell, nominee for city eng-
neer was introduced and made brief
statement of his position as an inde-
pendent candidate. He said he had only
one pledge to make, and that was to
give the city a clean, honest, efficient
and economic administration if elected
to the responsible office of engineer.