The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-10-03
City Water Plant Must Be
Owned by the People
AND OPERATED BY THEM
No Public Money to Be Paid for Inflated
Stock
An Exorbltant Demand Of the Cooperation
No Go
General City Committee Adopts Res
olution Which Outlines the Policy
of the Party in the Approach
ing The Meeting.

ing = The Meeting.
There was a meeting Of the general
committee Of the Democracy Of the city
of Los Angeles last evening, and the
issue of the forthcoming city election
was made.
The Democratic party Of Los Angeles
went squarely on record for municipal
ownership Of the city water plant.
Furthermore the Democratic party in
the municipal election will advocate the
proposition that If the present plant can
not be obtained at fair price the city
will then proceed to construct its own
system, which will give employment to
hundreds of men and put in circulation
in the community hundreds Of thousands
of dollars.
AT the meeting Of the Democratic CEN
trail committee last evening the follow
ing resolution was presented by j.
Marion Brooks, and it was unanimously
adopted.
1.-The following resolution Is submit
ted to the Democratic city convention
by the general committee with the rec
concentration that it be adopted as the
sense of the convention:
Whereas, The Democrats of the city
of Los Angeles. in convention assembled.
do hereby pledge their nominees for the
common council, for mayor, for city at
torney, city engineer, and for all Of the
offices which will have any bearing upon
the matter, unqualifiedly and unequi-
vocally for the municipal ownership of
the city water plant.
I'VE realize and appreciate that this
is the great and vital issue of the coming
municipal campaign, and that in order
to bring it about at an early date it is
absolutely essential that only, men be
elected who favor municipal ownership
of the water works system.
Failing to acquire the present plant
of the City Water company at fair
price without being compelled. to pay
for inflated stocks the Democratic party
hereby pledges its nominees for munich
pal Office to establish at the earliest pos
sible moment an Independent water sys-
tenn, to be owned, controlled and operat-
ed by the people and for the people,"
The resolution read by Mr.. Brooks was
received with applause and enthusiasm
and it was plain>o. be seem Dltr " yould
be adopted without dissenting voice.
In support of the proposition Mr..
Brooks said:
1 think. Mr.. Chairman, that this is the
time for the Democracy to nominate no
man for public position in this city who
has in the past been in any way allied
with the Los Angeles City Water COM
pany or any of it's interests. This is a
critical period in the history of our mu-
nicipal government, for the municipal
ownership of the waterworks is to be
brought about within the next
two years. If possible. if at
pledge itself to bring this about, and in
doing SO it must give positive assurance
to the people that their interests in the
matter will be fully and amply protect
ed. This cannot be done if men are
placed in nomination who have in times
gone by, while acting in a public ca
pacity, given unmistakable evidence of
favoritism toward the City Water COM
pany.
This Is a campaign in which issues,
not men, are to be considered. The can
didates nominated must be men who
must in every way fit the issue; the is
sue cannot be made to fit the men. We
cannot expect to gain the confidence of
the people If we make decla%ation in
favor of municipal ownership of the
city water plant, and then place in NOM
ination for public officials men who are
Known to be in close alliance with the
officers of the corporation with which
we will have to deal d':ring the next
few years ard which will involve mil
lions of the money of the people.
Mr.. Brooks remarks We're greeted
with applause, and the resolutions were
adopted by a unanimous vote amid great
enthusiasm.
The report of the executive committee
was approved in every particular. The
primaries will be held next Wednesday
between 8 and pm, according to the
old precinct divisions, except in the re-
Gently annexed districts, where they will
be held according to the new precinct
lines.
The convention will be convened
promptly at 10 am. on Saturday, the
10th inst, in Temperance temple.
Every city committeeman who has not
already done SO should report to Sec
rotary ]. H. Melville the polling place
of his precinct and the name of his
clerk. This must positively be done to-
day. Mr.. Melville will be at the head
| quarters of the county committee, in the
| Workman building. from am. until !
Pm. Here committeeman who have
not already done so will report the place
where the election will be held in their
| precinct, and the name of the clerk they
have chosen.
The various precincts will be entitled
| to the number of delegates indicated.
Precinct. Delegates Precinct. Delegates
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