The herald., 1898-09-27
To Republican "old Soldiers"

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To Republican "Old Soldiers"
To the Editor Of the Los Angeles Herald:
AS a Republican of ''the straitest sect
and as a soldier of the war of 1S6l-66. want
to say a word to you. Our party this year
in this county tenders the old soldier.
through its platform. the usual ''sop" OF
recognition, perfunctoSy piece Of political
claptrap, made easy by annual repetition.
and as meaningless as 1t Is hypocritical. 1t
Is well known that we have always been
loyal to the party. while modesly claim
ing recognition In the distribution Of Its
patronage where equal fitness Is shown;
but, as rule, We have been studiously
ignored, II our claim came In conflict with
: the aspirations of those In tie political
push"
The time has arrived, in my opinion, when
old soldiers In the Republican party should
combine to rebuke the party managers
and teach them lesson they will not soon
forget. 1t is we'll known that in this coun-
ty we hold the balance Of power between
the contending parties; that Republican
victories are possible only because OF the
uniform fealty of the Old soldiers In Its
ranks. This fact the party managers seem
not to appreciate, and 1t is clearly neces-
sary to impress 1t on their minds m a way
not looked for.
My object in addressing You Is to sug-
gest that, as old soldiers, We combine In
the coming elections to defeat every man
nominated on the Republican ticket In op-
position to a soldier candidate. and for once
demonstrate our political weight In the
party. The result, l predict, will justify
the effort even at the cost Of the defeat Of
fow Republican candidates and the elec-
ton of Democrats in their stead. There Is
no other way in which We can teach the
party managers more effectually that old
soldiers who win party victories have
rights that cannot be safely ignored. To
no Republican soldier living can 1t be more
distasteful to vote the Democratic or fu-
sion ticket than 1t is to me, and, therefore,
1t is only on few of the county offices
that 1 would ask you to step aside for ths
once to demonstrate our influence and i'm
portance as an element to the party in
which we hitherto have always been
loyal.
Let us combine in the first place, to de-
feat W. p. James. Republican nominee for
township justice, who for four years past
has Sucked the public teat' in the district
attorneys office, and who seems to be one
of the individuals who cannot make their
living in any other way" He was NOM
mated in the interests of the office holding
push" over H. A. Pierce, an old soldier
and lawyer well fitted for the position.
So, let us, as a merited rebuke to the party
managers, defeat Mr.. James and elect the
Democratic candidate. who is reputed to
be capable and deserving.
And, to emphasize our purpose, let us join
in and defeat the nominee of our party for
district attorney, who was chosen in pref
erence to C. c. McComas, the old soldier
and the logical candidate for that office.
No more competent man ever aspired to
that position. His long service as sub
ordinate In that office, his experience and
fitness entitled him to promotion.
1t is useless to attempt to demonstrate
our strength and influence In the party
caucus or at the primaries. Trickery will
defeat the effort, and the pull or the
"push" will rule the ''roost." But, by COM
bining at the polls, where every man is on
an equality with the push" we can de-
feat few Republicans, and then the par
ty machine, which counts on the party
Iealty OIL LIlt Olu SOlllcI WHci IL NOiheS "
voting, but damns his claims to party fa-
vor will awake to the fact that we have
claims that must be respected. 1t is use
less to pass resolutions and to petition for
favors. We have the power within our
selves to compel recognition of our claims,
and no surer and more effectual method
presents itself than to join hands and de-
feat a few of the candidates put forward
for our support. We hold no feeling of
animosity toward the parties we would de-
feat nor do we propose such action as a
personal vindication of any old soldier de-
feated They are not consulted in this
matter, and it is hoped they will keep hands
off. If they do not approve of the PROPOSE
ton here made. 1t is to vindicate prin-
cipe and to test the question. whether old
soldiers in the Republican par
ty in this county have the
grit to compel recognition of their rights
In the party which depends upon them for
political victories, by joining hands for
once to compass its defeat III the nomina-
tions indicated. In no other way can you
teach the party that an old soldier is good
for anything else than to win victories for
others.
I wish in this connection to disclaim any
feeling of personal disappointment which
might be implied by what 1 have here
written, for l have never in my life as
pired to an elective Office and would not
accept any My Impressions on tho sub
iect come from my observation of the meth
ods pursued by my party toward old SOL
diers, many Of whom are capable and GER
tainly worthy to receive proper party rec
ognition, but who, instead, are made the
mere catspaws to pull out of the fire CT
party contests political chestnuts for 9TH
ers. REPUBLICAN OLD SOLDIER.
COUNCILMEN AND WARDS