Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-05

ever there was picnic for the practical
politician Il was then and there. To
the minds eve twenty dollar gold pieces
could be seen hopping all over the
pavements surrounding the Temple
block. Every smooth Ephraim In the
county did not consider his ordinary
days work done unless he had struck
poor Temple for q cool twenty. A man
with a reasonable degree Of cheek would
drop in on his friend Temple and leave
his note for thousands, taking away
coin therefor. After desperate strug-
gle Temple won, but the victory ruined
him. Following the failure of the Bank
of California in September, 1875, he
closed his bank with a million and a
quarter due to his deposltors, without
a bean to pay them with. This was
the inevitable fortune of man who
had nothing either of the politician or
the banker playing with edged tools.
Politician OF the Old Days
California lost resourceful polti-
clan when l. w. Hellman, the presl-
dent of the Nevada Bank of San Fran
cisco and of the Farmers and Mer-
chants bank of Los Angeles, dropped
politics and devoted himself exclusive
ly to high finance. Until the last
dozen years or so he was one of the
most active, indefatigable and re-
sourceful politicians whom Los An
geles has ever known, and wes
equipped with a sagacity, intelligence
and energy altogether out of the CON-
mon.
When |. w. Hellman was the chair
man of the Democratic county commit
tee everybody knew that the utmost
possibilities of the situation would be
realized. With the single exception Of
1875 the county funds were well at
tended to by some official who enjoyed
Hellman's confidence, and it goes with
out saying that they and the city's
funds as we'll were always scrupulous-
ly accounted for. He was not only
potential in our local affairs, but his
influence in the counsels of the party
in the state was very considerable.
He soon became so immersed in bank
ing and other gigantic enterprises that
he found it expedient to drop active
politics and attend strictly to bust
ness. From the role of an old-time
political leader he has directed his in
terest and activities towards giving
California and the country one of the
most important banking combinations
in the United States, comprising the
Of ErQnNiCnn and
the Farmers and Merchants bank of
Los Angeles, to which have recently
been added the Wells, Fargo & Co.
Bank of San Francisco and several
banks in Oregon and Washington,
making him conspicuously the most
important tinancier of the Pacific
coast. Many and many time, when
campaigns have been coming on, was
the old-time Democrat heard to ex-
claim, "I wish we had 1. w. here to
run the fight"
In those days of yore Meyer j. New
mark, who for years has had little
to say about party management ard
who now confines himself to matters
of merchandise and account, was an
alert and effective local leader of Nthe
Democracy. Since his appointment to
consulship to Portugal by Cleveland
during his first term have not heard
of Newmarks having anything to do
with politics.
Noted Political Leaders
OF the Democratic politicians Of the
old dayS Hon. r. d, Mott. the father
of the promising young lawyer, John
G. Mott, was one of the most power
full and skillful He did not care about
holding office himself, but he had a
good deal to say about who should
hold office He served one term in the
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