Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-01
ORIGIN OF THE S. P. MACHINE
How the Llndleys, Parker and Me-
LaehIan lnaugurated Boss
RnIe

LOS ANGELES, oct. 91.--[Editor
Herald; 1t may be interesting 20 the
public to be reminded of the origin and
history of the railroad Republican push
of Los Angeles county. 1t originated
with Hervey Lindley, who held Governor
Waterman in the palm of his hand. In
1888 and 1889 Lindley was the dictator
of the city council. This attracted the
attention of the Southern Pacific rail-
road, and it designated him as it's man
ager in this part of the state. Governor
Waterman wanted to be renominated,
and hence he attached himself to the
railroad-Lindley machine The legisla-
ture chosen in 1888 was ready for STRATA
gems and spoils. Through Jim Dameron,
the "penman," q law was passed author
izing the building of the Whittier re-
form school. 1t was q Lindley scheme,
and its construction, furnishings and
launching were under the management
of the Lindleys-especially Hervey and
DR.. Walter.
Hervey organized a machine COM
posed of S ch young men as Walter
Parker, Billy Dunn, the Stantons,
father and son, Henry e. Carter, George
Arnold and a number of others, who
controlled the affairs of the Republican
party. Walter Parker was his favorite
pupil and he carried away the honors
OF his class.
Pasadena furnished faithful and
efficient contingent, of which Nc
Lachlan and Calvin Hartwell We're
active members, though for time they
were subordinates.
In 1890 McLachla l was nominated by
the Lindley push for district attorney
and elected. During his Term there
were charges of profligacy and graft
in the Whittier scheme. Tha grand
jury inaugurated an investigation
at the suggestion of members not
under the influence of the Lind
ley machine. That there was reck-
less extravaganza was shown by the
testimony of DIR. Walter Lindley him
self. The investigation, however, was
tame and farcical From that time on
ward Lindley was attached to Nc
Lachlan. Lindley tried to be NOM
mated for congress in 1890 but failed,
and in 1892 he was nominated through
the power of the railroad and over
whelmingly defeated at the polls.
He then took up McLachlan for con-
gress, still holding the position as rail-
road political manager and in 1894
forced his nomination and stood by him
through thick and thin.
Through the partisanism of the Re-
publieans the machine ruled with rods
of iron and gold. But Lindley having
lost his power, the railroad dropped
him and the mantle fell on Parker
The gratitude of the railroad was not
for past work but for work to come,
not an unusual kind of gratitude. In
some respects Parker is an ADLER boss
than Lindley; he is more tyrannical
and exacts more abject servitude.
In the meantime the head bosses of
Pasadena played themselves out or
weakened their hold. There are now a
triplet of bosses in that city-McLach
Ian, Ben Hahn and Cal Hartwell-who,
through the Los Angeles machine, have
manipulated themselves into nomina-
tions to important offices. They have
coadjutors They are all perpetual Of
flee seekers. McLachlan is a hungry
one, because he relies on public office
for livelihood. Hahn read law with
him, and it is a question whether the
preceptor or pupil knows less law.
On general theories it is ineXplicable