Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-30
THE COUNTY CAMPAIGN

The meeting today Of the county
Democratic committee for the purpose
of calling a convention viii mark the
formal opening Of the campaign In Los
Angeles county.
And as the campaign opens the
Democrats find themselves confronted
with an unusual situation. which
should have the most careful consider
alton in all its phases
Democratic leaders are almost unani-
nous in the opinion that mon -parti-
cipation" Is the best policy. The ques-
tion presented to the party is, there
fore, How far shall non-participation
extend? And what is really meant by
non-participation?
Somewhat disheartened by the ever
increasing Republican majorities and
trihe discouraged over the continual
success of the Republican machine in
this county leading Democrats express
the opinion that an independent ticket
would have better chance for victory,
and that such a ticket should be ap-
proved by the Democratic party and
voted for by Democrats, even If not a
single Democrat be named on the
ticket.
The question may not be discussed by
the county committee, as IL is not with
in the province of the committee to
act upon It, but the committeeman will
undoubtedly debate the situation
among themselves personally. in an
effort to ascertain the county senti-
ment.
II the policy of participation is to
be pursued, The Herald insists that
some sort of ticket be formally pre-
scented by the Democratic convention,
heading. The ticket so presented may
he an independent ticket, but it must
have the Endorsement of the Demo-
cratic county convention, so that Demo-
Gratis may know that in voting that
ticket they are casting a Democratic
vote.
And in the event there is no inde-
pendent ticket to indorse, the policy of
participation must not go to the
extreme of non-action by the Demo-
cratic convention. The organization
and party machinery must be kept
intact by the formal presentation of
some kind of ticket that shall bear the
stamp of Democracy. Hence, If there
shall be no independent ticket there
must be Democratic ticket.
The Herald has no objection to a |
Democratic Endorsement of an inde-
pendent ticket that will stand for
honesty and efficiency in the public
service and opposition to the Republi-
can machine. 1t would be good prin-
ciple, as we'll as good politics, to pur-
sue such a course of on-participation, |
but while we are waiting for the inde-
pendent ticket, let us not permit one
jot or little of the party organization
to become obsolete or the campaign to
go by default.
In other words, let us extend, in ad- |
vance, an invitation to all citizens to
form an independent movement and
promise them Democratic support. But
il they will not, then let the Democrats
be prepared to Timber up their old guns
and make the fight, as usual.
An Independent ticket, if composed
of well known, honest and capable men,
could carry Los Angeles county. 1t |
would have the support of Republicans
who are opposed to the Republican ma
chine,e and the added support of Demo-
Gratis would give it victory. Democrats |
are willing to help along such a cam
paign, but they must, for the preserva-
ton of the party integrity, stand ready
to put up a straight party ticket if no
independent ticket shall appear.