Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-04
VAN DEGRIFT MAKES
1T VERY WARM FOR HIS
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT

In the Second ward the principal
feature of the political battle is the
contest between A. S. Van Degrift,
non-partisan nominee for councilman,
and e. A. Clampitt, the Republican.
Mr.. Van Dergrift is manager of the
Regal shoe store at Third and Broad
day and lives in 4Angeleno Heights.
Mr. Clampitt is in the oil business on
Lake Shore avenue, in the neighbor-
hood Of which he lives.
This section of the city is naturally
one of the most beautiful residence
districts Of the city, and people most
interested claim that were it not for
the oil industry, the, hills Of the Sec
ond ward would be built up with the
finest homes of the city and that
property values would be doubled or
trebled. 1t Is on this question that
the issue is made. 1t is to the problem
of getting the man most likely to exert
himself against the Oil business and
the spoliation of homes by its abuse
that the voters are giving their at
tention.
In response to many inquiries Mr..
Van Degrift repeatedly has placed
himself on record as intending to
clean up the ward by the removal of
the abandoned derricks. He, however,
insists that the oil men should have a
square deal and should be allowed to
carry on their business so long as they
strictly conform to the ordinances de-
signed to do away with the dirt, noise
and inconvenience conected with 1t.
This would satisfy the people of the
district, although continuance of
present conditions would be intolerable.
His opponent has but lately awak-
ened to this serious objection to his cam
didacy and has come out with a cir
cular in which he points with pride to
his heroic efforts for the past few
years to rid the district of the nui-
sance. He states that he has been en-
gagged In buying oil wells for the ex-
press purpose of removing the same.
This would seem to be a peculiarly
philanthropic procedure on the part of
an oil man were it not for the fact
that, besides operating flowing weels,
Mr.. Clampitt occasionally buys a use
less we'll and holds it until he can get
a good price for the casing. 1t is in
cases of this kind that he is "particu-
larly active in removing the derricks
and other unsightly surroundings of
the oil wells" 1t frequently happens,
however, that the opportunity for dis
posing of the materials does not pre-
sent itself early enough to satisfy the
oil inspector, and for this reason Mr..
Blackmar, the oil inspector, has noti
HeQ MT. ClanpluC III WrlLlHB some
thirty-four times, to say nothing of
innumerable verbal notices, to remove
old derricks and to clean up oil well
premises.
To throw some light on Mr.. Clam
pitts desire to have the oil industry
carried on without Inconvenience to
innocent inhabitants or the oil dis
trict and still more innocent and de-
fenseless inhabitants of the low lands
in the southwest, whose premises are
annually inundated with Shiny filth,
it would be we'll for the voters of the
Second ward to consider the unceasing
efforts of Mr. Clampit to have the Of
flee of oil inspector abolished. 1t is a
fact that during several years past he
has endeavored to free the interests
which he represents from the restric-
tions and regulations now being to
some extent enforced against it!
In view Of the Republican candidates
interests, which are undeniably ad-
verse to those of his immediate neigh
bors, it is evident that he must look
for support to voters in parts of the
ward not affected by his business.
And in view of Mr.. Van Degrift's we'll
known business ability and integrity
and his freedom from corporate or
machine domination, there should GER
tainly be little doubt that he will be
effectively supported by the more in
telligent element in the Second ward.