Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-14
OWNERSHIP MEN
DIVIDE HONORS
TWO LEAGUES IN SIXTH STRIVE
FOR LEADERSHIP
Houghton's Followers Gather in One
End Of Sixth Ward-Hay-Fen-
nessy-Welsh PhaIanx
Elsewhere

"This is the genuine, simon-pure.
blown-in-the-bo Sixth ward Public
Ownership league" said Dock Hough-
)tCn last evening to a crowd of men that
filled the little hall at 14O4 Central ave-
nue..
This is the only real signature-on-
every label Sixth ward Public owner
ship league" was what John Welsh told
Tom Fennessy, Arthur Hay and "a few
others at big hall at the Corner of
Central avenue and Adams street.
All was serene in the Sixth ward last
evening, although there were two
places where trouble was expected.
The serenity was due to the fact that
the two Public Ownership leagues that
are making life miserable for the nom
political element of the Sixth ward
were more than a mile apart.
1t was the regular meeting night for
the Sixth Ward Public Ownership
league and there were two regular
meetings held in the ward.
At 1404 Central avenue Dock Hough-
ton had gathered his faithful follow
ers with the charter and the minutes of
the regular club. These are his trophies
of war.
AT Adams and Central the Hayden
nessy-Welsh crowd had gathered a
handful by issuing circulars for gen.
eral mass meeting.
Each Ignored Other
Both branches were aware of the ex-
istence and actions of the other but
studiously ignored them and in strident
tones proclaimed they We're the real
things.
Houghtons crowd was enthusiastic.
The word had been passed around that
there was a keg or two of refreshment
in the back room and this had a Won
derful effect on the spirits of the as
semby, every man of which has a vote
Houghton was in his element for the
Others were perfectly willing to yield
the floor to him and when Dock can
talk to his hearts content without fear
of being shut off by an odious council
rule he is perfectly happy" as one man
remarked. He was perfectly happy last
night He was supremely happy. He
talked public ownership. He talked
about the downtrodden workingmen
He talked about the downtrodden
capitalist.
There was nothing he didn't talk
about and everything he mentioned
was downtrodden. He was the only
real orator of the occasion, but no one
noticed that any oratory was missing
They were thinking chiefly of the beer
Thanks The Herald
When Houghton concluded the club
voted to retain the hall at 1404 as per-
manent headquarters and passed a
rousing resolution of thanks voted to
The Herald for the fair and impartial
way in which it had presented the vari-
Gus dongs of the Sixth Ward Public
Ownership league
A large number of new members was
added to the club, which recognizes
Dock Houghton as its leader and every
new member paid his % cents for the
July dues.
At Adams and Central the crowd was
much poorer in numbers but richer in
"boiled' shirts than those that fol-
lowed Houghton.
John Welsh. the former president of
the Sixth Ward Public Ownership
league, whom Houghton's followers
had deposed from office, was in the
chair and Tom Fennessy was on the
floor. Fennessy is like Houghtoh in
that he isn't happy except when he is
talking. He profits by his vocal powers
and wants to keep in practice at all
times.
Arthur Hay was there and sat imme-
dately behind Fennessy to coach him,
but for once in his life Hay had moth
ing to say.
But Fennessy was not the only
orator. Attorney Springer was there
and half a dozen others who like to
hear themselves talk.
No Beer There
There was no beer at this meeting
and flowing oratory had to take the
place of the flowing bowl.
Only once was there a discordant
note in the harmony that prevailed
at this meeting. The secretary had
read a list of names of men who wished
to become members of the organization,
when little brick mason named Chris
tiansen asked that his name be with
held for a time.
Fennessy saw a prospect of losing
and asked the little brick mason why
he did not want to be voted into the
organization at that time.
"Ah viii tell YOU" said the little
Swede. "Ah COON to thees country
foreigner. All get goot work at my
trade and All make goot wages, but All
COON to thees city and All try to get
work. Ihey ask me am An union
man and All say no. They say All got
to join the union. All ask to join union;
they won't let me. They union keep
me from york. You show me something
different and All join your club, but All
no join a club what haf mans like you
what kepp me out of work."
Swede Stumps Them
Tom Fennessy had nothing to say,
and for a minute a deep, dark dank
silence fell on the group, when John
Welsh called on some one to spread
the propaganda"
The organization of the league over
which John Welsh presides is a des-
perate effort on his part TO get some
one to help him bear the rent of Adams
hall. When John Welsh was the duly
accredited president of the unsplit Sixth
Ward Public Ownership league he Sc
secured a years lease on Adams hall
and kept il i'm his own name.
Two weeks ago Dock Houghtons CO.
horts forcibly removed the furniture
and other paraphernalia of the league
to the. rooms at 1904 Central avenue.
leaving Welsh in possession of a lease
on the old quarters and With the pros
poets of paying large monthly rental
all by himself.
He enlisted tho sVODa 1 hias of Fen