Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-05
THE NoN.PARTlsAN PRINcIPLn

WIG "uN"NaNS VI VIC lihNiPiV " hoh-
partisanship in local affairs It assumed
that position wholly upon the ground OF
the best service it could perform for the
people Of Los Angeles city and county,
and for no other reason whatever.
Appreciating the shameful fact that
this city and county we're bound hand
and foot and delivered over to the
Vaccinations and corruptlons of as
dangerous and selfish gang of rail-
road politicians as ever combined for
corporation purposes, The Herald fore
saw, and believes today more firmly
than ever, that the only hope for re-
turn to popular government in civic
affairs is by the elimination of partisan
lines and the selection Of the best men
among us, regardless Of party affilia-
tion, for the county and city Offices
In this there has been no abandon
ment whatever of Democratic prin-
clple, but rather an enforcement and
SUPPORT of it, for If the Democratic
party does not represent the best inter-
ests of all the people, and If the Demo-
cratic party does not live up to it's
claim of representing popular interests,
it ought to go out of business.
Therefore, having ascertained that the
best interests of the people of Los An
geles require the application Of the prin-
ciple of non-partisanship in county and
city affairs, The Herald approves and
supports that principle emphatically,
consistently and persistently, not only
for today but tomorrow and as far In
the future as such principle may be
found necessary to the establishment
and maintenance of a CLEAN, HON.
EST AND PROGRESSIVE NUM-
CIPAL GOVERNMENT.
The Democratic county committee, at
its first meeting in this campaign, took
up the suggestion made by The Herald,
and after full and fair discussion of
the subject unanimously recommended
to the Democratic county convention,
when it should assemble, that it make
no party nominations, but instead
should indorse and support ticket to
be nominated by county non-partisan
movement-representing all shades of
political opinion-which would be pre-
sented for consideration.
The Democratic county convention,
when it met, at once adopted platform
declaring, among other things; that
"As a public office should be n public
trust, we demand that henceforth the
offices of this county shall be filled by
men good, true and patriotic.
"We recommend TINT this convention,
by its action here today, CONFIRM AND
APPROVE THE PRINCIPLE OF NON
PARTIsANsHIP IN LOCAL AFFAIRS"
This declaration was Immediately
followed by che Endorsement, by that
convention, of the non-partisan county
ticket. Therefore the Democrats of
Los Angeles county are committed to
the non-partisan principle and are
struggling today for its adoption by all
the voters of this county.
Recently there has been an organized
effort in this city to resist the non
partisan principle in its application to
city affairs-where it is needed in even
greater measure than in county affairs
and there are indications that some
active Democrats are working to nomi-
nate straight Democratic city ticket
in opposition to non-partisan city
ticket
Let us not mince words or leave any
opportunity for misunderstanding.
The nomination of straight Demo-
cratic ticket at this time-no matter If
its intention be honest-would play di-
rectly into the hands of the Southern
Pacific machine by dividing the votes
of the people and giving strength to the
machine Republican ticket. 1t would
| inevitably weaken the non-partisan
ticket both city and county, and result
only in the defeat and shame of the city
Democratic organization.
| The Herald does not yet believe that
7 the Democratic party Of Los Angeles
city can be coerced and driven into the
nomination of a straight Democratic
ticket, but so far as this paper is con-
cerned, it's position is clear. emphatic
and unmlstakable:
1. THE HERALD WILL SUPPORT
THE NON-PARTIsAN CITY TICKET
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.