Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-16
BEN E. WARD
Efforts Are Being Made to Select q
Ticket Before Meeting of the
Democratic Convention Next
Thursday

Strenuous efforts are being made by
the Citizens county executive commit.
tee to complete a ticket before Septem.
Der 20.
On this date will be held the Demo
cratic county convention, and the nom
partiSans hope to complete their nom-
nations in time to present the ticket to
the Democratic convention and ask the
Endorsement of that body
Whether the Democrats will indorse
the Citizens ticket or nominate a
straight Democratic ticket rests solely
with the Democratic convention.
Many of the leaders of the party are
heartily in favor of acting in complete
harmony with the Citizens committee
In the independent county movement as
a sure means of breaking the hold of
the Southern Pacific machine upon the
county administration.
Democratic Recognition Desired
On the other hand, fears have been
expressed by workers in the Democratic
party that the party will not have suf-
ficient recognition on the independent
ticket to warrant complete indorse-
ment of the Citizens ticket.
1t is believed, however, that a large
majority of the Democrats of the
county are in favor of the independent
movement, and that the coming county
convention will indorse the independent
ticket in its entirety.
Another meeting of the executive
committee of the Citizens county COM
mittee was held yesterday in the head
quarters in the Merchants Trust build
ing, and at its conclusion Secretary
North stated that gratifying progress
had been made toward the completion
of the ticket. From now on sessions of
the executive committee will be held
daily and perhaps nightly, in an effort
to complete the ticket by next Thurs
day.
Ward is Confident
County Assessor Ben Ward was found
in his office yesterday, sitting behind a
large stack Of letters which have been
accommodating since the day he made
the announcement that he did not seek
a denomination from the Republicans
because he realized that the machine
would defeat him in convention, and
that he had decided to run indepen-
IDENTIFY.
Mr.. Ward said that these letters came
from all parts of the county, that they
were written by both Democrats and
Republicans of prominence, and that
the writers assured him of their earnest
support in an independent campaign.
The country press is almost a unit in
supporting Mr.. Ward who declares his
confidence in defeating the nominee of
the Republican machine. AS sample
of the manner in which he is being
backed by the country press, Mr.. Ward
read the following from the Ell Monte
Gazette.
High Praises for Ward
1.-The Gazette is going to do what it
can for the election of Ben e. Ward,
the independent candidate for county
assessor.
I'm doing this the paper is but repre-
Senting the almost unanimous senti-
ment of the community. Mr.. Wards
supporters are not any particular class
or confined to any particular party
His supporters here are Republicans
and Democrats and temperance people,
and the belief prevails that he will re-
ceive 95 per cent of the votes of the
precinct. That seems like broad state
ment, but nevertheless 1t is a true one.
''Our people believe that Mr.. Ward is
trying to make the corrupt corporations
pay lHSll JuSl pIOpOItlOu VI lilS LdAdulS
burden; and the fact that the board OF
supervisors controlled by the gang,
while not willing to support Wards
valuations and reduce the corporations
assessments more than eleven million
dollars, yet did indorse his policy Of
assessment, but was too cowardfy to
order 1t into effect.
''If Ward was wrong he was wrong,
and the board only augmented the
sentiment among the people to put a
stop TO the slave ownership OF their
board of supervisors by the corrupt
corporations, represented by Fathead
Parker, self-styled the Republican boss.
lit is not often that Ward is elected
to office these days, but when one Is
the people soon find him out. His pol
icy for square deal Is repugnant to
the corruptlonists, the grafters and the
bosses, and they soon set up howl.
The people know by that that they
have elected an honest man to office,
IL they did not re-elect him when the
officer wished to carry out the policy Of
reform.
"Mr. Ward may be eccentric, as the
grafters and bosses say, but IL he is he
is incorruptibly honest.
The machine has brought out Carl
Hartwell Of Pasadena, chronic office
holder who Is at present county re-,
should make Wards contest a personal
one. and IL the rest Of the county will
do as we'll as this precinct, Ben Ward
will be elected by the greatest majority
ever given by any candidate In this