Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-15
Could Not Go Back on
5000 Pledges of
Support
Non-P Partisan Nominee Again Says He
Favors Municipal Ownership
of Owens River
Project

for mayor, at a large and enthusiastic
meeting last night in Akey hall, YER
non and Central avenues, replied to the
attacks made upon him by the local
Republican organ.
Mr.. Gates statement was well re-
ceived, and the nominee was cheered
when discussing that point and also
throughout his speech, which was al
most entirely devoted to plea for nom
partisan action in civic affairs and the
election of honest and capable men. to
office, regardless of politics.
Mr.. Gates recounted in detail what
he said were the facts connected with
the proposition to arbitrate as to
whether he or DR.. Lindley should re-
tire from the race for mayor.
Mr.. Gates said that he was led to
believe, before he accepted the non
partisan nomination for mayor, that
he would receive the support of the To-
cal Republican organ, but after he ac-
cepted the nomination and after DIR.
Lindley had received the Republican
nomination, he was approached with
the proposition that he and DR.. Lindley
submit to committee the question as
to which should retire.
Failed to Secure Consent
Mr.. Gates said he positively refused
to consider such action without the
consent OF the executive committee Of
1.-THE non partisan committee. After
| ward, said Mr.. Gates, he was shown a
! letter signed by DIR. Lindley, ten
tatively withdrawing, and was advised
to write a similar letter to be placed
! in the hands of the proposed arbitra-
tion committee, the membership of
which Mr.. Gates had approved, provid-
ing his committee indorsed the plan.
He wrote such a letter. Mr.. Gates said,
with the understanding that it was to
be held pending decision by the nom
partisan committee.
Later the non-partisan executive
committee, after a thorough discussion
of the subject, decided that they could
not, In Justice to the 5000 or more
pledged voters to support the non-par-
tisan ticket, consent to any action
which might result in the withdrawal
of their candidate for mayor, and Mr..
Gates Immediately recalled his letter.
Makes a Correction
Mr.. Gates called attention to the
fact that one of the morning papers.
in reporting his speech last Saturday
night, inadvertently mistquoted him
regarding the public ownership of the
Owens river project He said that
correction was made the following day,
but notwithstanding this fact Council
man Houghton was using the incorrect
report as a campaign document in the
Sixth ward against the non-partisan
ticket.
81 am unequivocally in favor of the
city of Los Angeles owning that en-
tire plant" said Mr.. Gates, "but this
enterprise is all we can undertake in
the way of municipal ownership at the
present time. There is in the field q
party whic!. advocates the municipal
ownership of all utilities, and should
that party win it will seriously affect
our standing in the markets where we
must get the money with which to car
ry on the project. | here and now de-
clare that the Owens river project is
the pet project of Los Angeles, and
that the city must own it and all the
power it will make, and that this pow
er should be sold to the people of Los
Angeles at cost"
Other Nominees Speak
Mr.. Gate was vociferously cheered
when he concluded. He was followed
Dy Judge TX. M. LuSk, llOll-pdfllSdl
nominee for city tax and license col
lector who was well received,
j. V. Akey, non-partisan nominee for
alderman from the Sixth ward, and
Walter Mallard, nominee for city as
SCISSOR. also spoke briefly. Mr. Akey is
a general faVorlte in the Sixth ward,
and he was given a warm welcome
Tonight the non-partisans will hold
three meetings. two of which will be
addressed by Mr.. Gates. One OF these
will be held in the Y. M. !. hall, Dow
ney avenue and Avenue 2f, at which
r. w. Dromgold, candidate for the
council from the First ward also will
speak; and the other will be held in
the A. O. II. w. hall, 2115 East First
street Ninth ward, at which M. T.
Collins. nominee for the council from
that ward. will be one of the speakers.
1t is possible that Ben Ward viii ac-
company Mr. Gates and speak at both
meetings
The third meeting will be held In the
open air at Vignes and Dueommun
streets. near the Bethel mission, La
mar Harris, Rev. Dana Bartlett. nom
inee for the council from the Eighth
ward, and Others will speak.