Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-29
NEARING ELECTION TINH

Only a few days more than four
mouths win pass before the general
election date In most of the states.
Thirty-three states will vote on Mo-
vember 6, all Of them electing members
OF congress, many choosing governors
and most Of them electing minor state
officers. County officers will be elected
generally In the thirty-three states and
municipal elections will occur in some
OF them.
In California we shall elect, on Mo-
vember 6, eight members of congress,
u governor and other state officers, to-
gether with full lire of county off,
Gals. Municipal elections in this state
come at divers and sundry times. In
Los Angeles there is breathing spell
Of a month between the general election
tussle and the scramble for city offices.
A third Of year soon rolls around.
particularly when the individual has a
four months note outstanding or is an
aspirant for public office. It is not
too early, therefore, to tackle the COM
ing campaign now. This suggestion is
not for the ears of professional politi-
clans, who are on the political alert
from one election until the next one,
but for the people who do the votlng g
and pay the freight"
1t is quite time, especially, for the
people of Los Angeles to determine for
whom they shall vote at the general
election, three weeks and two days be-
fore they eat their Thanksgiving din
ner. The time to do such thinking, as
voters well know, is before the dates of
the nominating conventions. And yet
that is just where a large majority of
voters make vital mistake. Instead
of taking hand in the primaries and
eXerting their influence in controlling
nominations, they leave that line of
duty to the professional politician.
1t is a well established saying that "a
singed cat breads the fire." 1t is not so
with the average voter, however, judg-
ing from his habit of walking up to the
polls and taking a fresh sngeing at
nearly every election. That fact is
constantly in evidence in Los Angeles.
Voters persist in allowing politicians to
make tickets for which they must vote
or not vote at all: and, when the cam
didates become officials, regrets we'll up
from the voters like water bubbling
from spring.
1t remains to be seen whether the
outcome of the local elections next No
vember and December will show evil
dence of Los Angeles wisdom purchased
by experience. The local Republican
machine as reported on good authority,
already has been repaired for service
in the coming campaign, and is sup
posed to be in perfect working order.
1t is expected. as usual, to grind out
nominations bearing it's own trademark,
properly tagged for reference when
candidates become officers.
And yet the opportunity is ripe for
smashing the machine and destroying
it's political output. The way to accom-
plish that end was marked out in the
municipal election of 1904 1t was
proved then that it is possible to make
a popular and independent alignment
strong enough to overcome organized
politics for revenue only, in municipal
affairs, and presumably in county af-
fairs as we'll.
The success which crowned the inde-
pendent effort in 1904, although only
partial, shows what might be accom-
plished all along the local line in 1906
The "get together policy which distin-
guishes Los Angeles citizens in other
fields of endeavor should be adopted
in an effort to make kindling wood of
the political machine in the coming
county and municipal campaigns.