Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-04
HOPKINS is IS
ASSESSOR
SUCCEEDS TO OFFICE OF LATE
BEN WARD
DECLARES HIS POLICY WILL BE
PREDECESSORS
No Opposition to Appointment Of Chief
Clerk Is Made by the "Machine."
other possibilities"
Drop Out

The board of supervisors yesterday aft
ernoon appointed Edward w. Hopkins to
the assessorship of Los Angeles county,
made vacant by the death of Ben u.
Ward.
Yesterday the board of supervisors
merely confirmed officially the general re-
port that was current concerning the
probability of Mr.. Hopkins appointment.
There was at the beginning little talk
of a contest being made by Assemblyman
NJ w. Thompson, who, 1t was said, de-
sired the office and was favored by the
machine" But this statement was de-
MED emphatically by the assemblyman
himself, who claimed that he was not In
the run and was in favor of Hopkins ap-
pointment.
Then, too, there was some mention
made of Calvin Hartwell, present under
sheriff of the county, who was defeated
at the polls of the last campaign In mis-
race for the assessorship by Ben Ward.
When questioned as to whether he would
accept the Office should 1t be rendered MIN
he replied that, defeated in life by his
opponent, 1t would not be exceptionally
creditable to himself to accept the once
at Mr.. Wards death.
Mr.. Hopkins was chosen as the person
best capable of filling the position, he
having been chief deputy of Mr.. Ward
and we'll acquainted with the latter
policy. He is evidently not antagonistic
to the machine as his appointment was
overlooked by it.
No Opposition
Not one word of disapproval did any of
the ringIeaders of the machine" make
Yesterday on hearing of the appointment.
Mr.. Hopkins stated with emphasis yes
terday afternoon that he would follow the
Ward policy to the very dot And every
one knows how the Ward policy Is looked
upon by those who opposed him In the
last campaign
From the machine standpoint the case
is still wrapped in mystery.
Yesterday while the board was in ses-
sion, Supervisor Eldredge acting as chair
man during the absence of Patterson,
some one suggested the name of Louis
Schwaebe for assessorship. 1t Is plainly
stated that Eldridge owes his present
position through the Youngworth- Flint
faction, which 1t was said was favoring
Scwaebe. The latter was city aud1tor
previous to Mushet, and the same party
who were for him are also said to have
materially affected the Eldredge nomina-
ton at the Venice convention last sum-
mer.
But the supervisor soon put an end to
these rumors when he said: "Scwaebe is
my friend, but he'll not be appointed as
sessor."
When Chairman Patterson returned in
the afternoon 1t was not long before Hop
kins was appointed.
No Pledge Asked
In speaking of his appointment he said:
'I feel honored by the appointment and
that / should have been judged in prefer
ence to others by the board of supervisors
Personally, had little to do with the
matter, and no pledge from me has been
asked or given.
II have repeatedly said that I would
adopt the Ward policy exclusively.
meant what I said when I made that
statement. I have had considerable ex-
perience in the manner with which the
assessors Office has been run, and have
found no system that could equal that
which Mr.. Ward introduced"
He refused to discuss the appointment
of chief deputy. Fred Duy and George
Starbuck are at the head of the city and
country departments of the assessor s
office Each receives s125 monthly. Both
are familiar with the details of the higher
office and are spoken Of as probable sue
cessars TO Hopkins. The place carries a
salary OF SITS. 1t is thought that the ap-
pointment will be made today.