Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-26
M'LACHLAN IS
TAKEN TO TASK
"REPUBLICAN" WRITES HIM
OPEN LETTER
AsToUNDED BY SILENCE AS TO
SUPPORT OF CANNON
Must Know Well, as Lawyer, That
No Statute Prohibits Him from
Giving the Required
Pledge


An open letter, written by we'll
known attorney of this city, and
Republican, was given out last night.
1t is addressed to James McLachlan,
the Republican candidate for congress
in the Seventh district. The Cannon
issue is responsible for the letter, Mr..
McLachlan having attempted to dodge
that, it appears, although it Is consid-
cred of vital Importance in the con-
gressional fight by many Republicans
as well as by the Democrats. The
writer of the letter, however, does not
conf1ne himself to this issue, but takes
Mr. McLacblan to task for many al
legged shortcomings. The letter is as
follows.
"Ion James McLachlan. Member Con-
gress Seventh District, Los Angeles,
CAL:
"Sir-My attention has been called to
the fact that you have been pleading
that you dare hot pledge yourself to
vote against the reelection of Speaker
Joseph Cannon, in the house of repre-
sentatives, because of a California law
which prohibits your doing so. Also
that you have stated in a public meet
ing that no citizen dare ask you to
make that pledge, because that also
would be violation of the same law
l would not have believed that you
would attempt to hide behind so flimsy
and absurd a defense, had not read
the published account of it in one Of
the Los Angeles newspapers, where
your exact language was reported.
II quote from the published reports
of a public meeting at Woods hail,
Highland Park, last Wednesday night.
which meeting was addressed by your
self:
"'After he (McLachlan) had con-
cluded, John T. Pope, a strong Repub-
lican from GarvanZa, rose and asked
permission to ask a question, which
was courteously granted.
"'"Mr. McLachlan," said Mr.. Pope,
"I am Republican, and desire to ask
you, in case you are returned to con-
gress, and there is Republican ma
jority, will you vote for Joe Cannon
for speaker"
Declines to Answer
"'Mr. McLachlan shot out his arm,
and with fire in his eyes, replied: Il
decline to answer that question"
"'Mr. Pope courteously responded:
"As l said, I am a Republican, and
1 desire to see a Republican chosen
to support a Republican president, but
1 am from Illinois, and, In common
of our party, / am not willing to re-
turn him or to aid in returning him
as speaker of the house."
"'This was met with applause from
fully half the house land at least one
third of the applause must have peen
from Republicans. The congressman,
evidently seeing the atmosphere, said
in a conciliatory tone: MY friend,
under the present law in this state 1t
Ii IL Dln a
to make a pledge, or for a candidate
to make one."
"'Mr. Pope quietly said: THAT Is
not a federal law"
"'At this point Mr.. Hart, an old
Grand Army man, arose in front and
in effect repeated the statement OF
Mr.. Pope"
"The account continues by saying
that at this critical juncture the chair
man of the meeting arose and depre-
Gated the fact that you were being
called to account by members of your
own party. and proceeded to introduce
candidates for supervisor, While you
sat down with rather disquieted in
terest.
Really, do not blame you for sit
ting down with rather dtsquieted
interest But l cannot permit to pass
unnoticed this attempt of yours TO
swering a legitimate question; and
making a proper pledge to the people.
Lawyer Should Know
I'm the first place, you as lawyer
know, as every lawyer in this state
must know, that the statute you nave
referred to is a California law, en-
acted by the California Legislature, ana
as such has no bearing upon elections
0F' nf cOnRrpgS.
do only with state elections 1t does
not prevent you from making the
pledges which the people of the dis
trict in which you are running de-
sire you to make, however much you
may desire to make 1t appear that 1t
does. But, If we grant that it does
apply to you, you cannot even then
dodge behind such transparent ex-
cuses and expect to escape the conse-
ouences of the act. If the law to which
Won referred were a federal law, no
possible construction of it could make
it appear that 1t would punish citi-
zen or punish you for making pledge
of that kind. The statute says, amy
particular bill or measure which may
come before such legislative body, to
which he may be elected" Joe Can
non is neither bill nor measure.
He is something much worse.
'fWhat kind of law would 1T be
that prevented people from knowing
in advance what candidates for office
would do in public matters, after they
were elected? A law like that would
be very satisfactory to you, no doubt,
for a careful inspection of your record
, as congressman from this district
would indicate that, from your stand
point. some sort of a statute should
be enacted which would prevent peo-
pie from investigating the records of
public officials. 1 in no wise blame
you for refusing to tell the people
in advance what you are going to do
if you go back to Washington, for If
you do, taking what you have done
in the past as an indication of what
you will do in the future, they would
never vote for you.
"I would advise you not to tell them
that if they send you back to WASH
ington you will vote for the reelection
of Joe Cannon as speaker.
Silence Well Advised
st would advise you not to tell them
that you will always make 1t point
to be absent from the house when i'm
portant legislation affecting their in
terests, and the interests of this sec
tion of the country is up for con-
siderati n
II advise YOU not to tell them that