Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-29
LEAGUE ATTACKS
RECORD OF KERN
CHIEF SANCTIONS MEET WITH
OBSTACLE
MAYOR URGED TO SELECT AN
OTHER MAN FOR PLACE
Captain Thomas Broadhead Slated for
Head of Police Department If
Harper's Present Plans
Go Through

Police Captain Thomas Broadhead
will be chief of police providing the
council confirms the appointment OF Ed
ward Kern as a member of the board
of public works. In addition to other
opposition to Chief Kern, the Munich
pal league has sent a letter to Mayor
Harper protesting against Kern's APP
pointment, declaring that his record
shows him TO be unfit for the place.
Especial attention is called to his vote
on the river bed franchise while he
was in the city council.
j. A. Anderson, whose friends have
brought him forward for the board of
public works, absolutely refuses again
to take place on the board. He feels
that it would involve the sacrifice OF
his practice, and on that account he
could not afford to accept the appoint
ment, but it is not likely nat the
mayor will consider this iAvorably,
however strong the agitation.
Objects to Kern
The letter from the Municipal
league, which was received by Mayor
Harper yesterday, is as follows:
December %, 1908.
"a c. Harper Esq, Mayor of Los
Angeles.
Dear Sir-The Municipal league
would respectfully address you on the
subject of the coming vacancy in the
membership of the board of publc
works and the appointment thereto,
which it is within your power to make.
This league recognizes that under
the charter the responsibility for this
appointment rests primarily with you,
but we know that it is your wish to
give the city the most competent ana
the most reliable men obtainable Tor
such positions, and as an association
containing several hundred of your fell
low citizens and taxpayers, having no
other purpose than to assist you IN
carrying out this wish, we venture 10
offer our views on one point. We urge
that no man be appointed to this posi-
ton of trust and confidence VINO mas
voted 10 give away the city's rights IN
the river bed, referring, of course, to
Mr. Edward Kern, now serving as
chief of police"
whatever may be Mr. Kern's rec
ord for efficiency as chief of police, the
position for which he is now candl-
date-the board of public works-is OF
an essentially different character ana
has largely to do with issues OF
: sidlif1r sort to that involved in the
Werked matter. On two different oc-
TO 4s-separated by days of public
BRO Asion-Mr. Kern voted to give
% bra II without compensation, one of
offerbst valuable assets in the pos
lii of the city No explanation
+biEver offered for this vote and no
ssfftable explanation can be offered.
-fhe record stands, and when 1t is pro-
posed to place Mr.. Kern on the poard
of public works it must be recalled to
the memory of the people.
1.-The league has no candidate TO
urge for this place. Any one who
fIis the measure of required business
skill and has a clear public record
will certainly be acceptable to the
great body of your fellow citizens, as
he will be also to u.s."
May Remain Chief
IF the opponents of Kern's appoint
ment to the board of public works
take the agitation to the city council
and induce that body to withhold the
confirmation he will remain chief of
police and Broadhead will continue as
captain.
otherwise the present arrangement
will be carried out and Nathan Cole,
ir.. will attend session of the police
commission the first Tuesday in Janu-
arv and cast his vote for Jim Craig as
chief of police. The mayor will take
similar action, as both have promised
Craig to vote for him. But the other
three members of the commission will
vote for Broadhead, and it is said the
mayor and Cole made reasonably GER
tain there would be three votes for
Broadhead before they promised Craig
their votes.