Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-08
SHALL SOLID THREE" BE
PERPETUATED?

4 SupeTNlSOTS nhNS tSSShtiy oAAsA~
n istered to the taxpayers of Los
Angeles county very severe lesson
upon the impolicy of having a board of
supervisors composed entirely of MEM
bers of one political party.
1t is hardly possible, and certainly
not probable, that if there had been
even a minority of Democrats upon the
board such an organization as the
Solid Three to control the board could
have been perfected.
The presence in any public body OF
a minority representation of an oppos-
ing political party is always an assur-
ance to the majority that probable
critic of their every act is present with
them while their acts are being per-
formed.
The operation of this principle has
become so we'll known and so well
recognized in politics and government
that it is often said that an aggressive,
critical minority is really more re-
sponsible for good government than
the party in power.
1t is going to be of special Importance
Democrats be elected to the board OF
supervisors at this election. Mr.. Ed
ridge, the present chairman of the
board of supervisors and leader of the
Solid Three, whose success in serving
the interests of his constituents ap-
pears to have been in inverse ratio to
his success in contributing to the well
fare of members of the House of Ed
ridge in the expenditure of county
funds-notably at the county farm
will undoubtedly be a candidate for
chairman of the next board. He will
also undoubtedly endeavor to perfect
In the next board of supervisors the
same Solid Three organization with
which he controls the present board.
Mr.. Eldridge will also doubtless be as
sisted in his efforts to promote a Solid
Three organization by the managers
of the Republicans Southern Pacific po-
litical machine, the controllers of the
Solid Three of the present board.
That the efforts to perfect this or
ganization will be more determined
than ever known before goes without
saying when we consider the fact that
the expenditure of the $3,500,000 road
fund which the people of this county
have voted will be largely made by the
incoming board of supervisors.
Are the decent voters of the county
ready to submit themselves to the
scandalous regime in the board of su-
pervisors which has recently, in deal
in; with the good roads funds, inflicted
such disgrace and loss upon the county
as to disgust every honest and decent
citizen in it2
If the voters do not want, to continue
the Eldridge-Solid Three program in
the next board of supervisors. then
they should see to it that the honest
and able men that have been pre-
sented by the Democrats as candidates
for supervisors are elected. These men
are Mr.. H. j. Woollacott, Mr.. Anthony
Schwamm and Mr.. Frank ]. Haddock.
They are all business men of known
standing and reputation in the city OF
Los Angeles.
Mr.. Schwamm has the distinction of
serving with honor to himself and ben
eft to his city on the board of fire COM
missioners of the city of Los Angeles,
During that service he has been OF
much value to the city in preventing
jobs for looting the city treasury be-
ing passed through the board of which
he is a member, and has done much to
put the administration Of the fire de-
partment upon a thoroughly business
like and efficient basis.
Mr.. Woollacott has been a citizen of
Los Angeles for some quarter of
century, and during that time has been
successful in the management of his
own affairs and has built up reputa-
tion for business efficiency and integ
rity which he cannot afford to jeop-
ardize by conducting the business of
the county upon any other plane than
that of honesty and efficiency.
Mr.. Haddock as a good citizen and
loyal Democrat cannot afford to ally
himself with any member of the pres
ent gang that inmates the board of
Supervisors to the loss and dishonor
of the county, and If elected may be
depended upon to account to his party
and to his constituents by doing his
duty in enforcing a businesslike and
efficient administration of county af-
fairs.
At least two Of the Republican can