Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-17
GRAFT INVESTIGATION

~ VERY decent person III l4uS AM
II geles must deplore the condition
II at which the so-called graft in
vestigation appears to have arrived.
No one who knows Mr.. Woolwine will
for a moment doubt that he honestly
believes what he says when he charges
the existence of graft among city Of
ficials.
However much he may, or may not.
be mistaken in the conclusion which he
has reached upon this matter. it would
appear certain that in the charges
which he has made he has expressed
his honest convictions. 1t is also a
fact worthy of comment that the po-
sition of city prosecutor which Mr.
Woolwine has for some time held is
the very position which would give a
man the opportunity of obtaining i'm
pressions or opinions as to the exist
ence or non-existence of graft.
Captain Fredericks, the district at
torney, has been quoted as saying that
he does not believe that graft exists.
No one has a right to challenge the
honesty of Captain Fredericks' con-
victions upon the matter, although 1t
which he has occupied, in its lack of
intimate association with city affairs,
probably does not entitle his impress
sions or opinions upon the matter to
the same weight that would be natu-
rally attached to Mr.. Woolwine's.
However, it appears to be a fact, and
very deplorable fact, that the rela-
tions of Mr.. Woolwine and Captain
Fredericks have assumed such form as
to make it impossible for them to in
any way cooperate in the graft in
vestigation. Just who is to blame for
these relations having assumed this
form we do not know, and it is prob
ably not a matter of vital Importance
to ascertain.
1t may be worthy of observation in
passing, however, that if Captain Fred
ericks upon his last appointment of
Mr.. Woolwine to manage the graft
investigation had really intended to
turn the management of that branch
of his office work over to Mr.. Wool
wine, it is difficult to understand why
he should have found it necessary to
be present in the grand jury room
every moment with Mr.. Woolwine in
the course of that investigation.
1t appears that the difficulty between
Mr.. Woolwlne as the deputy in charge
of the graft prosecution and his chief,
Captain Fredericks, arose from Cap
tain Fredericks' objection to a ques-
ton which his deputy propounded to
a witness.
If Captain Fredericks had not been
present at the investigation and had
left the matter entirely in the hands
of his deputy, as it was understood by
some that he would do, then this oc-
casion for a difference of opinion and
for the final drawing apart of these
two officials would not have arisen.
However, without attempting to pass
upon the merits of the controversy be-
tween Captain Fredericks and his dep
uty, every resident of Los Angeles who
is proud of the reputation of his city
must earnestly deplore the present
condition of the graft investigation,
aud there can be but one opinion as
to the desirability of changing this con-
dition as quickly as possible.
Charges of graft have been made and
have been followed up by declarations
that a fair and full investigation of
these charges has been refused, or at
g
f1cials of this community, from judges
to district attorney, charged with the
enforcement of the laws, owe it to
themselves that no ground for this
last charge shall exist. And, inasmuch
as Mr.. Woolwine has insisted that
graft does exist, and Captain Fred
ericks has given it as his opinion that
it does not exist, we would suggest
that the duty devolves upon our SUI
perior court judges, in connection with
the grand jury, to select some disinter-
ested attorney of ability and make him
special prosecutor in charge of the
graft investigation. There would ap-
pear to be no other solution for the
existing situation, which is intolerable.
If such a step should be taken, the
attorney selected should be. as far
as his acts go in conducting the in
vestigaHon, relieved from any respon-
slbility to the district attorneys Of
flee, and placed in absolute and COM
plete control of the investigation in
all it's branches, with plenary power
as to seeking out testimony and pro-
ducing it before the grand jury.
We trust that the officials who have
the power to relieve the city of present
conditions will see the advisability of
acting upon this suggestion, or some
other plan which will arrive at a con-
clusion upon the graft matter salts
factory to all good citizens. Certainly
no such conclusion has been reached
up to date.
REPUBLICAN AID