Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-17
RAILROAD VS.. PEOPLE

VIZ ITH remarkable impudence the
~ Republican machine presents t
W the voters of California for theil
support at the polls members of the
same old gang of railroaders whose rec
ords at Sacramento should deprive
them of public confidence. Nothing but
nerve could possibly have impelled the
gang to attempt to foist their S. p
tainted candidates on constituents who
by sad experience have learned to
regard the S. p. as a public enemy
The records show that the machine leg
islators from Los Angeles county were
consistent in their opposition to meas
the interests of the railroad. The
Service" rendered by the Republican
candidates has been a mere mockery of
public service, and is sufficient to
inspire distrust on the part of all vot-
ers, Republican as well as Democratic,
who wish to see California politically
clean, and to have a reasonable assur-
ance that the interests of the people
will not be made subservient to those ot
a crafty, greedy railroad corporation.
Nothing more atrocious was ever pro-
posed in any legislature than the
change of venue bill, introduced by
Grove L. Johnson to protect Schmitz,
Ruef and the other San Francisco
grafters. This measure was never
thought of until Ruef and Schmitz were
indicted. The following assemblymen
from Los Angeles county voted in favor
of it: r. o. Bell, Harmon, Leeds,
Pierce, Thompson and Transue.
Harmon, Leeds and Transue voted
against the antitrust law.
The car shortage bill, requiring rail-
roads to furnish cars on a written appli-
cation from shippers of freight, and
providing for penalty for failure tc
do SO, and also a penalty on the par
Of the shippers for failure to use the
cars, was a measure in the interest Of
the shippers. 1t was voted down witt
the assistance of Harmon. Leeds
Pierce and Transue. Bell lodged BY
seeking the seclusIon of the cloak room
during roll call.
The Grove L. johnson bill, designed
to give the railroad commission almos
unlimited power, was supported enthu
siastically by machine members of the
legislature. The following Los Angeles
members voted for it: R. 0. Bell
Harmon, Leeds, Pierce, Stanton ant
Transue. When the iniquity of the
II 4 nAU,
lin moved that it be reconsidered, urg'
ing it had been passed without knowl
edge of it's real character and import
But the Los Angeles members lined III
with the Herrin members and voted
against reconsideration, as follows
Harmon, Leeds, Pierce, Stanton ant
Transue.
Hammon's Democratic opponent II
the Seventy assembly district is
S. A. Waldron, who is pledged to exert
himself to the utmost TO secure the
passage Of laws which shall make
effective the provisions of the state
constitution relating to fair charges fol
freight and passenger service to be
made by the Southern Pacific and Other
railways, and do away with special
privileges in the way of rebates and
other unlawful advantages to favored
shippers.
Leeds is opposed by Charles J. Crel-
Ter. who should receive the support OF
all Independent as wei as Democratic
voters in the Seventieth district.
In the Seventy-first the Democrats
have nominated G. C. Martin, citizen
of the highest business and social repu-
tation, TO oppose Stanton, while in the
Seventy-third the support of united
Democrats and Independent Republi-
cans should elect B. f. Hard and retire
Transue and his record.
Our legislators must learn that public
office IS a public trust, and not rail-
road "snap" The coming election will
give Californians an opportunity to free
their state from the long-lingering,
malodorous scandal of railroad inter-
ference in matters of public concern,
which affect the public welfare.
Democrats, realizing the clean rec
ords and high characters of their can
didates, should thank heaven and take
courage for victorious fight.