Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-28
WARNS LIQUOR
INTERESTS TO
AMEND COURSE
CITY CLUB SPEAKER SHOWS
LESSON OF CAMPAIGN
PERNIclouS ACTIVITY IN LOCAL
POLITICS MUST CEASE
Chairmen of Alexander Committee
Declares Fight Against Southern
Pacific Machine Must Go on
to Bitter End

stop their perniciouS activity in Los
Angeles politics or take the conse-
quences was given by S. G. Graham,
the speaker at the regular weekly
meeting of the City club yesterday.
Mr.. Graham was the chairman of the
Alexander campaign committee that
conducted the recall fight for the
newly elected mayor, and his subject
yesterday was Political Progress" He
dwet on the recall, what 1t means and
what it has accomplished, but, while
he was frequently applauded to the
echo, the applause at no time became
so uproarious as when he said:
This was not prohibition move
ment, but the liquor interests them
selves have forced the prohibition
element to the fore by aligning them
selves with the most vicious elements
in the city. Because they are limited
to 200, the saloon licenses in Los An
geles have a market value averaging
$40, 900 cash, or $2,00G, COO OF this num-
Der the Maier brewery owns 120.
Nov, the people of Los Angeles
might be contented to give the liquor
interests this $2,000,000 of capital by
granting them saloon licenses free II
they would refrain from political ac-
tivity. But it seems we will be COM
PEELED to make a direct attack on the
liquor interests If it is the only way
to stop their pernicious activity. If
we have to fight the liquor interests
every time we want to introduce re-
form measure, we will make one fight
and end it,"
That he voiced the sentiment of the
club was shown by the reception given
his words.
When President w. j. Hunsaker in
troduced Mr.. Graham, he gave him
great credit for the results of the recall
campaign, but Mr.. Graham passed the
credit along to others.
1--WE have gone through the most
interesting and most successful cam,
paign ever held in this country" said
Mr.. Graham. I'VE started out to elect
one mayor and in months campaign
we elected two--W. d. Stephens and
George Alexander. The people of Los
Angeles have acquired the habit of vot-
ing for Mr.. Alexander, and they showed
the habit was confirmed by the re-
turns of the election yesterday.
Office Sought Alexander
1.-THE opposition raised the objection
to Mr.. Alexander that he was habit
ual seeker for public office, but know
it took great urgency on the part or
the campaign committee to make him
run. Besides, there is no discredit in
seeking public office; it is the way 1t
is sought and the way the office is
filed that bring credit or discredit on
the holder But this was not the real
objection the organization had to AL
exander They hated. him because
while he was eight years in the office
of supervisor he never grated and
would not permit others to graft while
he was around.
1--WE have done much, but there still
is much to be done. We have gained
a victory over the forces of evil, but
the fight against the Southern Pacific
political machine must be continued
until that corporation has been driven
entirely out of politics. No compro-
mise is possible; it could only end in
defeat.
1.-THE organization has raised the cry
of party utilization so persiStently that
many have been induced to believe that
party affiliation is the necessary quail
fication for a good official. But the
organization forgot its slogan when it
elected A. c. Harper mayor of Los
Angeles"
Mr.. Graham described the fight the
organization had made against the re-
call, the attempt to secure an injunc-
ton against the election and the eff
forts to force the council to appoint
mayor who would be subservient to the
Southern Pacific. He pointed out that
W. d. Stephens, the man the council
did appoint, was member of the
Alexander campaign committee, even
while he was holding the office left
vacant by the resignation of Harper.
He spoke of the o-called business
mems organization, formed to assist
Harper.
Old Alarm Raised
."When any reform movement is in
stituted there is always a business
mems organization opposing it," said
Mr.. Graham. 1.-THE cry is always
,.a icad thot n will hYrt NhuSinaes This
same cry was raised in 1776 when the
country was fighting for it's indepen-
dence; the same cry was raised during
the Civil War. Some businesses are
hurt by reform movements. but they
should be-
1.-THE same vicious elements opposed
the recall that opposed charter amend
ment two and four; and these same
elements, that always have been SO
ready to raise the cry of party loyalty,
were the ones that turned to the So
cialist candidate in yesterdays cleo
ton"
Here Mr.. Graham produced an edi-
torial that appeared in the Times yes
terday morning, referring to the recall
election. This editorial was received
with contemptuous laugh and jeers
by the club members.
This editorial" he said, Shows the
Times is so malignant and prejudiced
that it is impossible for it to take the
side of the people in any matter. 1t is
so narrow it must advocate the cause
Of special interests against the COM
mon rights
1--WE have had much difficulty i'll in
ducing the right kind of men to take
office because of the financial loss en-
tailed. Generally the income of the
man fit for the place is larger than
the salary he would receive in public
office. The people can afford to pay
better salaries when they can get the
proper kind of men. / was sorry to
see the salary amendments defeated at
the last charter amendment election.
When we make the office attractive we
will get a good class of men.
Direct Primary Needed
''One thing more we must have is the
direct primary. The people must be
allowed to select their United States
senators. One reason why we so often
send men to the state legislature who
are not fitted for the position is be-
cause they are pledged to some pop