Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-26
KEPT KICKING HEELS WHILE
FRAMEUP is MADE
NELLIS LOSES HIMSELF UNTIL
DlNGLE GETS IN ACTION
"Tus" Eldridge and His Two Main
Henchmen Laugh in Sleeves
When Reminded of
Sworn Duty

BhoHCAb VI A4uS AuStiCS GUILTY. uO
how bitter the dose or how disagreeable its
after effects, the "sOlid three" of the board
of supervisors for the second time since Fri
day b!untly refused yesterday to accede to
or even consider the request of committee
representing $2O,OOO,OOO worth of property to
indOrse the men on whose work the horticul-
tural interests of the county depend for
protection.
The supervisors acceded to the de-
mands of the growers by unanimously
electing A. r. Meserve as horticultural
commissioner, but here the "solid
three" balked. The growers petition
for an Endorsement of c. E. Bemis and
S. Strong as deputies and their plead
ings that Dingle's appointment would
mean a setback in the fruit industry
were alike disregarded, and they were
practically told, with a banging of the
gavel finality, that they had received
all the consideration they could hope
for.
The first act of discourtesy toward
the growers many of whom came
from distant points in the county, oc-
CURED at the opening of the board
meeting, the hour set for the consider
alton of the horticultural commission
er appointment.
Chairman NeIIs Absent
Chairman Nellis was not present and
did not reach the board room until 2
o'clock. Whether his absence was due
to a desire to tire out the members
of the waiting committeeman or be-
cause of conferences with those who
are said to control the actions of a
majority of the borad is not known,
but it is significant that Don G. Nc
Garvin, chairman of the Southern Pa
cific Republican" central committee,
was a visitor at the court house short
ly before the hour of meeting and that
his, departure and that of the head of
the political leader were synchronous.
Supervisor Manning acted as chair
man during Nellis' absence, but it was
useless to take up the appointment, the
ideas of Manning and Pridham as to
the selecting of deputies agreeable to
the fruit industry meeting with little
favor in the minds of Eldridge and
McCabe.
And so the growers were compelled
to cool their heels and wait, and the
longer they waited the less they
liked it.
"They will hear from this during the
coming campaign" said one grower.
"That would be a proper expression
in Riverside county where the fruit
| industry is supreme" said another.
| However, I believe we can make our
| influence felt and, in the. future, when
we want our business protected 1 be-
lieve we will receive courteous treat
ment, at the least"
Star Chamber Session
At II o'clock, Eldridge and McCabe
| took a recess and adjourned to an
adjoining room, with telephone attach
ments. Forty minutes later they re-
turned and Eldridge announced the
chairman would not be present until
| 2 o'clock.
81 move the first matter to be taken
up this afternoon be the appointment
of horticultural commissioner, said
Pridham, on whom the unenviable po-
sition of the growers was not lost.
Acting Chairman Manning was about
to put the question, when he was in
terrupted by Eldridge, with a sugges-
tion that a second was necessary.
"I'll second it myself" said Manning.
Then he called the roll, Eldridge and
McCabe voting no and the growers
departed in disgust.
At 2:15 o'clock Chairman Nellls
dashed into the board room and took
his seat simultaneously Eldridge and
McCabe entered through another door,
AS the chairman banged his gavel for
order, c. ]. Smith, president of the San
Antonio Fruit exchange and spokesman
for the committee, stepped forward.
Courteous Request Denied
"As a matter of courtesy to the fruit
growers who have waited since 10
o'clock, ask you to take up the horti-
cultural matter first" he said.
Chairman Nellis loked at Eldridge.
Then he glanced at McCabe. Neither
vouchsafed any assistance.
1--WE have a storm district matter to
| take up first; ll'attend to your mat
| ter soon" said Nellis, and he nerVously
banged the gavel.
The ''soon" came about an hour later.
"It seems to me, in view of what
passed Friday" said Smith, as the hor-
ticultural appointment was taken up,
that we should know who are opposed
to us in the missing petition spoken or
by Mr.. Eldridge at that time. The mat
ter was taken under advisement Fri
day, presumably to secure and present
that petition"
"Pd like to set myself right on that
petition" said Eldridge, as he drew a
bundle Of papers from his drawer.
There's the petition, and it will lie
dormant until we see who is elected
commissioner The understanding was
that Dingle would withdraw in favor OF
Meserve. That's as far as we intend
to CO."
Smith insisted that the petition which
favored Dingle's appointment and a
large number of the Endorsements on
which are said to have been secured by
Dingle during a recent electioneering
trip be produced.
Meserve Is Appointed
1--WE are here to protect the interests
of the fruit growers. If there are 9TH
ers who are opposed to us, let US have
their names," he demanded.
He was interrupted by McCabe. I'VE
gave the fruit growers chance he
said. "They want Meserve. The man
that went to the Legislature and had
the law passed was promised the po-
sition of commissioner. But 1 don't
object to the appointment of Meserve,
and 1 nominate him."
Meserve was elected unanimously
and, as Chairman Nellis turned to the
clerk with the request for the next
order of business, Smith again stepped
forward with a request that the su-
pervisors indorse the names of G. e.
Bemis and S. Strong as deputies under
Meserve.
1t was only after a heated argument
that he was permitted to proceed, only
to cause CONSERVATION among Dingle's
supporters when he told of his short
comings as chairman of the horticul-
tural commission.
Mr.. Smith not only denied that Dlngle se-
cured the passage of the recently enacted
horticultural law, but stated on the con-
trary he had done everything possible to