Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-20
TREAcHERY REBUKED

CONVINCED majority OF the men,
bers of the board of supervisors
- are unfriendly to the advisory
: committee and studiously follow a pol
icy of ignoring its functions and its
J advice. the committeeman have asked
the advice of the boards of directors
of the chamber of commerce. the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers assoeia-
ton, the Municipal league, the Good
Roads association and the members OF
the board Of public works with regard
to the course of action that should be
pursued by the advisory committee,
the members Of which find themselves
in a dilemma owing to the extraor-
dinary and unexpected attitude and ac-
tions of Supervisors Eldridge, Nellis
and McCabe.
The Solid Three violated their solemn
pledges by electing Messrs. Calvert and
Marsh as members of the highway
! commission without seeking either the
advice or the approval of the advisory
committee, an omission on the part
of the supervisors which, in view of
the fact they were in honor bound to
call into consultation the accredited
advisers, the representatives of the
people, was simply outrageous eth
ically, and morally gave rise to the
gravest suspicion as to the motive
which induced the Solid Three to risk
public displeasure by breaking their
solemn promises and lodging their OBJ
icrof ID,
been the inspiring motive which pro-
duced the amazing and disappointing
instances of treachery which have re-
suited in the protest of the advisory
committee.
The committee in its letter says: I'm
the recent appointment of Messrs. Cal
vert and Marsh as members of the
highway commission neither the advice
nor approval of the advisory commit
tee was sought, and this committee
hereby desires to go on record as pro-
testing against the method in which
such appointments were made, which
proceedings it declares to be a fragrant
violation of the solemn pledges given
to the people by the three supervisors
who voted for these appointments,
Messrs. Eldridge, Nellis and McCabe."
In utter disregard not only of pledges
to the people, but civil service prin-
ciples. they forced the resignation of
Ray l.. Cheseboro, the secretary of the
highway commission, an efficient and
satisfactory secretary, and put in his
place c. E. Morton, politician select
ed by McCabe.
The conspiracy against the public
welfare which is indicated by such om-
inous signs cannot be carried out sue
cessfully in these days of public vigi-
lance. Whatever sordid advantage
may be derived from treachery will not
be permanent. 1t will cost more than
it is worth, as unfaithful public serv-
ants will realize when they are retired
in ignominy and disgrace, and when |
public Indignation has compelled them |
to learn the lesson that men cannot in |
these days violate with impunity their |
solemn pledges to the people, no mat |
ter how great, how powerful, how in |
huential how wealthy, or how gener- !
Gus financially to traitors who serve |
them may be the interests which tempt |
officials to forget public office is a |
public trust, and to make of it pri-
yate graft.
1t is obvious the vigilance of the ad
yisory committee has called public at
.ention to the inception of as cheerful
4 program of perfidy and plunder as
any that has ever been devised by
oOters who, now at this point of ma
-ional or local development, now at
hat. menace our modern American
The attempt to betray the
peoples interests and give control of
The peoples funds to a gang of unprin
eipled corporation creatures and po-
itical pirates will be foiled. The peo-
pie will not suffer one single piratical
claw to be laid with felonious intent
upon the $3,5OO,00O voted not to fill
rawning political pockets or build up
political machine, but to construct a
system of good roads in Los Angeles
county.
The good roads shall be built hon
,stly; and officials who show a dispo-
ition to be careless, reckless or dis
oyaI to public interests will be hurled
With contumely and contempt from
he offices they have disgraced