Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-28
PLAN ANOTHER
SHAM PETITION
TO AID MAYOR
FIRST EFFORT AGAINST RE-
CALL PROVES FUTILE
HARPER'S FRIENDS TO TRY TO
HooDWINK VOTERS
Paper to BE Circulated as Bona Eide
in Order TO Get Those Who
Sign to Ignore Real
Documents

NHE first flake petition" having
proved a boomerang and a source
of much ridicule against the Har-
per adherentS, one of another sort is
now said to be planned by the mayor {
supporters. This is to be more of a
fake" than the other, masquerading,
in fact, as an actual petition for the
recall.
1t is designed to present it to voters
favoring the recall movement with the
idea that their signatures will be OBJ
tanned under the impression they are
aiding the Municipal league in demand
ing the recall. Then, when a bona fide
petition Is presented, the voter will
say he already has signed, and his sup
port thereby will be lost
This already has been done with the
pro-Harper fake petition" and doubt
less the idea of sewing up" voters
originated from the successful manipu-
lation with that document. When the
ctrculators ventured out of the saloons
and dives they were laughed at SO
heartily that the push" ordered the
fake" back into the darkness again.
1t has been decided to call the Walter
Parker league "the Business Mems
club" Several bosom friends" wanted
it known as the 'Pro-Harper club
but Walter Parker wishes it to put III
active licks against charter amend
ments No. and 4 prior to the special
election, and the more comprehensive
name was accordingly selected. The
club" will hold a meeting tonight,
which will be presided over by John
w. Vaughn Of the Southwestern Pack
Ing company
Plead Too Great Expense
The Business Mems club" probably
Will issue an appeal for broad -gauged
administration of the city's affairs as
represented by Mayor A. c. Harper and
Street Superintendent Edward Kern on
the board of public works. The main
argument to be presented is that the
present state OF unrest which Los An
geles has been thrown into through the
recall movement costs money, will keep
tourists away and, worst of all, is bur
the foreruner of a movement to make
the city "a long-hair town. without
saloons or a ''redlight' district. The
club will put the loud pedal on this
argument in the Eighth ward. In the
Fifth it will be referred to in whispers,
if at all.
Reporters have endvAvored to obtain
some details as to the personnel of the
Business Mems club" but the pro-
moters organize into a cold storage as
sociation when they see a newspaper
man. They fatty refuse to show a list
of members, simply saying that ''it is
not advisable to discuss the matter at
this time" Neither will they say when
they expect the psychological moment
to arrive for the club" to come into
the open.
No member Of the executive commit
tee of the Municipal league appears
concerned over the organization of the
Business Mems club" They are only
hoping it will not be afraid to come out
and make an open campaign.
1--WE are ready to join issues at any
time" said H. @. Wilmer Of the cam
paign subcommittee. "The Municipal
league believes that conditions in Los
Angeles are such that the continuance
of the mayor in Office will be a menace
to the best interests of the city, and it
is ready to place that proposition before
the people squarely on its merits. l
know nothing about the membership of
this new pro-Harper organization, but
do know that among those who lined
themselves up with the Municipal
league are business men of the highest
standing and that they are taking an
active part in this movement which the
league has started
League Committee Optimistic
The leagues campaign committee has
so far found everything working out as
had been anticipated. The possible ex-
ception is in the unusual number Of
volunteers coming to the headquarters
at 402 Equitable Bank building. More
than 20 per cent of the necessary names
already have been secured, and these
are being checked rapidly under the
system devised by John P. Steele, who
is in charge Of the canvassers.
From all parts Of the city there comes
a desire for cooperation in securing
the recall, and the headquarters rooms
are filled most of the day. Some of the
most difficult precincts in which to OBJ
tain signatures are being canvassed
first, but even where the sentiment is
supposed to be strongest in favor of
the mayor, friends of the recall move
ment are found.
The boast of the mayor and his
friends on the day of the Symphony
hall meeting they would welcome the
recall test is not borne out by their
subsequent attitude. They promised to
sign the petitions freely, but are now
making every move in their power to
block the signing up of electors on re-
call petitions. The promptness with
which they prepared the fake petit
tions" revealed their feeling of alarm
at the effects of the recall movement,
and since then none of the bosom
friends" has said much about signing
in favor of the recall.
DDnNI hMRTI0M CENT