Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-03
JUSTICE LEAGUE
FULLY ORGANIZED
SECRETARY AND TREASURER
ARE ELECTED
HEADQUARTERS ESTABLISHED IN
O. T. JOHNSON BUILDING
ORGANIZATION Starts with over 200
Members-Literature Explanatory
of Movement for Good GOVERN
ment Will Be Distributed

Completion of the organization of the
League of Justice was accomplished
yesterday noon, when the members OF
the executive committee met at the
Federation club, determined on pro-
gram of operation and elected treas
urer and a secretary. Martin Beklns
of the Bekins Van and Storage com
pany was elected treasurer and Haines
w. Reed who had taken an active
part in the organization of the local
league, was elected secretary.
Later in the day members of the
committee went to the o. I. Johnson
building and selected a suite Of rooms
which will be headquarters for the
league.
Members of the league are very en-
thusiastic over the prospects of the
organization. Not only did many per-
sons hasten to join the league before
its organization was completed, Dut
members have shown their confidence
in its future success by contributing
substantial sums for it's support in ad-
dtion to the smaller amounts Whlcn
members have pledged.
The league will begin operations on
a firm financial basis with member
ship of more than 200 who voluntarily
have sent in their names.
When the question of preliminary ex-
penses was brought before the commit
tee yesterday one of the members
started subscription fund by con-
tributing $500, this being the second
contribution of like amount which that
Individual had made, the first being
given in order to enable Prof. George
II. Bole of the University of California
to extend the work of the league into
eastern cities, where the idea has be-
come popular. Other substantial sums
were contributed later in the day by
members.
Will Begin Active Operations
Pending the selection of a treasurer
and secretary no active work has oeen
undertaken since the preliminary or
ganization of the league some weeks
ago, when Mayor Taylor of San Fran
cisco came to Los Angeles to assist in
starting the movement. Now that the
league has completed all arrangements
II is prepared to begin active opera
tions 1t will set to work at once to
prepare literature in which the objects
and purposes of the organization will
be set forth.
AS has been explained, the functions
of the league will be partly educational
and partly militant. AS its name i'm
plies, 1t exists for the purpose of pro-
noting Justice in municipal life. On
its educational side 1t will endeavor,
through many channels of operations,
to inculcate higher ideas of citizenship
and civic patriotism. 1t will work
through the schools and through many
organizations OF various kinds in the
city. On its militant side 1t will try
to detect graft and corruption and call
the attention of public officials whose
duty 1t is to prosecute such cases to
these violations of law 1t will aid
such officers in the detection and pros
ecutlon of graft.
Professor Boke stated to the students
of the Polytechnic high school the NOR
ality of many men, in public positions
as we'll as those depending on the ia
vor of public officials, had sunk so low
there was need of arousing the public
to higher ideals of public morality.
The movement is nonpartlsan one,
and will take no part in current po-
litical discussions or campaigns. Any
man or woman of any political or re-
ligious belief who believes in honest
government and the suppression Of
graft is eligible to membership.
Women Take Prominent Part
Women have taken a prominent and
important part in the San Francisco
League of Justice, and many women
already have enrolled themselves as
members of the local league. In San
Francisco the women Of the League of
Justice by their daily presence in the
courtroom nullified the influence which
hired thugs and crooks brought to bear
on agents of the prosecution during the
trial of alleged grafters.
In Los Angeles a number of women
prominent in club life have identified
their intention of joining the organiza-
tion. officers of the league estimate
they will have approximately 10000
members before the end of the first
year of organization.
The Los Angeles League of Justice is
a branch of the national movement.
The first league was started in San
Francisco and grew out of the neces-
sity for honest citizens to lend their
support to the graft prosecution. An
other league was soon organized at
Palo Alto and third at Berkeley. 9th
er California cities are planning to
adopt the movement.
Prof. George H. Boke, head of the
law department of the University of
California, is now making a tour of
eastern cities explaining to eager citl-
zens the working of the organization
which has accomplished so much good
in San Francisco and is presenting to
them the plan of national organiza-
tion to operate in every large city
throughout the United States.
The local league is backed by leading
citizens of Los Angeles. Men and
women who are leaders in every line
of political or social activity are mem
bers of the committee of 100.
At the first meeting of the commit
tee of 100 Frank G. Finlayson was
chosen president. He appointed a
strong executive committee to assist
k1,f te L., i
ness for practical operations. In few
days circulars will be issued giving full
particulars of the league and its pro-
posed plan of operations.