Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-08
LABOR LEADER
ADDRESSES CLUB
ON CIVIC PURITY
STARTLING ASSERTIONS CON-
CERNING UNIONS
FULLY DISCUSSED
Luncheon of City Club Attended by
John w. Sweeney, Organizer OF
Working Men, Who Speaks
on Clean Government

N HE struggles of San Francisco for
a decent city government, and its
- hopes and fears for the future,
formed the subject of a conversational
address by John w. Sweeney of San
Francisco before the City club yester-
day. Mr.. Sweeney is member of the
executive committee of the Good Gov
ernment league and national organ
izer Of the American Federation of
Labor
While a most enthusiastic labor agi-
tator according to his own definition
Of himself, and showing his enthusiasm
for the cause of labor throughout ms
speech, Mr. Sweeney said some things
that astonished his audience, because
they were not sentiments ordinarily
expected from a labor -agitator.
"Laboring men have no right to as
sumo to be governmental authorities.
They are not educated in the science
of government machinist could not
sit on the supreme bench with any
more propriety than a jurist could go
into a machine shop and presume to
run a lathe"
The things Mr.. Sweeney said about
p. H. Mccarthy, the union labor can
didate for mayor in San Francisco,
were not at all complimentary, al
though Mccarthy is supposed to rep
resent labor unionism in San Francis
co. But Mr.. Sweeney denies that Nc
Carthy represents that portion of labor
that constitutes the majority and that
desires good government in San Fran
cisco.
In stating that laboring men had no
right to set themselves up as govern
mental authorities Mr.. Sweeney point
ed to the administration of Schmltz'
characterizing it as "the rottenest ad.
mnistration in the rottenest city OF
the west"
Machine Out for Mccarthy
But San Francisco is better gov
erned today than it ever has been IN
the past" continued the speaker. we
approach the future with uncertainty,
for already the forces of evil are at
work to undo what has been done to-
ward good government. Ana tnese
forces have accomplished something.
Through them San Francisco failed 10
eet q properly worded direct primary
law, and partisanship is still FACTOR
with which we must reckon. we Oh
San Francisco look longingly to Los
Angeles, for here you have real direct
primary law.
"SeyeraI candidates are in the field
for MAYOR. The Republicans have
brought out man well lifted for the
place. but other candidates are splne-
less and without character. The ma
chine element wants Mccarthy, tor IL
Mccarthy is elected history VIII repede
itself and san Francisco will be wide
omen town in the widest sense or thaC
word. But we are determined to pre-
sent as strong a front as possible LOT
the continuance of good government.
mayor Taylor has given us an ex,
cellent administration and is as gooo
a man for the place as could nave peen
secured. But he has been oeceIVeT ~. py
some of the commissions. Mayor ray
Ior is so honest himself that he oe-
lieves every one else is honest, untll
thew are proven otherwise, and as he
is not much of a mixer he has-been I'M
posed on" 1t, A.,
speaker said it had been proved tnat
eipht of the ten men who voted for
CsIhoun's acuuittal had been bought
outright. He dwelt at some length on
the craft prosecution, and paid trio,
ute 10 the public-spirited men who had
made it possible.
Asks Justice to Laboring Class
.The weak kneed in San Francisco
saw the prosecution is hurting pusl-
ness" continued Mr.. Sweeney. You
all know about the earthquake ana nTe
in san Francisco that paralyzed busl-
ness. and how out of that wreck tne
strong hearted citizens set TO WorK 10
build a new and greater city. Mllllohs
of capital have been lnVesteo aii1 Is
millions more are being invested. IL
business was suffering to any extent
would that be the case? Today tnere
are 20 600 more people in San Francisco
than there were before the f1re'
''These arguments have little weight.
hut the enemy is strong. we OF lll1
good government party want civic pulI
ity to prevail. but we neeo tne iiio, nd ID
sIIpport of all the clean papers anu
every decent citizen of the state; Such
sunnort will help us greatly. That is
1vhv I have travelled 500 miles to talk
to you. o,,, 70 bor-
ing people, Those of you VINO 40 ny loe
touch shoulders with them nave pee,, ~
led by lying newspapers 10 peiieee Gie,e o',r "rr
manner of things of them. GiVe ouI
neonIe a fair chance. Don't beileVe we
ere anarchists. We are not to be CON
trolled by a policeman's clup' put pS
Irind words. When you become con-
vinced that the laboring man Is ., nu
man being and amenable TO reason llhe
other human beings, then you VIII nav
occomnlished much in the cause OF
@ood government, for 80 per cent or
fhern want the very things you are
INST before Mr.. Sweeney made his
Address and part of the time during
his his talk tail a petition was circulated
,ro a,,7on@ the members of the City club
arn sarnonpt at Yesterdays meeting, asking
civ Attorney Leslie r. Hewitt to again
submit his name to the people f4r ,1o re-,
eiection to the Office he holds. Whlle
Mr. Hewitt has not directly refused 10
be i candidate to succeed himself, ne
bes be given the impression that he would
mas slRe oaj, The Citv club hopes