Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-19
CITY ATTORNEY
HEWITT URGED
TO RUN AGAIN
LARGELY SIGNED PETITION is
PRESENTED
CALL is MADE BY REPRESENTA-
TIVES OF ALL PARTIES
Wesley Clark Takes Lead in Demand
ing That Official Sacrifice Per-
sonaI Desires and Offer Him
self as Candidate

attorney was presented to Leslie r.
Hewitt yesterday and this demand is
in such form that Mr.. Hewitt admits
he cannot but treat it with the utmost
seriousness, although he would rather
not again be city attorney. This de-
mand was in the form of a petition
presented to Mr.. Hewitt by Wesley
Clark yesterday morning and bears the
signatures of 500 or 600 of the bes'
citizens in Los Angeles. Every politi-
cal party and all the branches of al
the parties are united in this petition
Mr.. Hewitt said he would give his an
swer Friday, but whether this answer
would be an announcement of his can
didacy or a refusal to again enter thu
race he would not say.
In presenting the petition, Mr.. Clarl
said:
Salary Too Small
"a number of the signers of thii
petition requesting that you permi
your name to be submitted to the voter
of Los Angeles for reelection as city
attorney have delegated to me ths
pleasant duty of presenting the petition
and of urging its favorable considera
tion by you. My associates on this
petition, in common with many thou
sands of the voters of this progressive
city, are not unmindful of the fact
they are asking you to make financial
sacrifice by accepting an office of the
greatest importance, to which is at
tached a paltry salary when compared
to the value of the services already rem
dered and which will be rendered dur
ing the next two years. 1t Is unfor-
tunate that an officer of such vital im-
portance to the city as the city attor-
ney is not paid. a salary somewhere
near the compensation generally paid
by a private corporation for like SER
vices, and the time will speedily come
when an enlightened selfishness' will
dictate the wisdom of such a policy.
But until such result is achieved we
can only appeal to the patriotism OF
cur public spirited citizens to render
the expert services of which they are
capable of rendering and of which the
city stands in such sore need.
when we consider the increased re-
sponsibilities imposed on the city at
torney of Los Angeles, by the consoli-
dation of Wilmington and San Pedro
the probable consolidation of Other
towns, as well as many other problems
requiring expert legal advice to solve
growing out of the rapid progress now
being made, it would be little short OF
calamity to this city. so much be-
loved by each of us, to lose the benefit
of your long experience, intimate
knowledge and your legal training and
ability
Appeals to Patriotism
I'VE say this without casting any
reflections on the candidates whose
names have been mentioned, for in our
opinion no other lawyer in this great
city can so worthily fill the office of
city attorney at this crisis in her his
tory as the incumbent, who, by long
training and devotion to the public in
terests, has been specially fitted to rem
der in the future, as in the past, legal
services Of incalculable value. The city
charter forbidS an appeal to self-in-
terest, but we do appeal to your pa
tr1otism and civic pride and request
that you permit your fellow citizens,
irrespective of party politics. to re-
elect you for another term to the office
you have so ably conducted for several
years. If you consent you will have
earned the gratitude of your fellow
citizens and they will always hold you
in grateful remembrance, and even if
no more substantial reward is ever
given you the consciousness of duty
performed and of having earned the
plaudit of We'll done, good and faith
full servant is more to be desired than
gold.
ct is therefore on the high plane of
civic duty that we, as citizens of this
beautiful and progressive city, ask you
as another of her citizens to forego
your personal inclinations and sacrifice
your financial interests by allowing the
voters to again elect you as city at
torney.
"If, in time of war the state may
command the life as well as the prop
erty of the citizens. surely at this crisis
in the life of Los Angeles we do not
plead with a native son of California
and one of the most devoted sons OF
Los Angeles in vain. Give the word OF
consent and the voters will go the rest.
Petition Presented
The petition itself and those who
signed it follow
Leslie r. Hewitt, Esq: We, the
undersigned citizens of Los Angeles
respectfully request that you allow
voters for reelection to the office OF
city attorney in the coming election.
1--WE share in the opinion held by the
great body of citizens that your OK
perience, coupled with your demon
strated ability, integrity and courage
pre-eminently fit you properly to dis
charge the duties of this office.
During the next few years the great
aqueduct now in course of construction
viii be finished and the building of the
power plant and distribution of water
and power will be under way.
"Also the city is about to begin har-
Dor work on a great scale.
"All of these present problems of the
greatest Importance to our people, will
which you are thoroughly familiar and
which need your aid as city attorney
for their successful consummation.
1--WE realize that in again accepting
this office you would, by reason of the
small salary attached, suffer financial
loss and were it not for the fact that
we believe it would be a great detri-
ment to the city's interests to make q
change in this office at the present
time we would hesitate asking this
sacrifice on your part.
"Viewed from the standpoint of the
welfare of the city, your nomination
and election are greatly to be desired
and therefore we urge that you lay
aside personal consideration and CON
sent to be a candidate before the people
for the office of city attorney
Sheldon Borden Edw Worth.
Stoddard Jess. w. o. Johnston.
Wesley Clark j. w. Green.
James A. Anderson. w. A. Barney.
A. p. Fleming. II. H. Haas.
Frank Simpson. H. w Clppnger.
c. D. Willard. y. I. George.