The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-02-04
MACHINE RULE
IS BURIED IN
Los ANGELES
Southern Pacific Push" Beaten
in Charter Amendment
Election
Good Government Forces Tri-
umph Over Boss Parker
and Otis z to |
Changes Relating to Direct Pri-
mary and CounciImen
Garry by l,500
Especial Dispatch 70 The Cali

lOpecIdt DIspdtch 10 4 ne ldstl
LOS ANGELES, Feb. Good govern 4
ment forces. headed by the Municipal
league and the City club. triumphed
over the Southern Pacific political ma
chine in the charter amendment cleo
tion yesterday, returns of which were
received complete tonight
The amendments relating to direct
primary and the election of councilmen
Parker had concentrated all his ener-
gies. were carried by majorities ap-
proximating 1900 There is general
rejoicing among the advocates of clean
government in Los Angeles, for it is
admitted the push" has never been
whipped as it was yesterday.
Defeat Machine Rule
The forces of good government car
ried the battle into the camp of the
enemy. and succeeded in wrestling from
machine rule many precincts that the
bosses had considered safe In the
eighth ward and in the seventh. long
held by the machine. substantial gains
were made. and despite the fact that
the reform forces had not the perfect
organization of the opposition they won
a notable victory
Leaders in the civic life of Los An
geles hail the election as sounding the
death knell of machine rule in muniei-
pal affairs. for with ward lines abol-
ished and with the direct primary it is
believed to be Impossible, for the boss
hirelings to be elected to the city coun-
Gil
Refuses Otis Dictation
With the defeat of the &maehine Los
Angeles has again refused the dfcta-
tion of General H. G. Otis newspaper.
the Times, which has been notorious
because of its support of the San Fran
cisco grafters. The Times with all its
flow of vilificatior. urged the people to
defeat amendments and and
shrieked that pink stock politicians
were endeavoring TO rule the city.
Leading the fight for the amendments
We're the Express and the Herald.
The Herald in an editorial tomorrow
will declare the election the greatest
victory the people have ever won
from the Southern Pacific political
machine.
Reformers Win Fight
In order to kin the direct primary
and the amendment providing for the
election of eouneilmen at large. ma
chine leaders had decreed that all must
be voted down. That their henchmen
were not able to deliver the goods is
evident from the fact that with one or
two exceptions the only amendments
carried We're those whose provisions
were inimical to the machine interests.
The result of the election was as fol-
lows:
No. l-Providing that the power from the
Owens river aqueduct could not be monopol-
lied by personal interests and that the bed
of the Los Angeles river shall never be sur
rendered to corporations. Carried to 1.
No. 2-Providing for the election of coun-
ciImen at large.
No. s-Relatins to the control of the aque.
duct.
No. Primary elections.
No. 5-Relating to contracts that the
mayor may veto.
No. Providing for the annexation of
harbOr frontage.
No. 2s-Dealins with minor duties of the
council
no. a7-Relatins to the reports of munich.
pal officers.
The amendments defeated were those pro-
viding for increase of salaries for city Off
cials and other changes Of minor Importance.