Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-24

CtUcH a joke of eonventionI Even
the widest dream of the most
~ loyal good government worker
rever surpassed the exhibition put up
at the outlaw gathering at the Shrine
auditorium last night.
If II had been run by the arch en-
enies of the Southern Pacific political
machine it could not have committed
a more grievous bIunder than to re-
fuse to indorse the members of the
present board of education for re-elec-
ton. This Endorsement had been the
program, but was oVerridden by
Mushet men in the hall, despite the
frantic efforts of the steering commit
tee to prevent the suicide.
Not satisfied with this, the delegates
repeatedly insulted George N. Black
when he spoke for the Endorsement of
George A. Smith for mayor.
He had hardly put on full steam
when calls for "Time!" began to come
from all parts of the hall, and Chair
man Richardson was compelled to re-
buke the delegates and spectators fill
ing the seats of delegates who were NOT
there. Mr.. Black was forced to stop
more than once until the disorder
could be quelled
Smith Cheers Faint
Then they began a concert move
ment to talk him down, and hum OF
conversation drowned his voice. In
spite of the efforts of the chairman,
who used all his skill as an expert
enced handler of conventions. the eff
feet intended by Mr.. Blacks speech
was entirely killed. When he men,
toned the name of his candidate for
the first time, the cheers were faint
and dispirited, made so by the list
lessness of the convention and the in
terruptions of the Mushet men. 1t was
necessary for him to walt fifty seconds
for the Smith handclappers to take
their cue, and then the applause and
subdued cheers lasted only 43 seconds
all told.
1t was a far cry from the oldtime
arrogant "we-own-the-state" attitude
of the Republican machine to the half
hearted, frightened, detected manner
in which last nights convention was
carried out. The leaders realized early
in the game that a tremendous mis-
take had been made, and several re-
preached each other for ever suggest
ing such a thing.
BY the time the mayoralty was fin-
ally disposed of the convention was so
badly ratified that when the chairman
called for nominations for city clark
there was no response save the NUT
terings of the steering committee. No
body nominated Harry Lelande, and
the next office was called. Later on,
Chairman Richardson was notified by
an abserving steerer that the city
clerk should be taken UP, and As
semblyman j. N. o. Rech went through
the formality of putting on H. ]. Lee
lande.
Bumps All Along Line
Down che line bumped the machine,
running into mistake and error until
the greater number of the delegates
we're disgusted, and one said audibly:
politics Is vaudeville. sure enough
After taking care of treasurer and
tax collector the convention was so
badly muddled that Fred Stein, who
was nominated for assessor was ac-
tually listed as a candidate for audi
tor and after All places for which
there was no opposition to the slate
had been filled a vote had been start
ed on Mr.. Stein for auditor, when his
Indignant supporters called a halt and
had him hed-"transferred." said
the chairman, who regarded 1t as
emergency action.
When the chairman announced that
Mr.. Stein was running for assessor and
not for auditor, the band took II as an
order to play the ''stein song" and
started in Justify but was soon
suueched by the waving of arms Of the
meager delegation representing the
First ward precincts.
The convention was called to order
(ContInued on Page Thresl