Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-28
CLEAN POLITICS
DESIRED BY ALL
CHARTER AMENDMENT VOTE
TO BE NON-PARTlSAN
Prominent Citizens Will Support Two
Changes in City Constitution
Regardless of Political
Affiliation

Party lines are being abandoned In
the campaign for the charter amend
ments, especially for Nos 2 and 4, for
which the City club is striving partic-
ularly. The following expressions of
opinion show that prominent citizens
realize the Importance of the adoption
of plan by which cleaner politics will
be assured:
Lester L. Robinson, secretary of the
| Hughes Manufacturing and Lumber
company: Il am distinctly in favor of
the direct primary. The system has
been tried and found to be all right. 1t
certainly gives the voters themselves a
voice in the selection Of candidates and
officers of the city. The direct primary
provision is sure to be successful at the
| election next Tuesday. AS for amend
ment No. am not SO confident"
Mark G. Jones, former county treas
urer, now president Merchants Bank
and Trust company: There cannot be
any question of the adoption of the
amendments for the election of council
men at large and the direct primary. l
favor them both and believe that all
business men, after studying the mea-
sures, will approve them. Amendments
Nos. and should be voted for by all
good citizens, no matter how they may
discriminate in the others"
c. w. Mills, 1884 West Twenty-fourth
street: Il will vote for both amend
ments Nos. and 4, for I believe them
to be good and for the improvement of
politics. OF course corrupt politicians
and persons seeking Office through the
help of the machine will oppose both
amendments"
James Slauson, 2345 South Figueroa
street: II am glad to say 1 heartily
will support both amendments Nos. 2
and with all my power and in the
conviction they are for the best in
tereSt of the city as a whole. l believe
in the election of councilmen at large
and in the direct primary as the best
means of removing evils from local
politics and insuring a representative
government"
r. H. Howell, 1922 West Seventh
street: "I cannot see why any good
citizen should oppose either the amend
ment for the election of councilmen at
large or for the direct primary. Ger
tainly all citizens have an interest in
what every councilman does in office,
consequently all should have a share
in electing him. Of course there will be
opposition to the adoption of the sec
ton for the direct primary, but it will
come from persons who are prejudiced
or hope to gain by the continuance of
the old system of machine domination"
N. BlackStock, former member of the
state bank and railroad commissions
and now vice president Merchants Bank
and Trust company: 1T is my inten-
ton to vote for amendment No. 2, for I
am convinced the best way to choose
councilmen is at large by the city. tt
certainly would result in the choice of
better men for the responsible positions
Perhaps / would be as much in favor
of the direct primary, but l have had
so much business with conventions that
am welded to the old plan. If I stick
to the convention plan it will be more
from force of habit than from convic-
ton that it is right"
H. H. Yonkin, council for the Sixth
ward: I'm against the propositions in
every way, shape and manner. If that
at large business would carry, no man
would spend any money to be elected
to a job paying only 500 month. Oh,
yes, I know it is proposed to increase
the pay Of the councilmen, but that
won't CO."
The first meeting of the executive
committee of the non-partisan city CEN
trail committee since the campaign of
two years ago was held yesterday and
the following resolution was adopted:
Whereas, The non-partiSan move
ment in the city of Los Angeles was
organized and the campaign was con-
Quoted for the purpose of establishing
in Los Angeles the principle of non
partisanship in municipal affairs; and
Whereas, Charter amendment No. A,
to be submitted to the citizens of Los
Angeles at a special election to be held
February 2. seems to provide an ideal
and fair plan for the nomination and
election of municipal officials, eliminar-
ing recognition, or consideration of, ma
tional party politics; therefore be it
Resolved by the executive committee
of the non-partisan city central COM
mittee that we hereby heartily do in
dorse said proposed amendment, and
be it further
Resolved, That we also indorse pro-
posed charter amendment No. 2, provid-
ing for the election of councilmen at
large, which should give Los Angeles
higher grade Of councilmen than
under the present ward plan, and be it
further
Resolved, That we urge all friends
of non-partisan and good municipal
government to vote February 2 for
charter amendments Nos. 2 and A.
RUSS AVERY, Chairman"