Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-20
MACHINE IS IN
GRAVE STRAITS
S. P. ORGANIZATION SHOWN
TO BE WEAK
ALEXANDER GAINS STRENGTH IN
RACE FOR REELECTION
Interviews with Large Number OF
Voters Indicate Mayors Chances
Are Very FavorabIe-Revlew
of Week in Politics


which was the striking evidence of the
weakness of the Republican political
machine. This cropped out in half
dozen different ways-at the meetings
and conferences at machine headquar-
ters, at the "caucuses," in the detec-
tions openly made by men who nave
been known workers for the regular
organization" at all times prior TO the
present situation, and In the pofnp-
shells like the letter of the chairman
OF the Third Ward Republican clubs
keynote" meeting, who refused to
preside because he is unable to
stomach the nauseous mess prepared
by the bosses for the "known Re-
publicans."
That the Southern Pacific political
organization is in desperate STRAITS
and that the bosses conceived the con-
vention idea because they did not
know what else to do to save the sit
uation became strongly evident
through the workings of the "cau-
cuses." 1t was easy to fix up lists for
most of the precincts and to say these
were reported promptly, for they were
mostly reported before the 'caucuses,
and that is prompt enough to satisfy
the most peevish.
Another evident feature last week,
which may be observed by any one
who will take the trouble to talk to or
binary people in any part of the city,
is the remarkably strong current OF
opinion favoring George Alexander:
Leaving committeeman and interested
persons out of the reckoning and talk
ing to the average voter you find
powerful strength favorine Alexander,
which was not drummed UP by head
quarters or a set of meetings or other
incentive than the belief that Alex
ander has made and VIII continue
to make a good mayor, that he mas
backbone and an appreciation of being
located on the job in time of need, that
he is not narrow-minded or faddist.
It is curious that the politician who
opposes Mr.. Alexander because OF the
allegation that the mayor has been in
office for years is also talking of the
need of selecting only experienced men
for city Offices The wiseacre, who
thinks we should have different
MAYOR because the incumbent Is
plain and Straightforward and wears
face trimmings instead of a scarlet
nose. is himself always appealing to
the plain, common people as against
the silk stockings. The instructor in
politics who wants Mayor Alexander
thrown down because of the fanciful
argument that he is backed by clique
knows no other school of politics ex-
cept of taking orders-and because the
mayor won't take orders he is accused
of taking orders, but that has been
so well exploded that 1t is now used
only as a poultice at regular head
quarters. There is little talk now about
the age of the mayor, who is at work
on the city's business as no mayor mas
been in the 1873 years of the city's his
tory.
Twenty minutes after he accepted the
Socialist backing for the mayoralty
race. w. Scott Lewis, the "class-con-
scious candidate" had applied the
shorter uglier word to each ana all
of his opponents. "Palpably dishon-
est is what Comrade Lewis has tagged
them.
"They all say they represent all the
people," says Mr.. Lewis. Let us nave
more intelligence, frankness and plain
honesty in this campaign. A candidate
who says that is either untruthful or
stupid, perhaps both. I stand for the
interest of the working class, and no
others, and their interests are diamet-
rically opposed to those of the exploit
ing class"
was held in Roosevelt hall, that has
nothing to do with Mr.. Lewis attack
on the malefactors of great wealth,
for the Socialists adopted with wild
applause a resolution not to allow the
name of the hall to appear in the cam
paign literature or on the primary
nominating ballot if they can help it.
Fred Wheeler was nominated for the
Socialist mayoralty race, but firmly
declined to run, much to the sorrow of
his friends among the machine Re-
publicans, who hoped he might unite
the supporters of George Smith and
w. c. Mushet as a compromise candi-
date with the same brilliant success
that characterized his machine sup
port in the recall election. They look
for an Endorsement of Mr.. Wheeler as
a candidate for the council from the
Shrine auditorium trump" convention.
A Second ward movement for DR..
Silas A. Austin has been launched by
a committee consisting of Erwin Din
gle, Frank Dominguez, Pliny weaver,
Isaac Wolff and John Eichner. A cir
cular is being sent to every rump con-
vention delegate in the Second ward
precincts detailing DR.. Austin's quail
ifications and asking for support at the
trump" convention in his favor. Con-
siderable trading will go on this week
with supporters of other candidates for
votes from different sections OF the
city and the committee looking after
DIR. Austins candidacy is confident he
will have an Endorsement at the con-
vention without any difficulty.
DIR. Austin is spoken of in the circu-
lar mailed to trump" delegates yes
terday as "a lifelong Republican,
whose years of splendid service in the
ranks of the Republican party entitle
him to nomination and election, a man
Who will serve the interests of the city
and the Second ward with honesty,
fidelity and loyalty, without fear or
favor, and in behalf of the. whole
people"
w. c. Mushet will open mayoralty
headquarters today He will not file
his nomination papers for the present;
the reason given by his press agent is
that the publicity might frighten the
signers away and embarrass them.
The first business to be transacted in
the Mushet headquarters will be the
appointment of an auditing committee,
according to the press agent of the city
auditor
DR.. A. D. Houghton asks The Herald
either to ignore his candidacy or con-
fine all comment TO his past record, on
which exclusively he is making his dig
nifled scramble for office. In future,
therefore, The Herald will not raise
the question of DR.. Houghton's ability
to appreciate the tremendous lmpor,
tance of the harbor problems, the vital
importance of guarding the owens
river project and its by-product OF