Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-02
NO PLEDGES OF
REWARD MADE
ISSUES OF CAMPAIGN ARE
DEALT WITH
ALExANDER's RECORD COMPARED
WITH OPPONENTS
"Vote for Good Republicans" Battle
Cry of Smith Forces, Theme
of Good Government
Advocate


Moneta avenue and Fifty-fourth street,
last evening listened with intense in
terest to addresses on the big issues
of the campaign delivered by Meyer
Lissner, Thomas Lee Woolwine and
others Every time the name of George
Alexander was mentioned applause
followed. Dell SchWeitzer presided.
p. j. Donnelly, who served on the
original committee of eighteen, briefly
outlined the preliminary work of the
primary campaign to illustrate the
truly popular form of the movement,
and declared that he personally knew
that no man had received any pledge
or promise of political reward for any
service in behalf Of good government
which he might render.
Meyer Lissner went into the details
regarding the method of organization
and work of the good government
forces. He related the history of the
non-partisan movement in Los Angeles,
which received its inspiration from
Bryce's declaration that in America
"the government Of municipalities is
a most conspicuous failure" and the
methods of reform adopted by Theodore
Roosevelt.
Political Parties Controlled
1.-THE great political bureau of the
allied corporations" asserted Mr. Liss-
ner, has controlled both the great po-
litical parties, and II has made no diff
ference to the boss which party was
victorious at the polls. When the re-
turns We're in the boss would sit back
and laugh az the gullibillty of the
great mass of American voters"
In describing the so-called conven-
tion of the Republican party which
nominated" the machine ticket, he de-
clared that a reliable eye witness had
found one man voting as-delegate from
a large number of precincts, even cast
ing the ballot for the precinct In which
this witness resided.
"They (the machine managers) have
injected the question of partisanship
into this campaign" continued Mr..
Lissner. "They say TO Republican vot-
ers: Elect good Republicans to office
All right. Let us see who the good
Republicans are.
AeXander's Record
George Alexander carried a musket
through the civil war. Before that he
had cast a vote for Abraham Lincoln
for president. Since the war he has
voted for every Republican candidate
for president down to and including
William II. Taft. Isn't that a pretty
good sort of Republican for you.
"Well, how about Smith? Is he a
better type of Republican for you to
vote for? Let's think a minute. Smith
admits that because he was a candi-
date for the nomination for mayor
three years ago and did not get it he
subscribed literally to the Harper
Democratic) campaign fund. That's
the sort of good Republican George
Smith is"
The voters present were reminded of
the attitude of the present council on
the question of the submission to pop
ular vote of the proposed new charter
prepared by a commission named by
the civic bodies at the request of tho
same council After having labored
faithfully for several weeks, presenting
a charter that unquestionably would
have been adopted by the voters. the
charter commission found its labors
useless, as the council, obeylng the
orders given by the machine boss, re-
ment TO go before the people for their
approval or rejection, Lyon. Healy
and Yonkin, three candidates for re-
election, voting against submission.
Objects to Bosslng
"The Good Government organization
doesn't object TO the boss himself so
much as IL objects TO the bossing of
the party by an agent of corpora tions
endeavoring to deprive the people of
their fundamental rights. Every po-
litieal movement must be organized,
and IL must have leaders. There are
some differences, however, between the
machine organization and the Good
Government organization. In the first
place, ours Is chiefly volunteer work
Theirs is largely volunteer service, too,
but by employees of the city and coun-
ty, who hope for reward In the event
of success at the polls. They freely
use public patronage to reward their
heelers. For example, one of their
men, who at one time presided over
the council, at the time of the attempt
ed steal of the river bed franchise was
rewarded by being made state railroad
commissioner. Another, a member of
the same council, was made chief of
police, and was afterward appointed
to a position on the board of public
works.
No Promise of Reward
"The Good Government organization,
on the other hand, makes no promises
of reward for services rendered in the
cause of the public welfare. The men
supporting the work of our organiza-
tion are not the kind OF men who take
orders or who can be tempted by offers
of reward of the sort rendered by the
machine. Who could possibly think of
such men as John ID. Works, William
j. Washburn and Josias j. Andrews
being persuaded to do political work
for the reward of political Job?
Another thing-the Good Govern
ment organization does not take
money for campaign purposes from
candidates for office; nor does 1t ac-
cept money rendered by public utility
corporations. nor from the officers Of
such corporations. Every dollar of
our campaign fund has been contrib
uted by patriotic citizens who want
nothing in return but decent govern
ment for Los Angeles"
Mr.. Lissner was loudly applauded
at the close OF his address.
Miles S. Gregory and j. j. Andrews.
candidates for the council, spoke
briefly. Mr. Gregory said that one
well known citizen had told him that
he would be glad of the job of city
purchasing agent if he could receive
for his services 20 per cent of what
he could save the city as compared
with the outlay the past year-"and he
is a man." concluded Mr.. Gregory,
whose services bring him not less
than $4,000 a month at the present
time"
Attacking Organ Scored
Mr. Andrews scored the Times for
it's attacks upon Mayor Alexander,
and quoted from its issue of December
/ to prove that under the present ad-
ministration the progress of this city
had been greater than during any
similar period in it's history. What
the Times says of Alexander" he con-
Guided, lis without scintilla of
Il.