Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-09
EXPOSURE OF
VICE PRODUCES
CONSERVATION
HARPER TRIES TO EXPLAIN
TRIP TO VENICE
POLICE COMMISSIONER AGENT
FOR NOTORIOUS RESORT
Respectable Citizens Everywhere De-
mand Full Investigation of Awful
Conditions in Infamous
Girl Traps
TN many other places besides Mayor

TN many other places besides Mayor
Harpers Office The Rerald's state
- ment yesterday concerning the
reign of vice in Los Angeles and the
story of the executives night trip 10
Venice were the leading topics Of dis
cussion. The CONSERVATION that fol-
| lowed The Herald's first announcement
was increased when the story was
made public of the mayors attempt TO
dictate to the people of the seaside city.
Everywhere the interest was as great.
In business offices, in hotel lobbies, az
the court house, on the street cars at
public gatherings-in fact everywhere
that men came together The Herald 8
question was repeatedly asked:
us VICE PROTECTED IN LOS AN
GELES?"
Everywhere were heard such ex-
pressions as: Good! 1 hope the matter
will be followed to the end
II am glad to see The Herald go
after this so vigorously. The thing
should be thoroughly probed."
eff vice is NOT protected, why do we
witness such scenes in the cafes,
have heard in restaurants supposed TO
cater to the best element conversations
which were positively indecent, and
they indicated a freedom which would
not exist if everything was strictly su-
pervised in an honest manner. There is
something wrong and I am glad to see
The Herald go after It.
Approve Hera!d's Action
The tenor Of the average citizens
conversation was in approval OF Inc
HeraIds attitude. Not only was this
apparent in conversations, but 1t was
evidenced to the management by many
letters, telephone and personal calls,
and messages showing the intense in
terest in the question.
'"That's the question" said one man,
us VICE PROTECTED IN LOS AN
GEIES? And decent taxpayers and
citizens look for full answer from
The Herald"
The position of the city's executive
acting as an intermediary for the in
terests'' at Venice and a special pleader
for retention of the all-night poIlcy IN
another city was a topic that called
forth much indignant comment. Many
business men looked upon it as an
affront to the city Of Los Angeles, to
saw nothing Of the indignity offered
Ocean Park through the official sug-
gestion regarding that ctty's moral con-
duct.
The exposure Of Mayor Harper's err
rand fell like a bomb at the city naH
Yesterday morning, and there were i'm
mediate consultations. Mayor Eaktns
is said to have been hurriedly sum-
moned to Los Angeles, and 1t was re-
ported that Harper and he were closeted
in an office of the Los Angeles aque-
duct at the Central building.
A statement purporting to have been
issued by Mayor Eakins, but which
was signed on the typewriter as H. B.
Eakins, mayor of Venice" was handed
out yesterday afternoon by Herbert
Kennedy. Mayor Harper's secretary
In the statement Mr.. Eakins' reason
for restricting the liquor business along
the beach was attributed to his desire
to prevent the beach towns going for
prohibition. If the statement is what
it purports to be no doubt the wholesale
LIQUOR men used the comic opera ex-
preston, ''Well, that's fair enough"
The statement which Private Secre-
tary Kennedy handed out as coming
from the mayor Of Ocean Park is as
follows:
In justice to Mayor A. G. Harper, |
who has been unjustly criticised
and placed in a false light, 1 make
this explanation Of his visit to
Venice Wednesday evening.
I have known the mayor a great
many years and the bond Of friend
ship between US has been very
close. Since becoming mayor Of
Venice I have frequently called on
him in his office and he has called
on me at Venice, and we have ex-
changed views on municipal affairs.
If he had called on me at Venice
Wednesday night, as reported, there
would have been nothing strange
nor unusual about it. But the truth
of the matter is he did not do so.
Mayor Harper came to Venice with
his friend, Mr. Sawyer, in the lat
ter's car for a ride. While at the
Ship hotel James Morley took ad-
vantage of his presence to send a.
car for me and ask that 1 call on
Mayor Harper at the ship.
In the course of conversation the
subject of the proposed early clos
ing Of the Ship restaurant on ac-
count of the disgraceful Brownies"
ball at Venice New Years eve came
up. and Mayor Harper expressed
himself that an injustice would be
done the proprietors Of the Ship
restaurant should they be put out
Of business on account Of it, as he
had always heard of the good order
that prevailed at the restaurant.
explained to Mr.. Morley that be-
cause of the sentiment of the peo-
pie along the beach the liquor bust
ness must be restricted or the
beach towns would go prohibition.
That ended the discussion.
Mayor Harper made no request Of
me concerning a wide open"
town: in fact the subject was not
broached.
The mayor congratulated me on
closing the Brownies" ball. say
ing while he was not at the ball
he had seen the program and con-
sidered it the most disgraceful ever
heard of in California.
III. B. EAKINS,
Mayor of Venice"