Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-27
CITY CAMPAIGN
WELL UNDER WAY
MACHINE FORCES STILL SHOW
SOME VACANCIES
TWO BIG THINGS YET TO COME
TO START REAL BATTLE
Activity Of George Alexander In Mu-
nlcipaI Arena and Selection of
Nine Men for Council
Will start Ball

tant features are needed to put it on
full speed With the lining up OF the
machine forces, although with many
vacancies in the ranks and among tne
officers, and with the opening OF mead
quarters and planning OF their work
by the candidates generally, the nghl
is on more definitely. Meetings so Iar
have been held by precinct branc
of the Good Government organization
and by Oscar e. Parish, maSoralty can
didate. but the others are promising
TO pay hall rent early next nlohtn:
Candidate Smith says he Will not nolu
any meetings or make any speeches,
but his managers and the relIlnant ~. VI
the so-called Republican parry oehlho
him will have few, principally among
the Latin American voters.
The two big things yet TO come 10
fill out the campaign are the acludl
active entrance of George Alexander
and a selection of nine men Tor tne
council who can make the city ousI-
ness a real business and not mater @
of politics, It is evident that mayor
Alexander. although he has not sald
50. takes the city charter with great
seriousness, much as a man who foughl
for rhe constitution of the country
might be expected to take the con-
Stitution of a freeholdel's' city. 10 the
citizen of Los Angeles the city char-
ter is in many respects OF more lli,
rortauce than the state statutes, ana
il Is entitled therefore to more respect
than an ordinary municipal CODE
From his speeches it is easy to dls-
carD that Mayor Alexander believes
mat citizenship under the freeholders.
charter of Los Angeles is an unusual
privilege, and that the duties that come
with il should not be nShtly regarueu'
Especially does this come home 10
the man who is the city's executive,
and who must stand as a representa- :
tive citizen neither ne is or not. IL
the intent of the charter is clear along
certain lines it devolVes on the mayor
To follow those lines in his conduct
and his candidacy as well as IN ms
ofice. That applies TO the amend
nent adopted by a decisive vote OF
the neonIe to provide for primary NOM
mating elections, which is clearly de-
signed TO do away with partisan poll
ties in citv elections. Mayor AleXan-
der appreciates this, and his greater
personal responsibility because he IS
the present mayor while agreeing 10
be a candidate at the primary electlon.
For that reason he has hesitated about
making a campaign which might be
construed as not entirely IN accoru
with the charter provisions.
Mayor Alexander's opponents find
themselves curiously hard put for ar
guments against him. They predlcted
that he would make enough bad breaks
to eliminate all the recall strength long
before the regular elections. instead
he has pursued a safe course Whlch
has caused an overwhelming demand
for him to continue in the mayors chair.
THE croakers said that Mayor Alexan-
der was too old, that he could not
handle the city's business. On the
contrary, he has been on the Joo
nights and days, and more business
goes through the mayors office in a
day than has been the case in long
time They still advance, somewhat
feebly, the argument that he has held
office for a number of years-while the
candidates they are supporting are SUN
pointing to their records. II George
Alexander were a rich man, If ne had
made a fat living out of his position
with the county, he would in all prop
ability have the support of those who
are now against him and the united
opposition of those who now wish MN
to be a candidate for mayor for the
next term. Because he has served the
county and city faithfully and has
not lined his pockets thereby and
knows the run of things it is whis-
pered around that he ought not to be
reelected.
There are rumors that new element
NAV enter into the question of select
ing councilmen. A feeling has appeared
spontaneously in several quarters en-
tirelv outside of what may be termed
the political places that in some way
nine men whose standing and charac-
ter would stamp them as eminently
fitted to administer the big business
before the city in a business way
he 10 nlIf for the
council. This idea has found express
sion among members of the chamber
of commerce, the realty board and the
Merchants and Manufacturers associa-
tion-not that business should be
dragged into politics or merely for
business administration" but that,
in view of the tremendous work before
the city its board of directors should
be absolutely its most representative
stockholders.
There was never a city with such a
great work before it and such possi-
bilities," said a prominent real estate
man in discussing this idea last week
"a man who has big business interests
here should be more intimately con-
cerned about the city's affairs than in
any of his personal business. If he
wishes to, he can have stock in sew
eral banks or corporations, but he can
not get away from the city if this is
his city. Men like w. J. Washburn
O. r. Johnson and John D. Works have
really a greater interest as stockhold-
ers in the city of Los Angeles than iT
any one of their private concerns.
should like to see len who beyond
question have a position as large stock
hollers in the municipality give theii
time on its directorate.
"It is possible so to select these mer
that there will be a generally united
sentiment behind them. Some may
come from those already in the field
while others would be brought out
who have not as yet been mentioned
At any rate. it is of great importance
that we get a council that means bust,
ness and will do business for the city
and immensely more important thar
has ever been the case heretofore"
"All that is very true" said a 'prac.
tical'' politician who heard of tht
idea, "but it is not politics"
An oscar e. Parish club has beer
formed in the Fifth ward precincts
with 100 charter members. of which i;
large number are former "organiza
tion" Republicans. Plans have beei
perfected for a thorough ward organi
zation, and the club will have worker
in every precinct.
Stanley Benedict, a Republican. i
chairman of the club; Charles II. Car
routh is vice chairman, and D. +. Nc
Eaign managers say plans are alread.