Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-11
An Address Delivered by Meyer Lssner Before the


They had the nerve to suppose that
they were onto the curves of Pitcher
Parker and that Captain Gates might
make a home run on the first strike.
Well, you know they didn't quite do
that: Parker caught Gates out on a
foul; but they showed some good team
work and made some good runs, and,
taking it altogether, it was a good
game Score, 16 for the nonpartisans,
for the machine.
They elected sixteen out of twenty
three elective officials. They gave Los
Angeles a school board which enjoys
the confidence of the people and is sup
ported by nearly all the local news
papers worth mentioning. They elected
a loyal and learned city attorney; our
deservedly popular city clerk, an hon
est and highly respected treasurer ana
four members of the city council.
They did not elect the mayor, but
that score has been evened by the cleo
ton of two mayors since; and L think
it only fair in passing, to say that
they did not elect the other five MEM
bers of the city council. Nevertheless,
I have often thought that If the four
members of the council who were elect
ed on the nonpartisah ticket had stood
together more consistently on right
propositions, with the power OF
righteous cause and public opinion on
their side, they could have blocked
several of the things done in council
for which some of them have been, in
my opinion justly, criticized. Thrice
armed is he whose cause is just.
No Need to "Stand In"
And 1 want to say in passing, that
the plea made before this CLUB recently
by a councilman, that if one wanted
III, III YH
stand in" does not appeal to me.
True, the councilman did not use those
exact words; what he really said was
this:
you know that we don't want to
have an obstructive form of govern
ment. If we want to have a construct
i've form of government we have got TO
slide along as smoothly as possible"
All of which, boiled down, spells
log rolling and standing in"
l agree with what Senator Bell said
to us last Saturday-that the legislator
is sometimes more useful as an OBJ
structionist than as a constructionist.
To put it in plain English, councilmen
should be guided by principle and
stand up for the right thing, regard
less of consequences. The consequences
will take care of themselves and of the
councilmen too.
If a councilman cannot get something
for his ward without voting for some
thing for another ward to which 1t is
not entitled he should let his ward get
along without; and because a majority
of the councilmen are lined up to con-
firm an unfit appointment and lit is
going through any way" is no reason
for voting aye just ito keep in line
and not unnecessarily antagonize the
majority"
The people do not understand that
kind of councilmanic craftsmanship
and it only reflects on and Injuries, not
alone those who so act, but those who
are supposed to stand sponsor for them
and the whole cause of good govern
ment.
Good Record Made
But, taking it all in all, the nom
partisans have made pretty good rec
ord. Reformers cannot give written
guarantee with their candidates. The
men they nominate are human beings
liable to err in judgment. All we can
do is to support the best men whom
we can secure to accept nominations,
and, like the Irish councilman with the
gondolas, let nature take its course
Coincidentally with the city's non
partisan campaign, a county non
partisan ticket was supported by an
other set of citizens, which met with
some success. 1t elected Charlie Bell
to the senate, if it didn't do an
other thing, that was we'll worth while.
1t did more, however, but as l was not
in any way personally connected with
that movement, and as l am only
speaking from personal knowledge
will not discuss it at length.
l want to say in passing, however,
that my first acquaintance with S. c.
Graham dates from that campaign,
,i.1, fol yn raln CIR "a
in saying that in what political eXpe-
rience l have had / have never known
a man who was guided more consist
emily by principle and gave less heed
to what we call political expediencyi
nor have 1 ever known one to make
greater sacrifices for the good of a
righteous cause or who exhibited a
loftier spirit of practical patriotism.
Local Press Lauded
1t would be unjust to pass over this
period in the recent history of political
reform in Los Angeles without refer
ence to the splendid newspaper sup
port given by part of our local press,
and particularly by the Los Angeles
Herald and the Express
The Express espOused the cause of
partisanship in municipal affairs
and stood up staunehly for the non
partisan movement when it was still
in it's sWaddling clothes and nothing
but a bowling infant, and before any
one knew for a surety whether the
child would have enough vitality to
storm the Republican and Democratic
breaStWorks or die of exhaustion in
the attempt. For it goes without say
ing that, considering the character of
our newspaper support, we could not
think of bringing the infant up on the
bottle.
The Express stood for the principle
of on-partisanship because it believed
it was right and irrespective of bust
ness considerations, just as it has stood
for other things which it's owner be-
lieVed in but which did not meet with
the same measure of public approval
From that day to this the Express
has supported every worthy movement
for good government in this city and
state. No one in connection with the
Express has ever attempted to dictate,
no Interior motive has ever appeared
and l say without hesitation that the
people of Los Angeles owe great
debt of gratitude to E. T. Earl and the
Los Angeles Express which they should
not hesitate to show their appreciation
of whenever and in whatever way they
can.
Herald Staunch Friend
The Herald, although at that time
under different management, gave us
loyal support, and at one time we
actually really thought we might have
support of the Los Angeles Times.
And while l am on the subject of
newspaper support for reform in Los
Angeles, although a little out of the
chronological order, 1 want to pay my
tribute to the excellent work done dur
ing the Recall campaign by the Los
Angeles Herald. Under the direction
= md Jril 10 faf fal
citizen, Mr.. T. 70. Gibbon, the Herald is
dnen,.NndInr fnrpi11n, ito 1uaN infn the