Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-01
VALUABLE VOTES

Ill VERY CltlZen, no lIdllS NhdI hi"S
III be his financial condition, is the
= owner of a franchise. No one
can buy it from him. He has moi
right to sell it. 1t is this ownership
that makes him free and independent,
You may be rich, or you may be poor
or you may be in the fortunate condi-
ton of the ancient Oriental who prayed,
"Give me neither poverty nor riches. "
It does not matter what your worldly
estate may be. In this republic your
MORAL estate is as valuable as that
of any Millionaire; not any more valu-
able. but not a whit less. The chief
asset of your moral estate is your right
to vote for officials who shall admin
lister the affairs of the community of
which you are a member. You may bel
the poorest man in the community,
but you are not any less valuable al
member of it than the richest; you may
be the richest man in it, but the days
when wealth gave the possessor the
right to more than one vote are over
and gone. even in civilizations less ad-
vanced than that of America.
The one-man one-vote system we en-
joy is the result of an age-long strug-
gle between individuality and privilege.
At the ballot box in the United States
privilege has been smitten hip and
thigh routed utterly.
The Los Angeles voter enjoys in the
exercise of his franchise absolute free
dom. No one has any right to COM
mand him to vote for this or that can
didate. He is not even compelled to
use his franchise, although many good
people are beginning to think it might
not be a bad idea to subject an alb
sentee from the polls, to some penalty.
Much of the governmental mischief
which occasionally has afflicted Amer
lean communities is due to the vote
dodgers, the persons who refrain ffom
using the franchise which an evolu-
tionary political fight that ragged
through ten strenuous centuries finally
delivered to them to have and to hold.
Citizens of Los Angeles soon will be
asked to vote for candidates for i'm
portant municipal offices. Each citizen
doubtless desires to use his franchise
to the best advantage. This end will
be reached in only one way, by using
the franchise in behalf of the best can
didates.
For mayor George Alexander is the
candidate who most accurately repre-
sents the best there is in municipal
life. Mayor Alexander's honesty and
his sense of responsibility are a guar
antee of continued prosperity.
This city is entering upon the most
important period of its career. Harbor
improvement and water power devel-
opment will mean much to Greater
Los Angeles, and the retention of
Mayor Alexander in Office will give as
surance of square deal, businesslilSe
methods in every step of municipal
progress.
Mr. Lelande for city clerk is a can
didate whose integrity is well known.
He has many qualifications for office
and his all around reliability makes
the success Of his candidature a highly
desirable aim for the attainment of
which all good citizens are united.
BY the election of Clarence NJ. Tag
gart as city license and tax collector
the machine will be deprived Of one
of the principal opportunities for which
it is hungering. The machine is anxious
to control this office because of the
opportunities it affords for taking care
Of the boys. Advocates of good govern
ment prefer to take care of the citizens.
Captain Hance as city treasurer, Mr..
Myers as city auditor and Mr.. Mallard
as city assessor will give a guarantee
that the financial interests of Los An
geles will be guarded with most scru-
pulous fidelity.
Mr. Hewitt, candidate for city attor-
ney, has won golden opinions from
his fellow citizens by his demonstrated
ability and integrity.
Members Of the board of education
who will give such attention to the great
educational interest of Los Angeles
as its importance demands are Melville
Dozier, Herman w Frank, James M.
Quinn, Roger S. Page, Joseph Scott
Francis w. Steddom and Fielding d.
Sulson. These men understand the
educational problem and may be de-
pended upon to advance the cause of
education i'm this great educational
center.
A Good Government council is essen
tiaI if the interests of the city are to
be guarded at every point Of possible
attack. Citizens who by reason Of
their business ability, their knowledge
of affairs their experience, their pa
triotism, their integrity and their sym
pathy with the Los Angeles way will
make excellent members Of the council
are Josias ]. Andrews, Martin F. Bet
kouski. Miles S, Gregory, Robert NJ.
Lusk, n. l.. O'Brien, Richmond NJ.
Plant, William J. Washburn, George
Williams and Judge John D. Works.
Al FXANDER PROSPERITY