Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-07
S. P. MACHINE
IN LAST FIGHT
FOR ITS LIFE
GOOD GOVERNMENT FORCES
SEE VICTORY
GREAT ENTHUSIASM is SHOWN
FOR ALEXANDER
Mayor Who Has Made Good to Be
Reelected by Big Ma
Jority over George
Smith
tcontinurd from Page One,


bidding of the machine. but will act
honestly and for the principles of good
government.
The failure of the machine has been
gradual.
The Southern Pacific spent half a
million in an effort to prevent the con-
solidation of San Pedro, guaranteeing
Los Angeles a free harbor. But the
machine, with all it's boasted strength,
could not defeat the will of the people.
The people won.
Another great battle was in the re-
call of Harper, elected as Democrat
but put into office by the machine.
Walter Parker S. p. agent in Southern
California, gave orders thetday Harper
was nominated, repeated the orders the
day he was elected and kept giving
them up to the day Harper was forced
to retire from the field lest his defeat
by Alexander be made more apparent.
Aqueduct Big Prize
one of the most coveted prizes Of the
election from the push standpoint is
the aqueduct. The handling of the
funds of the great owens river project
will give the machine politicians plenty
of opportunity for graft. The efforts
to get clutches on the funds were be-
gun under Harper. 1t was George AL
eXander and the Good Government ad-
vocates who prevented the accomplish
ment of this plot If the machine men
are elected it will mean that the hun
cry horde of graft-seekers will be in
line for a concerted attack upon the
owens river funds. If Alexander and
the Good Government candidates are
elected it will mean that the owens
river funds will be honestly and eff
cently administered. that there will
be no grating Of the funds, and there
will be no hungry horde waiting for
spoils
Smiths record in office has been
anything but savory He has always
been allied with the interests" When
ever he has been called upon to choose
between what was best for the people
and what would best suit the inter-
ests, he always voted against the
people. He will continue to take or
ders from Walter Parker.
Bostwick's Record
r. p. Bostwick, who originated the
system of bookkeeping in the city
auditors office which was condemned
by bookkeeping experts after he re-
tired from office and which the pres
ent council spent several thousand
dollars to change because ii was said
to be one of the worst municipal sys-
TENS, is trying to get back into the
office to restore it again.
This is itself a powerful argument
in favor of the election Of John S.
Myers, Good Government candidate,
who is his opponent.
It has been alleged that Bostwick
was the only man who understood the
system.
For reasons the council, after an in
vestigation had been made soon after
il took office, expended several thou
sand dollars i'm giving the city an en-
tire new system.
Should Bostwick be returned to Of
flee this money will have been wasted
for he probably would restore his own
system.
Although Bostwick never was elect
ed auditor he really occupied that po-
sition. The elected auditor was Louis
Schwaebe, who devoted little atten-
tion to the office, it is stated. Bost-
wick was his chief deputy.
Just before the administration
changed the finance committee OF
which George A. Smith was chairman
induced the council to raise Bostwlck s
salary from 5000 to $500 month,
which was more than the auditor was
receiving. This was bad enough, but
what was worse was that the increase
was dated back from December to July
and Bostwick drew the $500 "back
pay"
This situation was called to the at
tention of the present council winch
came into office Immediately after
ward. The salary ordinance was re-
nealed and an unsuccessful attempt
was made to force Bostwick to restore
the money which it was alleged had
been illegally drawn.
Bostwick was found to be no longer
necessary in the office and he has
been in private life until the 5: r.
machine named him for city auditor
in the rump convention.
In the office of the city tax and
license collector there is a world or
opportunity for graft. And in times
mast there have been some rather direct
assertions made that all was not eX-
actly as it should be there. The col
lection of taxes is a matter which
strikes home with nearly every voter
in Los Angeles. Honesty is wanted
there as much, if not more than in any
other department of the city govern
ment. There are many ways Of favor
ing. but there is but one way to run
the office-as Clarence Taggart would
run it. Mr. Taggart is young and ener-
getic. He has made good in everything
he has undertaken. He is for good
government and declares that every
cent to be collected will be collected.
He will show no favors, and hence his
election is just what the people should
favor.
Against Mr.. Taggart is f. e. john
son, notorious for his machine affilia-
tion.
Capt. C. II. Hance is one of the men
who cannot be defeated. He has rem