Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-08
CIVIC DECENCY
IS WATCHWORD
GOOD GOVERNMENT HEAD
QUARTERS OPENED
WORK OF ORGANIZATION AS
SUMES PERMANENcY :
Charles {. Bent, as Secretary, is in
Charge, and Many Call to As
sure Aid in MoVe-
Ynent

The Good Government headquarters,
which were formally opened at 3lo
Fay building yesterday, presented
busy appearance soon after the newly
elected secretary, Charles e. Bent, as
suned his duties. During the Gay
more than 250 persons called at the
office to express their interest in the
movement and to lend their moral ana
financial support in the crusade tof
purer politics and cleaner officials.
With the opening of permanent mead
quarters, adequately fitted for the
work involved. the Good Government
organization enters actively into the
second most important era of its MS
tory, although it's future course VIII
be marked by no distinctly aggressive
movement.
Officials of the organization-the men
who first took up the work of cleaning
the Los Angeles municipal government
and whose remarkable reforms III
civic administration have made Los
Angeles and the organization famous
reafflrm, frequently, that 1t IS not the
desire Of the Good Government mem
bers to oust any competent man from
office or to oppose any efficient ana
reliable candidate who may seek OF
! fee but merely to endeavor to eliml-
nate undesirable candidates and to see
that the best and most adaptable men
are elected. For that reason the Good
Government organization is funda-
mentally non-partisan and Will indorse
men on any ticket who are deemed to
meet the requirements of the offce
| sought.
Not Partisan Movement
1.-THE Good Government organiza-
ton" said Secretary Bent yesterday
is frequently confused with partisan
societies. We are sometimes asked II
| it is Democratic or If it is affiliated
with the Lincoln Roosevelt league or
other organization. The Good Govern
ment movement represents no party,
and it's membership is composed of
men from the best elements of all
parties"
1t is explained, also. that while the
next step will be to improve the county
administration, it will not involve any
attempt to remove from office or op-
pose for reelection such county Of
ficials as have given good and con-
scientious service to the public. The
Good Government organization is not
a political party, but merely an or
ganization of loyal, leading citizens,
who have the best interests of Los
Angeles and Southern California at
heart, and who have Joined forces to
prevent the S. P. machine again from
trial and commercial life of the city;
to Illustrate any attempt to reinstate
| such officials as the organization re-
Gently has exposed and ousted; to
| prevent the recurrence of such dis
| graceful conditions as those from
which the municipality has just
emerged, and to further at every con-
vention, primary and election the best
interests of the people, regardless of
politics.
Work Is Permanent
With this commendable task before
it, and realizing that the evils which
it has just routed may again prevail,
If constant vigilance is not maintained
in every plan and act of the body
polite, the Good Government organ
ization now has systematically en-
tered into its permanent work. With
the formation of a Good Government
club practically in every precinct in
the city, composed of the best and
most representative citizens, the organ
/ ization has a stable and reliable foun-
dation yet there is needed stronger
and more extensive ramifications, and
to accomplish this the work of organ
izing leagues and committees in every
township in the county is now in
progress.
This completed, the political safety
OF the city and county will be assured,
the Southern Pacific combine, which
working in the peoples midst has
been treacherous to their every in
terest-will be effectually routed, and
the Los Angeles city and county ad-
ministration, in every detail, will be
of the efficiency and character de-
manded by the high standards of de-
VelODment and CitiZenShin of the An