Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-11
RECH WITH PUSH
IN LEGISLATURE
Campaign Committee Is Made Up
of Machine Leaders
in Precincts
OPPOSED THE LOBBYING BILL
Arranged PreIiminaries for Ref
erendum on the Light
Rate Ordinance
OPPOSED THE LOBBYING BILL

J. N. o. Rech, member of the as
sembly from the Seventy-second dis
trict, is having the fight of his life for
the "vindication" he is seeking at the
hands of the voters of his district.
They are beginning to understand that
though "Otto," as he is called by his
familiars, is a nice, genial fellow
personally, when it comes to politics
he Is so closely affiliated with the
machine" which is menace to the
state and county. The chief trouble
with him seems to be that he is unable
to take the progressive view of things
political.
It will be remembered that Mr.. Rech
was the man who engineered the pre-
liminaries to the referendum on the
lighting rate ordinance a couple of
months ago. Those who are opposing
him may also recall that not long
afterward he was credited by a local
newspaper which is an authority on
machine" politics with advocating the
candidacy of e. A. Meserve for the
United States senate. Further than
this, they cite the fact that his cam
paign committee Is made up OF most
part on machine" Republican poll
ticians in the various precincts.
Mr.. Recti's legislative record was not
exactly the sort to commend him to
the favorable consideration of his con-
stituents. When the federal steam
ship resolution was called to the car
pet at the last session of the legisla-
ture, Mr.. Rech took his stand beside
Speaker Stanton, Assemblyman Tran
sue and the other push" members or
the assembly, voting against recalling
the resolution from the committee, a
step toward smothering 1t, and voted
No. I,a infnn6n6
1t as much as possible. He also sup
ported the Leeds-Stanton scheme for
district advisory vote on United States
senators.
Worse than this, he supported Stan
toms scheme to require that all can
didates must "abide by and carry into
effect, in spirit as we'll as letter, the
platform to be adopted by state ana
county conventions" of the party noml-
mating them, after such candidates had
been nominated at the primaries. This
was one of the most vicious political
measures proposed at the session OF
1909. Had it been adopted 1t would have
been possible for the railroad company
to pledge all anti-machine candidates
for the legislature to enact no leg1sla-
ton that would in any way curtail the
special privileges that the railroads
already enjoy.
I. Keen also ISll VIII bilC 41OoNH
scheme to kill off the bill eliminating
the party circle from election ballots,
and took his side with the opponents
of the bill which provided for placing
the names of judiciary candidates on
the ballot without designation as to
political party in separate column. lie
also supported the machine" consti-
tutional amendment comforting upon
the state board OF equalization power
to raise or lower county assessments
by classification Of business or indus
try; for example, lowering the assess
ment on railroad property or property
of other corporations and raising the
assessment on agricultural or fruit
lands.
Another desirable measure that he
opposed was a bill prohibiting corrupt
lobbying and corrupt practices con-
cerning the enactment of laws or the
allowance of claims, q bill that surely
should have received the support OF
every man who desired to stand right
with his people at home.
Other instances of Mr.. Rech's friend
ship for the Southern Pacific ma
chine" and it's allied interests might
be cited. but these should be sufficient
to prove to voters that he is one of the
men who should be kept safely at home
where he can do no further political
mischief.