Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-11
PARTY LINES DISSOLVING


NN HINGs are not looking very bright
in the camp of John D. Freder-
Il icks, the Republican candidate
for reelection to the office of district
attorney Following the detection of
Mr.. S. c. Graham from the Republican
county committee because he could
not square his conscience with party
regularity, with the discredited and
disgraced county attorney on the
ticket, came the withdrawal of Mr..
Charles H. Mcclure from the commit
tee for the same reason.
Now the Los Angeles Express bolts
Fredericks, pointing out his gross
derelction of duty. and announces its
purpose to support Thomas Lee Wool
wine Evidently it thinks that an Off
Ger who can't find time to meet
charges, not only of failure to do his
plain duty but of actual felony, is not
entitled to the consideration of candid
| people, or, for that matter the sup
| port or association of honest people.
Mr.. Fredericks makes no adequate
defense against the charge of having
SIlellbu, uOl DllGGy Dul many NlII4IGi
persons guilty of serious crimes.
Walter Parker stands accused of hav-
ing attempted to corrupt city Clerk
Lelande in the Hotel Alexandria by
bribery in order to put through the
steal of the river bed for corporations.
Fredericls did nothing about it. In
stead, he has made Parker his boon
companion, confldant and adviser
Percy Harmon was involved in the
same river bed scandal. Fredericks
made no attempt to bring him to JUS
tice. Instead, he made Harmon an
assistant at liberal salary in his office.
Lucy King forged will. Freder-
icks, sworn to prosecute crime, and
knowing of this crime, did nothing
about it. Instead, he made use of the
opportunity afforded by the forged
King wills to profit personally to the
extent of about $4,000 and by meth
DDS that were closely akin to the be-
trayal of confding clients, according
10 Mr.. Woolwine's charges.
These are only a few of many
charges which the district attorney
refuses to meet with anything more
than a statement of generalities that
Thomas Lee Woolwine, his accuser, in
stantly refuted with sworn and docu-
mentary evidence. The only Inference
is that he cannot do so. His negative
record is known to all who have
watched the conduct of his office, even
superhcially. His positive bad record
seems established beyond a reasonable
doubt, and appears to be confirmed by
his silence under charges that would
stir men of character to their depths.
In the circumstance it is straining
party regularity beyond the limit to
expect men like Mr.. Graham and Mr..
Mcclure and newspapers like the EX-
press to support Fredericks, much less
to take up a defense for him that he
will not undertake for himself,
The action of these members of the
Republican county committee and this
Republican newspaper, as well as
some thousands of others whose minds
are made up the same way but are
not publicly avowed, is new proof of
the breaking down of party lines in
city and county affairs. Already the
complete emancipation of the city from
the political boss has been achieved in
Los Angeles. There are exactly the
same weighty reasons for divorcing
county business from party politics.
When a notoriously bad man is In
office or seeks to get into office it is
a moral and patriotic duty to put him
out or keep him out as the case may
be, and no party shibboleth should
blind a good citizen or a good party
to that duty. 1t has ceased to blind
thousands, and as time goes on it will
have still less influence with voters.
The detection from the ranks Of Re-
publican leaders is not a matter for
party rejoicing. but for public re
ioicing. 1t marks the beginning of a
movement that is going to deliver Los
Angeles county, and in turn every
other county in California, from the
control of professional politicians, and
substitute in it's place business gov
ernment for the benefit of all the
| people