Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-16
JEFFERSON CLUB
To GUST NJ DONALD
Directors viii Demand Resigna-
ton of Secretary Charged
with 'Tammany' Politics
CORRESPONDENCE PUBLISHED
Judge H. C. Dillon Declares, in an
Open Letter, 0rganiza-
ton Will Take Action
CORRESPONDENCE PUBLISHED
BY T. SHELLEY SUTTON

BY T. SHELLEY SUTTON
That Henry NJ. (Muggins) Mcdonald,
secretary of the Los Angeles Jefferson
| club, was requested to resign from
| that body at the meeting of the club
last Saturday and that he promised to
| do SO Immediately after the August
primary election but now is endeavor-
| ing to place a different construction
on his promise came to- light yesterday
when Judge Henry c. Dillon of the
board of directors of the Jefferson
club, addressed a letter to The Herald
| setting forth the facts in the case and
stating that it is the intention of the
directors to take up the question again
and insist on McDonald's resignation
| Immediately.
| The Herald some time ago exposed
the trickery and Tammany methods of
| Mcdonald in his arbitrary campaign
| for the state senate from the Thirty
eighth district, where he represented
| himself as "the" Democratic candidate
and endeavored to buy up all the sig
natures in that district for his NOM
mating petition in order to shut out
opposition, although the members Of
| the Jeffe8on club and other Democrats
of Los Angeles strenuously urged him
| to stay out of the race and openly de
| clared they would not lend their sup
| port to any legislative candidate of NC
| Donald's caliber.
| The Herald also was the first to ex-
pose McDonald's false pretensions and
| to warn the electors of the Thirty
eighth district that Mcdonald was re-
garded by the members of the Jeffer-
son club as a political pretender and
| imposter. Subsequently investigation
confirmed the charge that he was
"pocketing'' hundreds of names in the
Thirty eighth district to prevent an
other candidate from entering the race
against him. This led to an investiga-
ton by the officers and members of the
jefferson club, whose inquiries led to
the request last Saturday that Nc
Donald tender his resignation.
McDoNALD's EFFORTS FOILED
The jefferson club is one of the
largest Democratic organizations in
the state, maintained for the further
ance of Democratic principles, and has
been one of the most active factors III
ridding the Democratic party of South
ern Pacific and other Objectionable in
! huence.
BY laying claim to certain political
distinction and by advocating prin-
ciples which it has since been learned
he did not really represent. Mcdonald
a comparative stranger in the city
I.slipped into the good graceS of several
| of the members of the club and was
| elected its secretary, but he was not
| allowed to take advantage of this posi-
toin to insinuate himself into the con-
| fldence of the people, or to use his posi-
ton for any political prestige. He was
firmly opposed by nearly all of the
club members when he entered the race
| for the senate and was bitterly con-
demned when he scattered his funds so
lavishly to buy up all the electoral sig
natures for his nominating petition, his
tactics being denounced as pernicious
and "Tammany like"
| Various members of the Jefferson
club stated last night that they are
determined Mcdonald shall not be al
| lowed to remain secretary of the club
after the August primaries, and the
news that he is now attempting to mis-
construe his promise to resign has
caused considerable Indignation.
The sentiment of the club toward
Mcdonald may be judged from the fact
that nearly all of its members have
been working to secure the nomination
of Martin Bekins, the regular Demo-
cratic candidate in the Thirty-eighth
against Mcdonald
JUDGE DILLON'S LETTER
Following is Judge Dillon's letter to
| The Herald relative to the resignation:
los Angeles, Cal, July 15, 1910.
| editor Herald: Last Saturday at a
meeting of the board of directors of
the jefferson club, held at the Hollen-
beck, Mr.. Henry M! Mcdonald, the
secretary, was requested to resign for
many reasons which were then stated
by me and others. All of the directors
concurred in this, and Mr.. Mcdonald
promised to resign after the August
primary election, at which he appears
as a candidate for state senator from
the Thirty-eighth district. In consid-
Grafton of that promise we all agreed
| to keep the matter secret in the mean
time. On the following Tuesday, how
ever, Mr.. Mcdonald wrote me the fol-
lowing letter:
referring to the statement made
by YOU at the meeting of the board
of directors of the Jefferson club,
held on Saturday. July 8, 1910, to
the effect that 1 had, as secretary,
| Intentionally submitted an incor-
rectsaccount to the board of direct
ors covering the receipts of the club
from May to June A, 1910, inclu-
sve, thereby conveying the impu-
tation that 1 intended to defraud
the club, l would state that | ask
you to write me a letter Withdraw
ing the above statement.
''In the event that you do not con-
slider it advisable to do as 1 have
requested, l withdraw the state
ment which I made at the board of
directors meeting of July 9, that l
would be inclined to consider favor
ably resigning my position as Sec
retary to the club after the August
Is primary.
"You are at liberty, If you desire,
to show this letter to the members
of the board of directors present at
the board meeting of July g.
This letter is not q correct state
ment of what occurred at the meeting.
The gist of that meeting was that he
was called on to resign for various
reasons that we're given and discussed.
By this letter Mr.. Mcdonald attempts
to attach a new condition to his agree
ment and attempts to narrow the is
sues between himself and the directors.
I cannot yield to the demands of this
letter. He refused to abide by his
promise absolves me from the condi-
ton of secrecy. Inasmuch as 1 con-
slider him more Objectionable as a SEN
ator than secretary, I feel 1t to be my
dutv to make this matter public. Ac-
cordingly, hand you my reply to his
letter. III. Z. DILLON.
REPLY TO MCDONALD
Judge Dillon's lettor to Mcdonald;
| s'EIenrv M Mcdonald Secretary JEFF