anaheim-gazette 1924-08-21

AN OPEN LETTER TO MR. METCALF Anaheim, California, August 14, 1924. Mr. E. H. Metcalf, Anaheim, Calif. Dear Sir: My attention has been called to an interview given by you to the Orange County Plain Dealer and published in that newspaper in its issue dated August 12. In that interview you referred to several candidates for nomination at the primaries to be held on August 26th. My first impression after reading your interview in the Plain Dealer was that you had not been correctly quoted; but since the issue of the Plain Dealer of the 13th contains no repudiation of the interview by you, I have reached the conclusion that you were correctly quoted and that the interview as printed and published was with your full approval and consent. Therefore I feel perfectly free to say to you that many persons in this community, who have heretofore held you in esteem, who have been instrumental to a great degree in placing you a considerable degree in placing you in your present position in the public life of this community, will strongly resent the insinuations contained in that interview. You refer to the contest for the Republican nomination for the State assembly and you express the opinion that the successful contestant is very likely to be selected from the northern portion of the county. You then proceed to state your reasons for giving your support to William B. Allen. a considerable degree in placing you in your present position in the public life of this community, will strongly resent the insinuations contained in that interview. You refer to the contest for the Republican nomination for the State assembly and you express the opinion that the successful contestant is very likely to be selected from the northern portion of the county. You then proceed to state your reasons for giving your support to William B. Allen, saying that he is a pronounced "dry." This is true, but not the whole truth; and a half a truth may be more contemptible than a falsehood. You could very well have said that both Mr. Allen and Mr. Hartranft, the two candidates resident in the northern part of Orange county, are both pronounced "dry." No one will question the statement that Mr. Allen has always voted with the dry element, but fairness and truth compel the further statement that Mr. Hartranft has always been a consistent worker against the liquor traffic in this county. However, his efforts in that cause were a great deal more extensive and effective than those of Mr. Allen, for the reason that the leaders in that cause constantly called on him to address meetings, knowing that what he had to say to the voters would carry great weight because of his ability and because of his high standing with the people through out the county. Your half truth therefore appears to be wholly unfair, and if permitted to stand uncontradicted might mislead some voters as to the facts. That kind of campaigning can best be designated as dirty politics—mean and contemptible. Your close neighbor, Mr. W. B. Allen, could have given you the facts had you desired them. Your interview concludes with the following paragraph: "Watch what the old Anaheim wet machine is doing and supporters of the present city administration will know how to cast their votes." The intimation contained in this concluding paragraph of your interview is that voters who give their support to the candidacy of Mr. Hartranft belong to the "Anaheim wet machine." That insinuation is a wholly unwarranted insult to hundreds of voters who have heretofore supported you at elections and who are not at all likely to be hereafter counted as "supporters of the present city ad- public and semi-public affairs of the northern part of Orange county. I cannot believe that you are thus publicly giving your support to Mr. Allen because that gentleman is "dry." In the first place Mr. Allen is no more "dry" than Mr. Hartranft. In the second place, the liquor question is not an issue before the voters of this state. In the third place, if any question relating to the enforcement of prohibition should come before the next session of the State Assembly, we all know that Mr. Hartranft could be depended on to favor the enforcement of the prohibitory statutes and the passage of any additional legislation needed for that purpose. Moreover, and I say this with al respect due to Mr. Allen, we all know that Mr. Hartranft would be, because of his fitness, a much more effective worker for any cause. Since it cannot be accepted that you are giving your support to Mr. Allen because of the dry question, and because you have gone out of your way to publicly misrepresent the true situation regarding these two candidates the question may well be raised as to The intimation contained in this concluding paragraph of your interview is that voters who give their support to the candidacy of Mr. Hartranft belong to the "Anaheim wet machine." That insinuation is a wholly unwarranted insult to hundreds of voters who have heretofore supported you at elections and who are not at all likely to be hereafter counted as "supporters of the present city administration." Had they known last spring, before the city election, what they were being "let-in for," they would have followed an entirely different course. They had no idea whatever that they were assisting in the inauguration of a political machine in this city that would attempt to mislead the voters in the manner shown by your interview in the Plain Dealer. You can rest assured, Mr. Metcalf that hundreds of voters in this city who were working devotedly to put the saloons out of business before they ever heard of you, and who are now supporting the candidacy of Mr. Hartranft, will not soon forget your gratuitous insult. A sense of fairness on the part of any voter should cause him to vote for Mr. Hartranft as a rebuke to the methods which you have used to mislead the voters. Moreover, these two candidates, Mr. Allen and Mr. Hartranft, are both fairly well known in this part of Orange County. The voters know that both men are good citizens and reseced by their neighbors, but they also know that in the public affairs of this part of Orange County Mr. Hartranft has been constantly drafted because of well known ability, whilst Mr. Allen has remained an unknown factor. This statement needs no proof to those who are conversant with the over, and I say this with al respect due to Mr. Allen, we all know that Mr. Hartranft would be, because of his fitness, a much more effective worker for any cause. Since it cannot be accepted that you are giving your support to Mr. Allen because of the dry question, and because you have gone out of your way to publicly misrepresent the true situation regarding these two candidates the question may well be raised as to what is your real motive. Perhaps you can explain. At least you can offer an apology to Mr. Hartranft for publishing such an interview, and try to put yourself right with the voters when your interview was calculated to mislead. Yours Very truly, THOMAS CRAWFORD MAKING ROADS SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS Efforts to Prohibit Incompetent Persons from Driving Cars Believing that motor vehicles may be made safer for pedestrian and driver alike by prohibiting incompetent persons from handling cars, the Automobile Club of Southern California is investigating systems of examinations for drivers in other states, with the view of determining the best method of reducing casualties. In one eastern state the fatal au- the enormous increase in the number than they were in 1919, in spite of the neqnous increase in the number of vehicles in use during that period. It was found that from 20 to 30 per cent of those applying for the privilege of operating a motor vehicle on the highways were unable to demonstrate their fitness to be allowed this privilege. This withholding of licenses VOTE FOR C. Hartran FOR ASSEMBLYMAN 76TH DISTRICT to place before the voters of Orange County the real issues of the as Hartranft, Republican for Assemblyman from the 76th district, is mak s week. On Tuesday he spoke at LaHabra, Brea, Yorba Linda, Placer day he addressed meetings at Costa Mesa, Newport, Balboa and Hunt e of the week he speaks as follows: to place before the voters of Orange County the real issues of the assembly. Hartranft, Republican for Assemblyman from the 76th district, is making his week. On Tuesday he spoke at LaHabra, Brea, Yorba Linda, Placentia; on Wednesday he addressed meetings at Costa Mesa, Newport, Balboa and Huntley. One of the week he speaks as follows: Day, August 21st 1:30 p.m. Laguna Beach 2:30 p.m. Capistrano 3:30 p.m. Tustin 4:30 p.m. Fullerton 5:30 p.m. Buena Park 6:30 p.m. Cypress 7:30 p.m. Olive 8:00 p.m. Anaheim address the people of Anaheim Saturday Evening. Hear how the important issues of the campaign. It has been demonstrated that the chief cause of motor vehicle fatalities throughout the United States is incompetent handling of cars, so that it would appear that if incompetent drivers can be weeded out, an appreciable reduction in the number of motor vehicle accidents will result. As a further argument for the examination of motorists, it is shown that there are many foreigners and illiterates, unable to read or understand English. This makes it impossible for them to interpret the warning signs which have been so generously distributed by the Automobile Club of Southern California to call attention to dangerous spots on the highways, or for them to read even the most simple provisions of the state law covering the operation of the motor vehicle on the highway. This condition alone, is a profligic cause of many violations of the traffic regulations. Other organizations are expected to join the automobile club in finding ways and means of remedying the costly situation created by incompetent drivers. Nobody cares anything about your ancestors so long as you keep them in the family album. HOW The Santa Fe dollar was spent in 1923 Taxes more than dividends. Rate reductions more than taxes The measure of success in railroad business is the relation of costs to returns. If the dollar earned does not cover the cost of earning it, the business fails. If it covers the cost with a margin over, the business succeeds. THE SANTA FE DOLLAR IN 1923 WENT AS FOLLOWS: Maintenance of track, buildings, etc. - 13.37 cents Maintenance of locomotives, freight and passenger cars - 19.36 Train station and switching, and other transportation - 19.68 Traffic agencies - 1.69 Fuel - 8.49 Salaries and expenses of clerks and other general office employees - 95 Legal, valuation, general officers, pensions and death benefits and miscellaneous - 1.08 Depreciation and retirement, equipment and ice plants - 3.69 Lease, damage and casualties - 1.07 Rent of equipment, joint facilities, etc. - 1.04 Interest on bonds and other interest charges - 4.60 Dividends on capital stock - 8.08 Taxes - 8.14 Balance available for expanding facilities - 8.79 Of the last item 3.02 cents came from sources other than rates so that a reduction of less than 6% in rates would have wiped out the entire margin of safety from earnings through rates. Even a decline in gross business such as has occurred this year inevitably reduces this balance of 8.79 cents, because not many of the cost items can be cut down in proportion. The adjustment between success and failure is a delicate one in the transportation industry. For the welfare of the country, it should not be lightly tampered with, either by laws or by the various commissions that control the main elements of railroad earnings and costs. It is particularly notable in the above statement that taxes were more than dividends and only a little less than all the fuel used for the System. Taxes were $20,316,491. Good service requires ample money for operation and maintenance. Even a rather substantial reduction in rates would benefit individuals so slightly as hardly to be known, while it might readily (because of poor service) cause them tremendous loss which would be quickly and keenly felt. A railroad gets money from its rates and has no other large source of supply, even though attempts seem to be made to have the public believe otherwise. Since 1921 freight rates have been almost continuously in process of reduction. Santa Fe freight earnings were decreased $14,500,000 in 1922 and $23,945,000 in 1923 from what they would have been with 1921 rates. The Santa Fe already has reduced freight rates many millions. But adequate service is vital for shippers. It can be furnished only when fair rates provide the money needed. W. B. STOREY, President The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway System ANOTRER LETTER TO MR. METCALF Mr. E. H. Metcalf. Anaheim, California. Dear Sir: A few days ago I wrote an open letter to you in reply to an interview which you had published in the Orange County Plain Dealer last Tuesday. My letter to you was given to all the news papers of this city for publication on Thursday morning of last week. The publishers of the Plain Dealer promised to publish my letter to you, but so far have not done so. The Anaheim Bulletin promptly gave space to my letter. I sent a copy of my letter to you by mail, but so far have received no reply. Since writing that letter to you, I have made some inquiries regarding some phases of the local political situation and I am now addressing you again, to present some matters to which my attention has been called. I am informed by Mr. S. C. Hartranft, one of the candidates for the assembly, that you were one of the many voters who solicited him to become a candidate for the assembly this year. This happened less than two months ago. Moreover, an examination of the petition for the nomination of Mr. Hartranft now on file at the court house in Santa Ana discloses the fact that you were one of the signers of that petition. I know that it will be difficult for many people to believe that you solicited Mr. Hartranft to become a candidate, signed his petition, and then in an interview in the Plain Saturday, August 23d Ana Park 1:30 p.m. Press 2:30 p.m. e 4:30 p.m. neim 7:30 p.m. ing. Hear him discuss gn. MORE NEWPORT RACES On August 24th, after the return of the yachtsmen from the San Diego regatta, more races will be held on the Newport Bay and on the ocean fronting Newport and Balboa. The City of Newport Beach is offering a splendid trophy cup for performance handicap races for schooners, ketches, yawls, sloops and has asked a number of well known yachtsmen to act as judges:— W. C. Warmington, J. M. Webster, Thos. Stimson, H. M. Worcester, E G Gardner, George Vibert. In addition to this race for the larger boats, the city of Newport Beach is offering another trophy for small sail boats, to be run on Newport Bay. This race will also be run on August 24th. The third race, one of the popular "Bang and go back" races is scheduled for the same day. The last race for the fastest sail boat on Newport Bay was won by the "Razberry" agile by Captain C. K. Sherman. In the series of races put up for the city prizes the winners will be eliminated from subsequent come a candidate for the assembly this year. This happened less than two months ago. Moreover, an examination of the petition for the nomination of Mr. Hartranft now on file at the court house in Santa Ana discloses the fact that you were one of the signers of that petition. I know that it will be difficult for many people to believe that you solicited Mr. Hartranft to become a candidate, signed his petition, and then in an interview in the Plain Dealer stated that you were supporting another candidate for the same position, and went out of your way to insinuate unfairly that Mr. Hartranft was not "dry" when in fact everybody knows that he has worked consistently and earnestly and effectively against the liquor traffic; but if your friends, or any others, care to dispute the statement herein made, it will be an easy matter to prove their truth. This revelation is simply amazing. It is the most crude attempt at the "double cross" that ever has been exposed to the contempt of the voters of this community. If you have any possible excuse or explanation, no doubt the people of Anaheim would like to have an opportunity to examine it and see what it is made of. Your interview in the Plain Dealer last Tuesday, in which you advised the supporters of the present city administration" how to vote on each and every candidate at the primaries on August 26, includes an argument in favor of Chester Kline for the senate on the basis of a "gentlemen's agreement," made between the politicians of Orange and Riverside counties about twenty-eight years ago to the effect that the position of state senator should be held alternately by the two counties. You demand that Orange county voters "KEEP FAITH" with Riverside county by voting for Mr. Kline, on account of a political agreement made twenty-eight years ago, to which you were not a party. The question arises whether if you feel that the voters of Orange county are bound to the candidacy of Mr. Kline by a "gentleman's agreement" made by politicians twenty - eight years ago to which the voters were not a party, are you not bound to the candidacy of Mr. Hartranft by reason of the fact that you solicited him to become a candidate and signed his petition less than two months ago? If not TO PLANT BURBANK ELMS Luther Burbank, Santa Rosa plant wizard, has notified the American Legion officials of his willingness to furnish elm trees for planting along the victory highway, the coast to coast roadway commemorating the services of the men and women who participated in the World War. The Burbank elm is of a new species which the California wizard has originated and is especially fitted by its hardiness and method of growth for the office of bordering the roads. American Legion posts throughout the country are co-operating with the plan under their own initiative. Kansas posts of the Legion have recently planted trees along the Victory Highway in that state. The question arises whether if you feel that the voters of Orange county are bound to the candidacy of Mr. Kline by a "gentleman's agreement" made by politicians twenty-eight years ago to which the voters were not a party, are you not bound to the candidacy of Mr. Hartranft by reason of the fact that you solicited him to become a candidate and signed his petition less than two months ago? If not why not? You have made no reply to my previous letter addressed to you, and perhaps no answer to this letter need be expected. Perhaps no ansyer can be made by you. In that case, the voters will be warranted in disregarding any suggestion which you have made as to how they should vote at the primaries and also in disregarding the "me too," echoes of the several members of the "present city administration" who have recently submitted to interviews for publication in the Plain Dealer. The similarity to the interviews to yourself and your "me too" echoes would indicate that there is an interview factory at work somewhere. You will find, however, that most of the voters believe that politicians and would be political dictators should "KEEP FAITH" and if it is discovered, as in the case under discussion, that the whole policy of the gang is to mislead and fool the voters, then the slate submitted by the political bosses will be completely smashed. If there is any one thing that the voters who assume the position of political leaders, it is that their course be straight. Certainly they also have a right to denounce the "double cross". That kind of thing does not mix well with one hundred per cent Americanism. Yours Very truly, THOMAS CRAWFORD.