Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 15.djvu/530

 5l6 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

It is always interesting to learn how such a situation is viewed by local men of broad vision and deep interest in public affairs. Here is how one such feels about the San Francisco situation :

Viewing it from a stand for the best municipal reform, it might seem that San Francisco had declined to assert itself in support of that which the National Municipal League and all good citizens might desire, but our situation like many others is not as bad as it seems to those who are defeated. The Labor Union ticket wins out in the office of mayor and eleven supervisors. There are some excellent men, however, elected on the Board of Supervisors and it is not unlikely that they may prove a very serviceable and reliable Board.

As to the mayor, Mr. McCarthy, whilst there has been some question as to his reliability of character, it is quite possible that he will rise to the situation and give a really good administration. He is a man of undoubted ability, of great business capacity, and I believe ambitious to establish for the Union Labor party a high standard in the management of political affairs.

The defeat of Mr. Heney has been a great surprise to many of us but it is by no means impossible that we may have a really good municipal government and a liberal measure of reform. His defeat is apparently a pronounced protest against the conduct of the District Attorney's office by strong individual and personal influence with private capital. It may be that the prosecution of Mr. Calhoun and some of the others under indictment may fail but there is an almost universal opinion that Mr. Calhoun's con- viction could never be secured, and if punishment is not meted out to those under indictment there is no indication whatever but that the new adminis- tration will be honest and efficient.

Los Angeles has made another contribution to municipal methods that is worthy of general imitation in the creation of a "Good Government Fund," organized for the purpose of giving financial support to worthy movements for good government in Los Angeles city and county. The citizens of Los Angeles have subscribed $22,000 per annum ; and those in charge of the fund, which is a guaranteed permanent one, feel sure that it will reach $35,000 or possibly $40,000. The announcement that such a fund has been raised and established will unquestionably have a most encouraging and stimulating effect upon the forces for better municipal conditions. It will relieve the men responsible for the conduct of these organizations of the always pressing