Los Angeles in the 1900s

October 1901

by
George Garrigues

 
Los Angeles Express, October 9, 1901

NO WARRANTS ISSUE

Judge Morgan Renders an Interesting Decision Involving Speakers in Parks
 

Police Judge Morgan this morning passed upon the application of J.P. Turner, the oil man of socialistic tendencies, to file complaint against ex-Mayor W.H. Workman and other well-known citizens for violating the city ordinance forbidding public speaking in the parks without a permit from the park commissioners by holding memorial services in Central Park on the day of President McKinley’s funeral.

Turner first applied to Assistant District Attorney Chambers for complaints against these gentlemen, and was refused.

He then had the complaints prepared by an attorney and presented the same to Judge Morgan, accompanied by an affidavit setting forth the circumstances under which they were drawn, and demanded that they be filed and warrants of arrest issued.

 It was suspected that the move by Turner had been taken in the interest of H. Gaylord Wilshire, whose trial for violating the park ordinance is pending before Judge Morgan. . . . There was every appearance of an attempt to put the court on the defensive, and Judge Morgan accordingly took plenty of time to satisfy himself of his position before giving an opinion. [See Comment.]

Los Angeles Express, October 7, 1901

Click on the ad for a better view of the text.

 

Los Angeles Express, October 7, 1901

To Visit Enchanted Mesa

President E.P. Ripley of the Santa Fe is preparing to pilot a large party of railroad men and other distinguished guests through the Enchanted Mesa section in New Mexico.

Charles F. Lummis of Los Angeles will go, being thoroughly familiar with the country. The trip will be made in late October.

Los Angeles Express, October 7, 1901

LADIES’ DAY AT THE RACES
Agricultural Park Management to Have Three Such Days
 

Success attending Ladies’ Day at the races last week was such that the management has decided to again open the gates free to ladies today, Tuesday and Wednesday . . . .

One-half price, or 25 cents, will be charged to the grand stand, but everything else in the way of entertainment is absolutely free to ladies.
  

•

NEWSPAPER RIVALRY AND POSTUM

 

Newspaper rivalry was bitter among Los Angeles newspapers at the turn of the century.

 

On October 10, 1901, the Los Angeles Times took a not-so-sly dig at the Los Angeles Express by reprinting this letter (at just about this size, too) that irate members of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union had sent to the Express.

 

They complained about the Express’s calling into doubt the health benefits of the non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic, non-threatening Postum beverage, brought out in 1895 as a kind of a temperance drink. 

 

WCTU letter.
• 

Comment

Speech in Central Park. In order to test the constitutionality of a city ordinance forbidding speeches in public parks without a permit, the eccentric socialist landowner, H. Gaylord Wilshire, scheduled such a speech the previous May and was arrested. Wilshire was facing trial in front of Judge Morgan, and the complaint by Wilshire’s friend, J.P. Turner was seen as a way of forcing Morgan to rule that no such permit was needed.

 

Charles F. Lummis was “city editor of the Los Angeles Times at the height of the boom of the ’80s. After suffering a paralytic stroke he recovered his health in New Mexico, and there acquired an intense love for the Spanish and Indian lore of the Southwest. Returning to Los Angeles, he became editor of the Land of Sunshine magazine." From Walton Bean in the Journal of San Diego History.

 

Agricultural Park, which is now called Exposition Park, “was developed in 1876 as a showground for agricultural and horticultural fairs. The property became state land in 1880, the same year USC was founded, but during the 1890s, it fell into private hands, victim of a corrupt state legislature in league with local opportunists. Its character swiftly deteriorated, and it became a favorite haunt of the city’s riffraff.” From the University of Southern California Web site.

The Advertisements

Largest Exclusive Tailoring House in the West. (Two natty men on street and a woman in a horseless carriage.) Ladies’ Department, 408 So. Broadway. Men’s Department, 410 So. Broadway. Progressive people . . . require their garments to be progressive also. They want the latest ideas and styles in fabric, pattern, cut and fit. That is why they get their clothing made to order at Getz’s. The latest fall patterns are now ready. Suits made to order from $25.00 to $75.00. We are ready for your order. Getz Fine Tailoring. Under Chamber of Commerce.

 

Suits Cleaned and Re-Dyed. (A screaming eagle on an American shield.) Established 1877. Ladies’ garments a specialty. Telephone us and the wagon will call for your suits, dresses, skirts, curtains, etc. Our prices are lowest consistent with first-class work. We never experiment. For the convenience of our many patrons we have reopened a down-town office between Second and Third Streets at 242 South Spring St. where we will be pleased to receive our old friends and customers as well as new ones. American Dye Works. Works, 608-610 South Spring St. Tel. Main 1016. Office, 242 South Spring St.
•
For a personal look at Los Angeles in the 1920s and 1930s, click for a new book by George Garrigues
He Usually Lived With a Female: The Life of a California Newspaperman