Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


HON. L. B. CARY. � That adverse conditions build up the strong has 
found convincing evidence in the life of L. B. Cary, whose dauntless .spirit 
has surmounted many obstacles, and drawn helpful lessons from disheart- 
ening circumstances. He was born in Ohio, June 26, 1848, and at the age 
of five years he removed with his parents to Iowa. His father, Rev. J. R. 
Cary, was one of the pioneer ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
and with his little family went through all the hardships incident to itinerant 
pioneering in that then far-western state. 

In spite of poverty and privation, L. B. secured an academic and col- 
legiate education, and later taught school for a few years and studied law. 
This he abandoned to take up newspaper work, in which he continued till 
coming to California, in 1902. In 1912, Mr. Cary was elected to the State 
Legislature as representative from the Fifty-second District in Fresno 
County. He distinguished himself as a champion of the agricultural interests 
of the state, and was notably instrumental in defeating the measure to bring 
farm labor under the eight-hour law, which would have proved of great in- 
jury to the agricultural, stock and fruit interests of the entire state. 

In 1914, he was reelected and became noted as one of the leading cham- 
pions in the movement against corrupt practices, and in securing legislation, 
and later was instrumental in securing the passage of an amendment to the 
constitution making it unlawful for a member of the legislature to hold any 
other office, trust or employment under the state during the term for which 
he was elected or for two years thereafter. 

During the session of 1915 a measure was passed having for its aim the 
abolition of party lines in California. A protest against this measure in the 
form of a referendum was carried to the people. Mr. Cary at once became one 
of the leading champions of the referendum, which was approved by the 
people with no uncertain majority. At a special session of 1916 the same 
measure was again forced through the legislature in spite of its repudiation 
by the people. Mr. Cary was made chairman of the legislative committee 
to carry a second referendum of the question to the people. He made a 
thorough organization of the state and after a brilliant and heated contest 
had the satisfaction of seeing the measure for the destruction of party lines 
in California again rejected by the people by an overwhelming majority, all 
but four counties in the state registering their protest against the destruc- 
tion of party integrity. 

As a platform orator and ready forum fighter, Mr. Cary has few superiors. 
He was never known to flinch from any contest in which he saw imperiled the 
cause of justice and right. Being a man of intense conviction, and having 
once decided as to the justness of the cause, he took his stand accordingly, 
without fear or favor, and regardless of who might be against him. Through- 
out his whole life he has had but one rule to guide his line of action � that of 
humanity, justice and right. Policy never entered into his calculation. For 
this reason he has made a name for himself in California which will live 
after him in connection with the history of the causes he has championed.