Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-06
REMEDY FOR THE RECALL

Citizens of the First ward are still
excited over the proposition to recall
Councilman Ford. The railroads are
reported to be using their great in
nuences and dubious political resources
to prevent its results and the prob
abilities are that they, or some other
power. will be successful in heading off
the movement. Conservative citizens
are becoming Indifferent and dropping
into the old habit of saying. Ford is
no worse than the rest of EN- and are
inclined to let it go at that. Others
point to the recall movement in the
Sixth ward, when poor Davenport was
recalled, only to be succeeded by
Dock" Houghton, and are not willing
to run such Il chance. And there the
question seems to rest.
If the First ward desires proper rep
resentation in the city council, let it
organize at once for better brand OF
councilman than is Mr.. Ford. That's
the only solution of the problem Al
ready the local Republican railroad
machine-which is a branch of Boss
Herrin's state Republican railroad ma
chine-has two candidates tentatively
in the field, so that in the event OF
Fords recall he may be succeeded by
another agent of the machine. So the
partisan machinery keeps the people on
a circular treadmill, always going in
the same direction and accomplishing
no results.
Let the First ward, i'll common with
every other ward, organize for nom
partisan city ticket. BY that means
the railroad machine can be put out of
business and men selected for the city
council who will not need to be re-
called.
Los Angeles must have larger and
better men to serve in the council This
great and prosperous municipality has
been in a turmoil for years because its
affairs have usually been in the hands
of mere agents of special interests con-
trolled by political railroad bosses who
cared nothing for the ctys affairs so
long as those special interests were
fostered and encouraged,
And what has been the consequence?
A mismanaged municipality-a city
whose directors not being large enough
to see or care beyond the days pro-
ceedings, plunge it into deficits and
shortages by lavishly pouring out
money and property to railroad po-
litical interests while at the same time
neglecting the necessary accompani-
ments of improved streets and sewers,
fire and police protection.
What do you think of a city council
that would spend thousands of dollars
for voting machines that have been
tried in the east and abandoned years
ago, and then reduce the police and
fire departments in order to have
enough money to pay for the useless
voting boxes? Isn't that partisanship
gone mad? And yet, on d small scale
that is an illustration of the manner
in which the city's business has been
conducted for many years.
On the other hand, take the board of
education, the water commission ana
the board of public works, each in
dependent or non-partisan, and note the
difference. The great popular interests
committed to these bodies are carried
forward faithfully and with as much
care and intelligence as is shown in the
management of bank or of great
manufacturing plant. The peoples
business is looked after and attended
TO and everybody is satisfied
We learn by eXperience-or we
should. Our non-partisan boards are
shining success. Our city council,
under political railroad domination, is
failure What's the answer? Any
person with half mind can read it,
and it spells n-partisanship in civic
affairs.
Think it overl