Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-15
RECALL HELD AS
PARAMOUNT NEED
DR.. LOCKE REGARDS 1T AS
PUBLIC'S SAFEGUARD
SOLE METHOD OF INSuRiNo Of
FlcIAL FIDELITY
Los Angeles Must Not Be Too Cow
ardly to Perform Surgical oper-
alton Necessary to Future
Life

|
sumo Toward the Recall?" The text
was, Render unto Caesar the things
that are Caesars" Matt. 22:H. DR..
Locke said in part
| Now concerning the recall election
about to occur in our city, 1t Is reVer-
entail and practical to inquire what
attitude would Jesus Christ assume
! toward the recall if ne were here in
Los Angeles. When our Lord was IN
! Judea and was asked whether 1t was
lawful to pay tribute he advised MS
| followers to Render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars Each clti-
zen owes allegiance to the governemnt
which affords him peace and protec-
| ton. without government there would
be no order or happiness. The man
whose religion requires him to divorce
| himself from all civil and political
matters needs a new religion and
larger installment of grace. Politics
will never be purified until pure men
go into the political arena and stay
there.
.'If 1t is a citizens duty to rally to
the defense of the flag when 1t is at
tackled by an enemy from without, 1t
is equally the citizens duty to guard
vigilantly the interests OF that same
flag, that in times of peace no insidi-
Gus enemy from within should assail
the integrity of the country for which
that flag unfurls., And democracy Is
a failure when the governing power
passes from the hands of the many TO
the control of the few, Direct legisla-
ton throws the responsibility of the
making of good laws upon the masses
and correspondingly, the enforcing OF
those same laws.
Recall Sensible Measure
"In order to increase the popular i'm
terest and control in city government,
some statesmen developed the idea OF
the recall. This new principle was in
corporated in the charter of our city
in 1903. SO far as I know 1t is not IN
use at this time elsewhere In TINS
country. It seems to me to be a prac-
teal and sensible method of enlisting
the interest and of giving voice to
the people in matters which have for
merly been entrusted to a few amD1-
tious and often interruptions onicers.
1.-THE purpose OF the recall Is to keep
officials who have been elected to pub
lie trusts In touch with the people who
elected them and 1t provides that, II
Is per cent of the citizens are dissatis-
filed with the administration of those
whom they have chosen, special elec-
ton can be called to discover whether
majority of the citizens approve or
disapprove of the careers of the ont"
Gals The recall may be a rebuke to
unworthy officials and it may be a
vote of confidence to those who nave
faithfully discharged their duty. The
recall puts the people in control. The
officers elected are continually an
swering to the people, who elected
them Officers who know they may be
fcalled to an account during their terms
of office are likely to be more diligent
in the discharge of their duty, and
more faithful in fulfilling their oaths
of office.
what has been called political hy-
pocrisy has been the curse OF our
American cities. Men solemniy prom
Use to enforce the laws, and they go
They draw their salaries for their I'M
worthy services and imperiously defy
the people, because they have felt Sc
cure for the one, two or four years OF
their terms OF office.
Weapon of chastisement
1.-THE recall is a weapon Of rebuke
and chastisement for wrongdoerS, and
is the best device, so far suggested,
for compelling city authorities to do
their duty. The officers are thus under
the surveillance of The people, who II
outraged and disappointed, can sum-
marily rid Themselves of recalcitrant
1t looks as If the recall. IL adopted,
would help this nation to remove the
stigma which rests upon 1t now, for
its calamitous misgovernment OF Its
cities.
1.-THE fundamental issue in this pres
ent recall campaign is whether when
officers are elected to office aid
solemnly swear to enforce the laws al
ready on the statute books, they shall
be continued In office, when they not
only fail to apply the laws, but are
found in completely with a protection
of the very evils which the laws arc
designed to remove. In the future OF
Los Angeles shall officers be expected
to enforce the laws, or shall they wink
at infrac lions of the law and not lift
hand for law enforcement" Los An
geles is fighting this battle not only for
itself but for all American cities. I'm
til this time city authorities have
blandly interpreted the laws for them
selves, and have enforced just 50 much
law as would make an appearance OF
a good administration. 1t has been
part of the unwritten law that Off
GERS are elected not for the full en-
forcement of the good laws, but for
such a partial enforcement as would.
to some extent, satisfy the good ele-
ments of the community, but would
not seriously interfere with the evil
members of society having all the IL
cense and liberty and protection lich
they require, provided the fold OF their
operations is confined to certain dis
tricts ard be surrounded by certain re-
strictions. Alas!
Sacrificing the Poor
EVERY square mile of this city is as
sacred as any other square mile.
Wherever there are homes there is
holy ground. There are many who,
perforce of necessity are often re-
uuired to live in the more undesirable
sections of the city. Here evil is per-
mitted to entrench itself; and the chill
dren of the poor and plain people are
trained thus in criminality. If there
has to be q segregation of evil. a
plague spot, red light district, 1t
ought rather to be among the prosper
Gus and well to do classes. IT would
do less harm there. But the rich can
prevent such denominations in the vi
entity of their homes. This poor, how
ever, God have mercy upon them, are
without influence, and must suffer
Their protests are not regarded. This
is the awful shame and unfairness of
segregated vice. 1t ought not so to
be; and prosperous people ought not to
ought to help those who are weak.
Whether laws shall be enforced by
those elected for that purpose is the
issue of this recall.
1.-THE mayor of Los Angeles who has
Just resigned, in declining to enforce
the laws, did just what other mayors
before him have done; he received by