Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-25
Aye, 2o7; No, 4; Not Voting, S.

n Y vote virtually unanimous, more than
n ZOO OF the most prominent citizens of
- Los Angeles yesterday afternoon de-
clared emphatically that for the good of the
municipality Mayor Arthur c. Harper shall
be recalled
This action was taken at the meeting in
Symphony hall, called by the Municipal
league for the purpose of discussing "a crisis
in the affairs Of the CITY,"
The meeting was held on the fourteenth
day after The Herald began its series of
articles entitled us VICE PROTECTED IN
4 LOS ANGELESP The Herald's investiga-
ton, however, covered several months and
only small portion of what its representatives
discovered was told in the articles
That the citizens assembled yesterday have
been following closely the disclosures which
have been printed daily In The Herald was
shown by the cheers with which they respond
ed when Judge Lusk referred to the magnii-
cent presentation of the case before the people
The atmosphere of the meeting clearly
showed serious realization Of it's importance
and the close attention paid to all speakers
evidenced desire to act after full considera-
ton. Several prominent men present have
known Mayor Harper for years and have been
considered his personal friends, but they ap-
plauded the statement that the welfare of the
city and its future good standing among mt
inequalities must be regarded above partisan
ship or even personal feeling.
J. 0. Koephi, president of the Municipal
league, called the meeting to order and made
the following statement Of the reasons for call
ing it:
"The constitution of the Municipal league
states as the first object of the organization,
TO unite and to hold in readiness for action the
forces of good government in this city and as
its fifth object to take note of the official con-
duct of members of the city government, COM
mending or condemning as public policy may
require The executive committee is, by the
same constitution, directed to manage the af
fairs of the league and to promote its objects
as laid down in the constitution. A very large
number of citizens have joined in the member
ship of the league and look to the executive
committee of that body to stand guard for
them in the interest of good government.
''This committee, in view of the response
bity thus placed upon it, has called this meet
ing believing that the best thought and judg-
ment of our citizens are needed to determine
what action is required at this time.
REGARD ADMINISTRATION WITH
DISTRUST
almost from the beginning, and in wide
circles, a feeling of disquietude and distrust
has existed with regard to the administration
Of the chief executive of this city. Originally
due to lack of confidence in some of the may
or's most intimate advisers, this feeling grew
as it became evident that the appointing power
was not being used in a manner which would
secure for the public service the most efficient
material but that personal relationship to the
MAYOR was placed above fitness and experience
in that officials test of his appointees.
disclosures which show the bringing into
intimate business relations with the mayor and
his associates of those very people and inter
ests which, by our laws, are placed entirely
under the executives supervision and regula-
ton, have shocked the public sense Of propri-
ety. The Board of Public Works of this city
has absolute and exclusive control of ell mat
tiers pertaining to the building of the Owens
River Aqueduct. 1t has the expenditure of the
twenty-three millions of dollars bond money
voted for that undertaking. Besides this vast
responsibility and power resting in the Board
of Public Works, it also handles about three
million dollars per annum. This board is COM
posed Of three members; the last appointee to
it was made by the Mayor in the face of strong
public protest, based upon the fact that Ed
ward Kern, the appointee, has in the past in
his official acts failed to safeguard the inter
ests of the people, and as evidenced by his
twice voting for the River Bed Franchise has