Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14
TOURIST GUESTS
WATCHING RECALL
VISITORS FROM EAST SHOW
MUCH INTEREST
Prominent Attorney Now In Los An-
geles Makes Strong Point Regard
Ing Effect of Harper's
Resignation

Visitors to Los Angeles are taking
warm interest in the recall campaign.
Conversations at the leading hotels in
dicate q general opinion that 1t will
prove excellent advertising for Los An
geles throughout the east as indicating
the determination of the city to main
tain q decent place to live In. Tourists
the recall and many are as well posted
on It's merits as though they were citi-
zens of Los Angeles. -.
An opinion indicative OF many ex-
pressed by visitors is the following
from 7. j. Garrison, an attorney for
the c. & N. w. railway and resident
OF Dennson,, Iowa, who is now in Los
Angeles:
II presume being an Iowa attorney
and tourist will not estop me from
passing an opinion upon the effect of
Mayor Harper's resignation in the
pending recall election. To my mind
there can be no question seriously
raised If we digest the case carefully
and honestly.
was the recall election set in motion
for the sole purpose of ousting Mayor
Harper? This seems to be taken for
granted by Mayor Harper and his
friends. But 1t is not true. The recall
had a double object-to recall Mayor
Harper and to elect his successor. 1t
is true that had Mayor Harper con-
tinued in the race he might have been
his own successor, or If George Alexan-
der is successful at the coming elec-
ton he will be Mayor Harper's sue
cessor.
Now. the recall being set in motion
and with the main central idea OF
electing successor to Mayor Harper
1t cannot be defeated by his resigna-
ton. After the recall Is once put in
- t<, f1Y. l. n
allowing the electors to select mayor,
whose term of Office shall begin as pro-
vided in the recall enactment, and this
will of the people cannot be defeated
by the council In naming a successor.
Interim Short
"It is no doubt true the council can
fill the vacancy until March 26, when
the candidate selected by the people
will take the office. Mayor Harper
could have retained his office, and II
not a. candidate for reelection March
26 his term of Office would have ex-
pired and he would step down and out.
He, however. preferred to resign, not
even wishing to hold this office until
the coming recall election.
1.-THE council appoints his successor,
but can give him no greater rights than
Mayor Harper would have had had he
not resigned and not been a candidate
for reelection. Before Mayor Harper
resignation and while he was candi-
date for reelection the recall was being
carried by two handles-to recall Mayor
Harper and to elect his successor. The
latter might have been either Mayor
Harper or any of the contesting cam
didateS.
when Mayor Harper resigned he
broke one handle. but the other Is
amply strong and sufficient to carry
the recall election through until sue
cessor is elected on March 26, and that
the candidate so elected will take and
hold the office can hardly be ques-
toned. Anyone selected by the council
to fill the vacancy takes the office
knowing that he can only hold 1t until
the person selected by the electors
March 26 shall qualify; while for the
sake of argument we may admit that
one of the objects of the recall cleo
ton is to oust Mayor Harper, yet the
fact remains that the main object Is to
give the people (and not the counciD
the right to select either Mayor Harper
or another as successor.
"Under this view the question Is easy.
BY resigning, Mayor Harper only says
that he will not hold the office until
March 26, and by refusing to be can
didate he says he does not wish 1t
after March 26. The people-the cleo
tors-will decide March 26 who will be
Mayor Harper's successor"