Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14
MACHINE WOULD
RULE MAJORITY
S. P. BOSSES SEEKING TO
THWART PUBLIC'S AIM
Municipal League Campaign Commit
tee Points Out That Alexander Is
Peoples Choice and Should
Be Appointed

The recall campaign committee, afte
a thorough examination of the legs
phases of the matter by its law com
nittee, Yesterday made the folloWin
official statement. pointing out tn
for avoidance of any confuslo
n connection with the selection of
mayor:
The assertion being made in GER
tain quarters that the city council
has the power to elect a mayor at
this time to serve until January l,
1910, can mean but one thing. An
attempt is being made to prevent
the will of the people from becom-
ing effective on March 20.
The city attorney says the recall
election must proceed
From the Southern Pacific politi-
cal machine, which was back of
Mayor Harper, comes the state
ment that the man receiving the
largest number of votes at that
election cannot become mayor, the
idea being that Notwithstanding the
fact that a legal method has been
provided by which the people them
selves are to exercise the right of
selection, that power is to be taken
away from them by the city coun-
ell.
No one who has given the mat
ter any thought can believe that
man elected by the council to fill
out the uneXpired term of Mayor
Harper can by virtue of that cleo
tion acquire the right to serve for
a longer period of time than could
Mayor Harper himself if he had not
resigned.
If there is any foundation for the
i f1,n e.nln ion .af
a mayor by the council and the
election of a mayor by the people
may result in litigation and confu-
sion, the remedy to prevent such
condition is in the hands of the
council.
George Alexander will receive the
majority of votes at the coming
election, and if he is also elected
by the city council the danger of
complications will be removed.
The remedy is a simple one, easy
of application. The council can elect
George Alexander to fill out Mayor
Harper's unexpired term.
If between now and January l,
1910, any question should arise as to
who is mayor of Los Angeles, it
will be because the city council has
failed to take the only action which
will make that condition impossi-
BILE.
No man acting in the capacity of
mayor for two weeks can be of suf-
ficient service to this city to re-
pay it for the loss it would suffer
if during the nine months following
there should be the slightest ques-
tion as to who is legally the mayor.
The responsibility rests entirely
with the city council. and the peo-
pie will hold them accountable.
RECALL CAMPAIGN COMMIT
TEE.
S. c. Graham, chairman; E. o,
Edgerton, secretary; w. D. Ste
phens, H. T. Lee, L. Litchtenber-
ger, Henry NJ. Newmark W. E.
Hampton, j. c. Kubach, Sidney A.
Butler, DR.. Sherwin Gibbons,
Wier. j. p. Coyne, Gen. E. C. Bel
lows, Victor II. Tuttle, George Rice,
John Topham, w. r.. Burke, A. NJ.
Dunn, Frank j. Hart, F. w. Croake.
George Coulson, Herman Silver, DIR.
S. S. Salisbury, Lee A. Mcconnell,
Meyer Lissner, Marshall Stimson,
r. d. Wade, DIR. d. L. Tasker, Will
lard Arnott, W. S. Taylor, e. w.
Murphy. A. NJ. Norton, p. NJ. john
son, Nj. T. Collins, r. H. Norton,
Erastus j. Stanton, G. A. Rockwell,
Hugh W. Adams. Jr., Gilbert S.
Wright, c. II. Randall, M. r. Bet
kouski, ]. f. Mullin, Richmond
Plant, w. ]. Washburn. j. 0.
koephi.