Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-11
Fair Play

lV with posters which declare: All ask is fair play a. L
Harper"
1t would appear person asking fair play should be will
ing to give play The people of the city of which Mr. Harper
was mayor also have right to ask for fair play
necessary essential part of fair play public officials
dealing the people that these officials shall attempt to hide
nothing of their official from the people, that all their acts shall
above board that the people know what their
officials doing and may ntelgeny award the approval or crt
csm which these acts to demand.
Mayor Harper carefully and enegecaly endeavors to
people of this city, whose official representative he is
truth many of his acts.
That he has done amply shown by his actions in
with the libel which he sometime ago instituted against the
evening Express.
The Express alleged Mayor Hapers administration
been protected in Los Angeles and indicated that it
sdered Mayor Harper responsible for this protection.
Months he brought libel suits against the Express basng
his actions this charge which had made Under the peadgs
these libel the Express would have had right to show the
facts published by way liquor dealers
who business associates of Mayor Harper had been permitted
to their businesses in violation of the law
had right show Mayor Harper responsible
y protection vice that had been in the red
light district anywhere else the city by being permitted to
flourish without interference from the police force under the control
of Mayor Harper and his police commission
All of questions could have been and would have ben
opened up the trial Mayor Harper actions for libel had these
permitted trial. In fact the trial of these
involved thorough investigation OF Mayor
aper record with regard to the enforcement
of the city and Mayor that had he achieved
victory hem would have been the most complete and
emng of his administration and disapproval of all
charges criticisms that had been made against him.
sought advantage of the opportunity afforded by
which brought obtain this vndicaon? Let
About by the Express after the suits
brought Mayor Harpes dispositions taken The law
gives defendant the right have the deposons of the plaintiff
taken desired and the ruled that the Express had the
right to have Mayor Harper's deposition taken
Mayor Harper through his attorneys refused to testify until
order was made testimony which he gave should be
made public
If Mavor Harper had desired and intended to play fair with the
people this city, what possible objection could he have had to his
evidence given depoons being given the public? He
certainly tell anything his deposition which
would falsely his administration.
Yet he would his dispositions taken until it
provided that his should be held secret from the
public
Furthermore the actions for libel attempted
to secure an early Had its efforts in this direction been
Harper the could have been tried and
disposed long date for the recall election
If Mayor Harper of the charges made against him OF
having Angeles he could have established this
innocence in way which would have operated as the most complete
ndcaon himself and there would have been recall election
been attempt made to hold such an election
the vote the face of this vndcaton would have been SO
overwhelming have made the counting OF the mere form
Did he play with people of the city of Los Angeles in
falling to take advantage this opportunity OF vndicang hmeF
In view refusal permit his testimony taken IN his own
OF public knowledge and OF his strenuous
effort to prevent his for libel being tried before the recall
election perfectly apparent that Mayor Harper not only
playing fair with the people OF the city but that he
in every way possible knowledge of the true facts
of his administration may brought under the sanction OF
judicial proceedings in the trial of his actions?
Mvor Harper proceeding the idea that he
of people all of the time Such transparent game o
bluff" The Herald has witnessed before
If Navor Harper believes the people OF Los Angeles are OF
Grade Of intelligence which permit them be imposed by
such plea on his part far play and such denial OF ar play
m him to the public probably destined rude awaken
ing when the recall election are counted