Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-21
MEETING PACKED.
ASSERTS HARPER
MAYOR IN SIGNED STATEMENT
DEFENDS ACTIONS
confidently Await Sober Judgment
Of City's Electors" Declares Chief
Executive in Discussing
the Recall

Declaring that the meeting yesterday
which voted his recall was packed,
Mayor Harper last night issued
signed statement in which he essays to
defend his administration.
The statement in full follows:
"Today's meeting at Symphony hall
was packed. Entrance thereto could
only be had by presentation of a spe-
cial invitation in the first instance, and
then by passing the careful scrutiny
Of several doorkeepers for fear some of
the common people might by accident
get in.
1.-THE invitations thereto were issued
by my personal and political enemies.
Its action is the result Of the activities
Of E. t. Earl, the proprietor Of the Ex-
press, his employe, T. E. Gibbon of The
Herald, and some other person who
unsuccessfully attempted to dictate to
me the making of certain appointments.
Following such attempted dictation the
city administration was falsely charged
by the Express with protecting vice,
and said paper also published other
libelous matter concerning me. In con-
sequence said charge has recently been
thoroughly investigated by the grand
jury, whose report, according to public
rumor. is in preparation; and it would
seem that ordinary decency would sug-
geSt that the grand juryS action be
first waited upon.
But the Evening Express and Mr..
Earl have been sued for libel in con-
nection with said charges, and it must
be obvious to any one that a desperate
attempt is being made-first, to unduly
and improperly influence this grand
jury's action, and secondly, to excite
public opinion if possible to such an
extent as to affect, adversely to me-
| the result of the libel cases.
$50 far as a recall is concerned, I
shall in due season submit my case 20
the electors of this city, and will then
confidently await their sober 1udg-
ment in the premises. Their verdict
will decide whether a coterie of self
appointed, disgruntled and disappoint-
ed self-seekers are to control the may
or Of this city and hold him as a chat
tel, or whether the duly elected rpere-
sentative of the whole people is to dis
charge his charter duties as in his
judgment seems best.
GAS far as I am informed one Of
the issues to be made in the threatened
recall election campaign is my appoint
ment of Edward Kern as member of
the board of public works. Mr. Kern
has been repeatedly elected to public
office in this city and has been in pub
lie life for many years, in most trying
positions, and has made good to the
satisfaction of the electors. He hal
the Endorsement of some of the highest
class Of our citizenship, and I am sure
he will make a valuable fearless and
honest member of such board. I am
proud of the fact that, notwithstand-
ing his proposed appointment was
known and discussed for weeks pre-
viously, and all the influence of the
gentlemen responsible for today's recall
movement was used to force another
appointment, a council, with one ex-
ception elected on a ticket in opposi-
tion to mine, promptly and unanimous
ly confirmed his appointment.
"I shall indeed be pleased to have
my cause argued before and considered
by that greatest body of our electors
who were not deemed either safe or
worthy or of sufficient Importance to
he invited to the Symphony hall con-
ference