Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-08
A NY ONE who thinks the recall of


has only to read the editorial com
ments on the movement. These com
ments are clipped from papers pub
ished all over the country, north, south
east and west.
In every one of these editorials tn
side of good government is taken. The'
rejoice sincerely over the deathblov
dealt the political organization that ma
so. long throttled every impulse for de
cent government in Los Angeles. Ther
Is no sympathy expressed for the inter
ests which so justly met defeat in TN
recall election; no tears shed for pro
tected vice.
Read, for instance, this editorial from
the New York Tribune:
New York Tribune's View
The first experience with the recall
in this country is undeniably raw
orable one. The newly elected may
or of Los Angeles was supported by
a Lincoln league, which is trying
to purify politics in California. lie
was opposed by both political ma
chimes, which united upon the So
cialist candidate for mayor In
desperate effort to beat the leagues
nominee and to discredit the recall
at it's first trial by causing 1t to put
a Socialist in office. Moreover, there
appear to have been good reasons
why the city should have been rid
of Mayor Harper. The charges
against his administration were Sc
rious. And rather than face test
before the public he resigned when
the recall was instituted, saying
that his accusers had the dope on
him." To rid Los Angeles of a bad
administration, beat the machine
or
which has the support of al the
friends of good government is no
small achievement for the recall.
This initial success will doubtless
do much to spread the system,
which has already made consider
able progress on the Pacific coast,
and which is being urged in modi-
fled and restricted form in Chicago
and Boston.
If the recall were never to be in
voked except when conditions were
as bad as they were in Los Angeles,
no one could object to its adoption.
But the danger seems to be that 1t
will turn out to be a mere weapon
for demagogues, which will gre
turbulence to city government with
out assuring any material advant-
age. 1t is easy to imagine that If
this city had had the recall for the
last three years it would have gone
through a recall election for mayor,
another for controller, another for
district attorney, and at least one
for borough president, and without
adequate reason or resultant benefit.
Sensational newspapers would be
conducting recalls at frequent in
tervals for the sake of their circu-
lation. For good government are
1aI CD no
sense, not incessant excitement and
passion Until 1t is shown that the
recall always accomplishes such re-
suits as 1t has in Los Angeles and
does not bring about the evils which
would naturally be expected from 1t,
the cities of this country would do
we'll to be extremely cautious in
adopting it.
From New York Post
And this from the New York Post:
Last Friday was black one for
Los Angeles politicians, and its
shadow is already falling darl5ly
across the path of their colleagues
in other towns. The first test of the
recall system in this California
municipality had added a brighter
hue even to the brightest hopes of
it's champions. Los Angeles has a
strong Democratic machine, a
stronger Republican machine, and
a very lively band OF labor union
Socialists. Office holders, leagued
as often with dive keepers and cor
porations, were snugly intrenched.
Yet lovers of clean government
have been able to force a new may
orally election and to win it against
the combined forces of three party
machines. To be sure, the Munich
pal league was aided by the Los
Angeles Express crushing expos
ure of graft; but how often have no
less fragrant misdeeds been brought
into full play elsewhere without
shaking the despotism of the
"gang''! And our cities will please
note that Los Angeles has about
100000 inhabitants. The old story
that the recall will do only for viii
lagos can no longer carry.
Proved Vice Protected
The recall produced the absolute GER
ainty of the guilt of Mayor Harper in
fficially practicing vice, says the New
York American in the following edi-
orial:
The use OF the recall in Los An
geles was short, sharp and conclu-
sive. The determination to use it
brought tho charges against May
or Harper's administration to a
crisis which could not be STAYED off
by any of the political or legal
tricks otherwise possible in even the
worst of cases.
Mayor Harper had to vindicate
himself before the people or quit.
He had to make a square fight in
the open or surrender. The recall
kAaT .4E -
stopped, delayed or denied!
The necessary time occupied in
forcing the confession and surren-
der of an unworthy mayor and
electing a good mayor in his stead
was only a few weeks.
The recall in Los Angeles pro-
duced first, the absolute certainty
of the guilt of Mayor Harper in Of
ficially protecting vice, and second,
the thorough arousing of the good
citizenship in choosing George AL
exander, a. man of unquestioned
probity, in spite of the political Or
ganization efforts to make the re-
call election abortive.
So complete and decisive is this
recall triumph in Los Angeles that
it has become at one bound re-
silent issue in every city in the
land where charter improvements
are being considered.
No Abuse of Recall
There is no danger of the recall
icing grossly abused is the opinion Of
he Chicago Record Herald in the fol.
owing:
The recall has been part of the
law of Los Angeles for six years
and has been used in but two cases,
that of Mayor Harper being the
second. From the record 1t would
appear that there is little danger
of it's being grossly abused or sue