Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-09
PRO-vICE BUNcOMBE

I'd DRO-VICE newspapers charge that
selfishness and malice actuate the
movement for the recall of Mayor
Harper Then the principal represent
ative of that school of journalism adds:
Many Of the good men now engaged
III the crusade were mfsIed first by
bias, second by lies. They believed on
sight statements not proved etc We
rope no citizens of Los Angeles will be-
lieve on sight such improved state
ments as those made by the pro-vice
press.
The suggestion that there is malice
III what our contemporary calls cru
sade'' is wildly preposterous A desire
for reform is not necessarily an indi-
cation of a malicious disposition. What
our friend calls a Crusade for right
eousness is not sign of spite against
something or somebody. A good wom-
an who cleans house is not actuated
by malice against her family or even
against her furniture The pro-vice
papers are lodging the issue and evad-
ing the main question.
Los Angeles is undertaking great
public enterprises. The credit of the
city is being used in financing those
enterprises. Part of the citys credit is
founded on its good name. which is in
turn founded on the honesty, probity.
integrity, incorruptibility Of its office
Eholders, especially of those directly
charged with the responsibility of dis
| bursting great sums of money. Finan-
cierS cannot interfere in the govern
ment Of our city, because no human
being can buy Los Angeles. But it is
only fair to the great financial interests
which have vast fortunes at stake here
and it is also only fair to the taxpayers
who would be called upon to make good
any loss the city might suffer from
official carelessness or mismanage-
ment, that the interests of the city at
this critical period of its history should
be committed to trustworthy, respon-
sible, experienced. business men; and
that broad-gauge man of affairs
should be mayor.
Business is business" The argu-
ment that Mayor Harper's term will
soon come to an end is very poor.
When the cook in the kitchen is MAX
ing mistakes the thrifty housekeeper
does not say: "Oh, his engagement will
be ended in a month or two. He can't
do much harm in that time" Her com
mon sense tells her that the house is
in danger as long as that cook is in
the kitchen. Will she take the risk of
having the house burned over her head,
or will she send for a new cook? Not
only do the business necessities of the
case make the recall Of Mayor Harper
necessary, but the moral necessities Of
the case demand it.
There are indications that Los AM
geles offcialdom is on disgusting terms
of familiarity with vice. Evidence-not
heresay, but direct-has been secured
which points to the fact that nefarious
industries flourished, unrebuked, al
though the city authorities were aware
of the existence of those peculiar indus
tries. The Herald had not the slightest
difficulty in procuring evidence on this
point. 1t was lying on the surface, for
anyone to pick up who would take the
trouble and who would have the HON
ESTY so to do.
No. the arguments against the re-
call of Mayor Harper won't do. They
are as weak as dishwater; and if they
do not disgust thinking, intelligent
men they will at any rate amuse them
For the good Of the public service,
and for the sake of the best interests
of Los Angeles, financial and material
as well as moral, Mayor Harper must
be retired. He cannot be reelected
His successor will be a clean, honest
upright, broad-minded, public-spirited
citizen, in connection with whom pea
nut personal politics and ambitious
grating policies will be alike unthink-
able. Public spirit animates all sup
porters of the movement for the recall
of Mayor Harper and the election of a
square deal mayor.
Pro-vice charges that there is al
selfish motive are buncombe.