Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-24
RECALL ENDORSED
BY LEADING MEN
ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THE
MAYOR Detrimental
FELLOW DEMOCRAT. PUTS EXEC
UTTVE ON GRILL
Members of Civic Society Reused to
High Pitch of Enthusiasm-Cheers
Resound Through Banquet
Room
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3orerunner, as it were, out Of which
sprang the whole doctrine and prac-
tice Of impeachment, back in an ancient
city-a city which was called ancient
by Plutarch. We account Plutarch as
being fairly ancient. But he spoke Of
the city in question as an ancient city,
where, when an officer misbehaved so
badly that he had to be attended to
there was company of men, / take it,
something like the elder statesmen of
Japan. 1t consisted of a body, a sort
OF semi-organic body of the citizenship
OF the municipality, who had been Of
nc1a1s and had given a good account
OF themselves or by reason of venerable
age were qualified for membership of
this body.
They tried delinquent officials. If
the accused official was found guilty
or maifeaSance or miSfeasance to such
q degree that it was thought that form
OF punishment was none too drastic for
him they drilled holes in his ears so
that he should be known forever there
after as not in the running-as being
rendered incapable of holding any
future trust or office.
No doubt that was the forerunner
OF the practice of impeachment, which
is a less drastic method than cutting
or Sitting the ears would be.
They were all ineffective, or at least
modern Impeachment has proved inef-
fective, for it is never put into effect
1t is never used. 1t is never invoked
But about this plan, the recall, they
say that Los Angeles is the pioneer in
1t, that it has been the first munich
pality that has ever adopted any such
pan. Well, L am very proud Of that
i really did not know it was so. GAP
plause.
Cause for Pride
II think it is something to be proud
OF that this city over here, right under
the sunset, is the first one to adopt a
scheme which is absolutely feasible
practical and practicable. And not only
that, but 1t is the fairest that human
ingenuity can conceive. Can you con-
ceive Of anything fairer than that, If it
is believed man has been guilty Of vio-
lattng his official duties to such a de-
gree that he is unfit to continue in
office, he shall have a retrial before
his constituency, and that he cannot
pe put to a reelection or retirement
without at least twenty-five out Of ev-
cry hundred men who voted at the
election at which he was elected call
Ing upon the city council to have an
election?
Now, in the very first movement,
therefore, that IS made in such a case
as this, it is an appeal not to mems
passions, not to a great concourse OF
people who meet en- masse. But YOU
must go to each man at his fireside. at
MS place of business or at his office
and lay the matter before him there
and he has to consider it judiciaIly. as
juror would consider it. before he
signs the petition, and then he can re-
Iuse to sign the petition and it takes
the affirmative, positive action of 25
per cent Of all the people or Of the
number of people that voted at the last
election to entitle those who are COM
planning of the incumbent, to a re-
hearing and a reelection.
Procedure Is Fair
That is certainly fair to him. He
mas no right to complain Of that, for
IL does not turn him out. When that is
done, all that it brings about is that
there snail be new election, and, mark
you, an incumbent does not have to go
out and hustle for denomination He
Qoes not have to go out among the
poys, asking and imploring their sup
port TO vlnd1cate him; that is, to give
MIN chance to go before his constitu-
ency TO be voted for. The law makes
MIN a candidate. He stands to be
voted for. His name goes upon the
ticket without single movement upon
MS part. Indeed, if he does not want
his name to go on the ticket, if he does
not want to try the question whether
or not the people will approve him, he
must decline in writing to let it go un0n
the ticket.
Now, is there anything fairer than
tnat' and especially, my fellow citizens
IN a constituency such as is comprised
IN the city of Los Angeles, which, I
say, is equal in intelligence, in conser-
Vatfsm, in a sense of fairness and fair
sum There never was a more iust
or faIrminded constituency between the
oceans or any oceans or within anv
oceans. (Applause)
Now, why should any man who
feels conscious he has behaved him
seIt aright be afraid to meet that sort
OF an issue? But if he is afraid of it,
why should we not have the right to
make him meet it? Loud cheers
Law Implies FaithfuIness
IF any of you had hired a man to
serve you for the period Of three years,
you did not have to have written a
bond that he would behave himself
decently and honestly, that he would
not betray his trust you had reposed
In him. The law writes that there
The law implies the obligation unon his
part to be faithful to his trust, and
though you do agree to give him en-
ployment for the period of three years
you are not bound to do it unless he
keeps that stipulation which the law
writes into every contract, of faithful
ness and integrity in the discharge Of
the employees duty. (Great applause.l
when you elect a mayor of the CITY
of Los Angeles, there Is written in the
bond by implication of law an obliga-
ton. He undertakes to discharge his
duties faithfully, honestly and disin-
terestedly. Now, let him do whatsoever
outrageous thing he may. Those who
are opposed to the recall say, Don't
recall him. That is revolutionary. That
is socialistic, anarchistic,' or whatever
sort of istic' a particular speaker may
have in mind at the moment he makes
the utterance. Don't do it, because it
is new
"We1l, that is the only argument
they have ever given or can give that
it is new, and they will not be able to
give that very long. (Cries of "you
bet" Much applause), because the
cities Of America are now adopting
the recall. Our neighbors round about
US, most of them have adopted it. They
are beginning to adopt it in the middle
west and it will go across the conti-
nent and will become the rule of gov
ernment Of all cities There is no
doubt about that. 1t is so just, so fair,
and is such simple solution Of what
had been so great an evil that it is
impossible not to believe American
cities will adopt this method Of dis