Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-21
THE MOTION
THE VOTE
THE VOTE
Aye, 207; No, 4; Not Voting, S.

stood ready to serve private interests At the
public cost
One other member of that Board. Mr.
Hubbard, the last of the original incumbents
accepted appointment purely from civic spirit
III health, which has for some time afflicted
MIN, has added much to the burden he is car
ry1ng, and the contingency of his withdrawal
from the Board must be reckoned with as the
personal sacrifice involved may become too
much tor even his public spirit
There exists grave apprehension that the
Mayor, should he be placed in a position to
name successor either to Gen. Chaffee or Mr.
hubbard, IN both OF whom the public has CON
ndence, would make an appointment endanger-
ing the great work Of the city Such an ar
pontment, once made, is beyond remedy bv
the people. There is vested, however il III
people OF this city power which can be used
as a preventive. 1t lies against elective brt
not aPpolntlve, officials. This power-the re-
calls, IN the opinion Of the executive com
nllttee OF the league, sacred privilege which
should be used only in extreme cases The
powers of the Board Of Public Works are 81
great, the good name and welfare of the citv
are SO completely within its keening and the
disposition OF the Mayor is SO obviously dis
regardtul of public interest that the executive
committee of the Municipal league has felt in
duty bound to call together a large and rerre-
sentative body of citizens to deliberate and to
determine what action is required
The meeting is turned over to yourselves"
SAID Mr.. Koephi. Frank c. Finlayson moved
that President Koepfi and Secretary Willard
OF the Municipal league act respectively as
president and secretary of the meeting and the
motion was unanimously adopted
STEPHENS EXPLAINS OPERATION
OF RECALL
Judge Albert M. Stephens was asked bv the
chairman to explain the use of the recall, In
referring, by way of introduction, to its in
corporation in the city charter Judge Stephens
said that this had been done after thorough
discussion resulting in its adoption bv de
cisive majority, although he could not remem-
Der the exact ratio. Five to one," said an
auditor
THAT would Indicate" said Judge
Stephens, "that its principle and purpose were
understood by the citizens of Los Angeles. If
the vote for mayor at the last election tota1ed
$1,000, it will require the signatures Of 5000
electors of the city to invoke the recall.
1T cannot be invoked for any trivial oc-
cas1on 1t is only available against an elective
officer. If called for by a requisite number
of electors it is then the duty of the city cor1n-
Gil to call an election. At that election the in
cumbent against whom the recall is invoked
right, if he chooses to exercise it, to refuse to
permit his name to go again before the people. S
but that refusal must be made in writing.
1T is an important feature that every man
who runs for office does so knowing that the
recall may be urged against him if he proves
unworthy after his election. 1t is part Of
the contract under which he takes the office.
For that reason, [ think the term recall is
a misnomer.
SAYS RECALL IS RIGHT
"The idea is new. Some consider it revo-
lutionary. 1t may be revolutionary, but it is
right. 1t has been the political rule for CEN
tury that to the victors belong the spoils The
recall, if you SO designate it, forever DESTROYS
that pernicious view. Public office is not
public snap to pay political debts. Offices
distributed by the city executive are your Off
ces, not his. You pay the bills, not he. If
the officer does not realize the full duty of his
responsibility you have the right to discharge
him.
"The recall is more than that. 1t is-part
Of a great reform movement sweeping the
whole world today. Even back in China, even
in Persia, there is agitation for constitutional
government The time has come on this earth