Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14
PRO-vICF PRESS
IN SORRY PLIGHT
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE RECEIVES
POINTED LETTER
CITIZENS URGED TO CARRY ON
FIGHT
People of Los Angeles Warned Against
Newspapers That Are Aiding
Machine to Thwart Good
Government

"The pro-vice press is attempting to
crawl out of the gutter of its own max
ing" says A. d. Freeman of Garvanzai
in letter of appreciation of the re-
call campaign committee. His letter
is only one of many sent to the cam
paign COMMITTEES and the officers OF
the Municipal league, commencing the
manner in which the recall movement
is being carried forward. Mr.. Free
mans letter follows:
$50 great is my interest in the
present campaign for clean and busi-
nessike administration of our city
government that | cannot restrain the
impulse to express my appreciation OF
the noble fight you are waging, and ado
thereto a few thoughts on the situation
as l see it, in the hope that they may
assist in clearing away some of the
cobwebs that are bothering the minds
of some people, since Mr.. Harper's
action in resigning.
"That this action of his came as a
bombshell into the camp of those who
were only using him as tool in the
effort to destroy the principle of the
recall, and nullify and discredit that
law, is, l think, manifest to all.
1.-THE Times, after helping elect him.
defending his course and pretending to
support him for reelection, now at
tempts to crawl out of the gutter OF
it's own making, by covering Mr.. Har-
per with filth; unmindful and possibly
unaware of the fact that its frank ad-
mission that it was only using him as
a club to fight and, if possible, for
ever kill the recall principle in this
city, forever damns itself in the eyes
of all people, of whatever political
faith, as utterly unworthy of belief
or trust, even by the craven natures
of the criminal element to which 1T pam
ders. The people of this city and
county should boycott it out of ex-
istence.
1.-THE action of the Record is equally
reprehensible, while the Examiner has
also thrown it's influence against the
recall, Notwithstanding the principle is
the one Mr. Hearst has, in the recent
past, so widely boosted; viz, that of
government by the people, for the peo-
pie. Independent of political parties and
bosses and corrupt machone politics.
His course in this case, so far only
seems to show that his great campaign
for independent politics was only an
effort to tear down old political ma
chimes in order to build up one for his
own private ends and use.
How can the public ever again put
any trust in those papers, since we can
only do so at our peril? Let us not
attempt it.
1.-THE recall campaign should go
right on until George Alexander is
elected mayor. If the principle of the
recall is to be defeated by one un-
worthy man resigning, so that another
may take his place, then our recall
law is only a farce.
Warning to Smith
"If George Smith cares for political
future and a good reputation, he will
absolutely refuse to be party to any
such scheme.
There are only two honorable
courses open to him. One is to accept
appointment as mayor with declara-
tion that he proposes to abide by the
results of the recall election. The
other to refuse entirely to be used as
a tool by the enemies of the recall
law.
mo attorney who values his repu-
tation, if it is a good one, can afford
to take the stand that Harper's resig-
nation can in fact nullify and defeat
the recall principle. If that contention
were true, then any corrupt admin
istration can continue in power by
simply swapping resignation and ap-
pointment and the people have no
remedy, and the recall law is only a
plaything for the corrupt element. No
judge should lend himself to any such
preteXt.
NO IlSHL Cdll US d WIOH6 NY
the judicial decree: No wrong can be
made right by judicial sanction, and
nothing is ever really settled until ii
is settled right
LET the people do a little home
reasoning for themselves and under
stand these things; then stand pat,
and the people and the right will pre-
vail.
And I cannot close without urging
that we all learn to recognize our real
friends among the public press and eX-
ercise the recall principle against the
unfaithful
Never before have I seen the in
fluential press Of any city so complete
ly unmasked in it's enmity to the best
interests of the commonwealth and the
expressed will of the people to govern
themselves, as has been done now in
the determined effort-just eXposed-of
a large portion of the press of this
city to kill, by underhanded means.
the peoples pet and only instrument
for self government.
"The Herald and Express have
proved themselves our valiant, fear
less friends in this contest. They
should be made to feel our appre-
citation. Yet, should they ever in the
future prove unworthy, l would favor
the organization of a Peoples Pub
fishing company, in which every sub
scriber should be stockholder and in
which the constitution and bylaws
would provide for the recall of any
editor or manager who proved un-
worthy of the peoples cause and con-
fidence