Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-29
RECALL ELECTION
NOTABLEvICTORY
SAYS MINISTER
TRIUMPH FOR PEOPLE AND
RIGHT PRINCIPLE
GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL BE
STRENGTHENED
Rev. C. C. Pierce Declares Seif-Re-
specting Citizenship Has Received
encouragement Throughout
Country by Result

Country by Result
At the Memorial Baptist church yes
terday morning Rev. G. &. Pierce, tne
pastor. preached on Good citizenship
and some LESSONS from the election
He said in part:
1.-THE city of Los Angeles has just
passed through one of the most re-
markable crises which has ever come
to any American city. That we nave
emerged from the conflict with honor
and credit, with a good, true and non
est man at the head, and all the forces
dear to the hearts of patriotic citizens
in the ascendancy, is not only cause lot
rejoicing but for devout thanksgiving.
mo one need to recount the history
of the events through which we have
just passed, for they are fresh In the
minds of ALL The issues have been
clearly drawn from the first. On one
side was public decency, honesty, honor
and noble purpose to make our NUM-
cipal life stand for the highest and best
things. In other words, on Rls size
were the people, the great rank and
file of the population who, in great
movements of public interest and al
most invariably concern, may be de-
pended on to do the right thing II they
have a fair chance.
ION the other side, lined up solidly
together, stood every corrupt element
known to modern life, every false and
base interest seeking to destroy and,
yitiate the very heart of our munich
pality. With these were affiliated men
who in their individual lives seek the
welfare of the city also, but who for
reasons one does not have to go far to
see had permitted themselves to be
allied with this baser element. 1t is
amazing to see how many classes an
evil cause can sometimes unite on its
side.
ut was by no means a question of
men or of party. II was a clear ques-
ton of public morals and public honor,
a question of the people, in the full and
free expression of their desires and
base machine methods organized for
the sole purpose of defeating the will
of the people.
First Battle Won
1.-THE first battle in a great campaign
is won in the face of tremendous odds,
and its moral influence will be worth a
thousand times all it cost, in money or
effort The people have spoken. and
some one said long ago, 'Vox populi,
vox Dei-the voice of the people is the
voice of God. The victory of the peo-
pie of Los Angeles will give courage. to
the friends of good government all over
the country, for it is the triumph OF
the truth and of the right. The recall
principle for which we fought so hard
and which has proved such terror to
corrupt and dishonest men doubtless
will be applied all over the land. Los
Angeles becomes a power in good
government.
mo one will oppose the recall prin-
ciple, no one will fear it excepting those
who are afraid it will be invoked to
overthrow wrong. Dishonest men IN
office will condemn 1t, but their dis
approval will not count for much.
Cliques and gangs of INSCRIPTIONS
grafters and men engaged in defeat
ing and misleading the people will OPP
pose it, but the people themselves, the
great mass of the voters, will stand
by it. and thoroughly establish it as one
OF the fundamental things in our ad-
vancing municipal life.
From the recent election we have
learned some things better than we
knew them before. We have learned
that Christianity and citizenship go
hand in hand. The more we learn this
and the better we learn it the better
it will be for all concerned. We have
learned that Notwithstanding all the
forces which can be arrayed against
them, the people. if given an opportun-
ity, will stand for their rights and for
the right.
More Lessons of Vote
1--WE have learned that the people of
Los Angeles can be depended on. We
have learned how little influence ma
chimes and corrupt combinations and
supposedly powerful newspapers can
exercise in a real struggle for what is
right On the other hand we have
learned as one of the results of the
recent vote how much influence is pos
sessed by some one. Whoever knew
there were so many Socialists in town
before?
1--WE have learned how many people
there are in this city who vote as they
are told, who take their orders from
the gang and whose much Wanted
party loyalty fades away into nothing
when the word passes down the line.
We are glad to know this, we are glad
to have this proved, and will be better
prepared to meet it in the future than
we were this time. The predictions as
to who would line up against the re-
call candidate were more than verified.
1--WE have learned. too, how lightly
the responsibilities of citizenship rest
on some people. The vote was very
large one for a special election, but 1t
was not so large as 1T ought to have
been. In the presence of such a crisis
as that through which we have just
passed how any self-respecting man
could willingly forego the great priv
ilege or shrink from the exalted duty
of casting his ballot is a mystery.
Such men are traitors to the common
good and ought to have the right of
voting taken from them for time at
least, if not forever.
"We have learned, too, that if the
bad, the immoral, the dishonest and
corrupting elements run a city it is
the fault of the good people, and that
these same good people must share in
the moral responsibility. The good
people and the decent people can if
they want to, run city in the inter-
est of everything that has right to
live.
"And we have learned, too, that the
more genuine religion, of all names
and no name. seeks to express itself in
terms of public life the better 1t will
be for the cause of humanity.
"But this movement which has culmi- |
mated in the election of Mr.. Alexander
is more than a religious movement,
that is unless we give religion broader
definition than is usually the case. 1t
is movement of the people, for the
people and by the people. 1t is move
ment of patriotism, of honesty, of clean
government, law enforcement and civic
against all that would de-
fame and dishonor our city. 1t is an
advance notification from the better
elements of Los Angeles that, despite
all mud throwing, all attmpts to dis