Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-09-06

known in the typographical profession
n = union workman whose con
tact with the working classes give
him unusual facilities for observation
has returned here from Il years resi-
dence in Los Angeles where he paiC
particular attention to the working
OF the initiative, referendum and recall
under the five per cent system. Mr.
Hughes conclusions are directly II
line with those of other unprecedented
students of the system in the oas
city. Mr.. Hughes when asked to give
his impressions yesterday said:
Il believe that the people Of Los
Angeles after their experience with
the initiative. referendum and recall
with the five per cent requirement
are good and sick Of the proposition
and looking for a way out of the con-
tinued turmoil into which the system
has thrown the city. A few instances
of its workings will illustrate.
Under the administration OF
Mayor Harper the red light districts
and the dives flourished He was the
flrSt man to announce the boundaries
of the district and to really make il
an institution OF the city. The people
nvoked the recall II Mayor Harper
was ousted from office. Immediately
thereafter, what are known as the five
cent dance halls were opened all over
the city, in the residence district and
elsewhere. All the former inmates Of
the tenderloin commenced to frequent
these dance halls and they became
notorious. The city council then pass
ed an ordinance a%hrogating the dance
hail privileges. The representatives
Of the liquor interests. the dive keep
crs and the undesirable element start
cd an agitation against the good gov
eminent regime of Mayor Alexander,
and secured five per cent of the pop
ulatton as signers to a petition to have
the halls reopened. There are some
60, 600 voters in Los Angeles. on cleo
ton day a vote of 5000 was polled,
5000 of these voting to reopen the
dance halls. So they were opened.
election cost the city of Los
Angeles $4,000. and they spent that
money to defeat their own win"
Again, last spring there was a mad
dog scare in the city. The council
an ordinance requiring all dogs
10 be muzzled, to take effect in the
usual thirty days. A fraction of dog
owners. reinforced by the undesirable
threatened, with a consider
able hue and cry. to secure the recall
the mayor for his stand in favor
OF dog muzzllng. They didn't finally
the necessary five per cent Just
ecaus of the pure ab%surdity Of the
proposition. but they came close TO it.
rhies is just an instance 10 show
could be done.
Again, Mayor Alexander cut out
a big city graft by firing a lot Of men
ostensibly employed to clean the
parks. the jobs being merely political
stnecures. These men filed a petition
with the circuit judge to have the
mayor recalled because he had scpa-
'ated them from their easy money aud
BIZ; ;or h fact that the judge was a
nan of some discernment and turned
hem down. there would have been
mother %upheaval
These are only q few instances of
he ways in which undesirable minor /
ties in Los Angeles mas keep the citv
n a continual state of unrest aud
burden the taxpayers with innumer-
,ble and expensive elections. Not al
month rasses but some ISL
to invoke The initiative. refer.
'ndum or recall in the interest of a
private grudge or private interests. or
% carry out schemes Of a minoriav oil
ne people I'M opposition Co the viii OIL
ne majority, the petitioners relying on 4
/. light enough vote at a special cleo
to carry their point. In LOS
ANGELES. II you work il right. YOU can
fiv @ cen of the people 20
ign q petition to abolish the foderafl
O r fiji up the Pacific |
fcean OF close up the churches. THERE
s simply no limit to ID. Factianai
'olitics and squabbies over this and !