The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1910-10-13
ABOUT OPERATION
Of THE RECALL

The practical operation or the
recall is told by VIM. Title in La
Follette's Magazine in this way:
The recall was adopted in Ore
gOn through the initiative i'll 1908,
by popular vote of SO, 3Sl to 81
OO2. That decisive vote shows
that the people want the right
under reasonable limitations, of
recalling an unfalthful public Off
cial. One such limitation is the
filing of a petition for the recall
signed by at least IS per cent of the
voters in the given district at the
preceding election. A special cleo
ton within twenty days determines
the recall of such officer and the
election of another who will truly
represent the people. Every firm
or corporation employing an agent
recall and sunmarily uses it in case
the agent betrays the interests of
his principal. The state is cor
poration, the people are the stock
holders and directors and the rep
resentative is the agent who should
truly and fairly represent those
who elected him. The recall works
by threat of use as well as by &C
tual use. In Des Moines, in 1909.
the evident determination to use it
if necessary, caused the hostile CITY
council to appoint police marshal
who had the confidence Of the peo-
pie. In Los Angeles, the CITY
council had voted away three miles
of river bed worth 81 900, 600. The
threat of the recall compelled the
city council to rescind that vote
and restore that property to the
city. The threat of the recall
forced certain members of the Ore
gon legislature in 1909 to carry out
their pledges to abide by the pop
ular vote for United States senator.
The power to use the recall and
the certainty that it will be used if
necessary will in most cases bring
the desired result-thc obedience
of the representative to those who
elected him. But the recall has
been used with excellent results.
In Los Angeles, its use removed an
alderman who had voted to award
the contract for city printing to a
machine newspaper for all amount
$4,000 more than the bid of the
other journals. Can it be doubted
that the recall ought to have been
used on such all otficial' In Janu
airy 1907, A. c. Harper was elect
ed mayor of Los Angeles for a term
of three years. 1t soon became
plain that he was allied with or
controlled by the two forces that
have given bad government to most
American cities. He was admin
istering the city government for
the franchise companies and the
vice district. Besides, the city had
just issued bonds for SIS, 900, 600
to be used for public improvements.
The fear of graft III contracts and
the actual protection of vice and
special privilege, led 200 of the
best citizens of all parties to meet
and determine OH the recall The
law required OH the petition for the
recall of rs per cent of the voters.
More than 50 per cent signed such
petition. Before the special cleo
ton, Mr.. Harper resigned as mayor
and also withdrew as candidate
for reelection. The new mayor,
George Alexander, was elected
in March, 1909, and for a year
and half has proven to be an
honest, able and efficient executive.
There is no danger that the recall
will be abused. 1t will be used
until it is absolutely necessary.
The people will be just and will be
strongly inclined to stand by the
preceding election. 1t would be a
perversion of the recall to harass a
faithful public official. Such action
could only come from the enemies