The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-03-28
THE RECALL.


purchased with a million dollars, an,
advertisement is all these reform
need AS soon as the people under
stand them they will adopt them
shocking as this may seem TO thos'
who think that these reforms will des
troy the institutions bequeathed b!
our fathers. AS the recall is the re
form least understood. and therefor,
most violently attacked, let us ex
aullna this method Of dealing with of
ficials.
There may he differences of opinion
as to how many signers should be re
CURED in order to invoke the recall
but that is merely a matter OF detai
When the right of recall is admitted
the percentage required 10 call an
election can be fixed by agreement
among those favoring the recall-and
it Will probably be a compromise be.
tween extreme views as to notice OF
election, time required for considera.
ton and means used to inform the PUG
lie. These also. are matters of detail
and do not affect the right Itself Such
safeguards will be thrown around the
use oil the recall as experience may
prove necessary. But as to the right
of recall--two questions are raised:
F1rst-have the voters a right to ter
inmate the contract entered into, when
the candidate accepted the office?
This question cannot arise II the can
didate is elected after the adoption
of the recall, because he will take the
office subject to the right of the peo-
pie to recall. But the question could
not give much trouble any way, be-
cause provisions could be made, it
necessary. for the salary to be paid
for the unexpired term. II an official
demonstrates his unfitness for an of.
flee the people can much better at
ford to pay him while not serving
than to allow him, to serve even with
out compensation.
The second questionable only real
question in facts whether the re-
call so robs the official of independ-
ence as to injure the public service.
This question admits of but one answ-
er. Why should a public official be
independent of the wishes of his con-
stituents? 1t is an aristocratic-not a
deInocratic-conception OF represen.
tative government that contemplates
that the representative will be indif
ferent of the wishes OF his constitu-
ents. The democratic theory is that
the people will think for themselves
and select representatives to give ex.
preston TO their thoughts, The moral
and intellectual standard OF the repre-
sentative will not be lowered by an
increased watchfulness on the part Of
the public. Banks have not lost any
fact that they are now examined and
may be closed without a moments no.
tice. On the contrary. the banking lev
ell has been raised and it will be rails
ed still more when the law requires
the bank to give absolute security to
depositors, so officials will be better
when the betrayal of trust-the en-
OF power-is dealt with as
q crime.
But if independence Is the thing de-
sired, is that not already menaced by
frequent elections? II independence Is
how can we secure 1t ex
cept by life tenure? How can a con-
gresham act Independently If eleven
months aften the first regular sessions
his constituents may defeat
him at the polls because OF some vote
he has cast or some speech he has
made? In state and city the situation
is the same. The recall asked for
would be invoked which We now have
in frequent elections acts as a re-
traint on all officials and acts con-
stantly. How can we condemn the
recall as dangerous or des-
tructive and at the same time approve
OF short official terms? And does not |
act as a restraint on in
The regular election is a
form Of impeachment; IL gives the peo
nle a chance to remove at stated times
by refusing reelection. The recall
simply goes a step farther and per-
mits the voters TO shorten the term.
" lien in their judgment. the official
has betrayed his trust. The fact is.
that opposition 10 the recall is a rever'
sion to aristocracy, plutocracy and
monarchy. The objection restI upon
a dlstrust OF the capacity OF the peo-
rlo or upon a contempt for their rights