The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-04-26
] THE RECIAII.

3ytf
! THE RECALL. 81 .ssS=,. Il. y
The Enterprise editor was q mem
Der Of the charter commission and
in its making was one of the men
favoring the recall provisions. We
still believe in the principle, although
it's workings in certain instances
have shown to our opaque mind that
as a weapon in the hands Of the agi-
tator it needs safeguarding to make
1t of value; In fact, has shown us
that In the hands of the agitator it
is weapon that may be used with
undue severity and to the detriment
Of the commercial and stable inter-
ests Of the city.
The present fecan proceeding 60,
for instance. have already done more
toward retarding the general ad-
vancement of the city than score
of commercial bodies could undo in
a year, while from this distance 1t
would appear the "flght' was as yet
in it's incipiency and that at the end
of the war there would be dead and
wounded in the dtches from both
sides Of the political fence.
The recall of the six aldermen, as
stated in the petition, was because
of their vote for George F. Shea as
city attorney. No other specified
cause was alleged. aside from the i'm
putation that because of such vote it
was considered the men whose
"scalps" are sought would work
against the city and In favor of the
light and water company in the &C.
quirement of the light and water
plant-the imputation that they
would violate their oaths of office.
The cause for redress on the first
point, the vote for Mr.. Shea, has
been obviated by the resignation of
Mr.. Shea before taking his oath of
Office, his action being in the inter-
est of harmony and public welfare,
his resignation stating that his
course was formed for the purpose
of removing himself as a bone OF
contention from the deliberations of
the council that public business de-
handing attention might be given
necc ssary and harmonious consider
alton.
The imputation that the big SIX
would work against the city in vio-
lation of their oaths of Office and in
favor of the light and water COM
pany was given the lie at Tuesday
evenings meeting when Alderman
Weber fathered motion that the
city attorney be instructed to draft
an ordinance ordering a reduction OF
light and water rates by the CON-
pany, this motion being supported
by Alderman STAFF and receiving the
endorsement Of every member of the
council.
There may be other reasons why
some men desire the recall of these
aldermen. but If so the reasons have
been carefully guarded.
There should be specified reasons
! and valid reasons stated in a. petition
for recall.
In the present case the reasons az
specified have been removed or prov
en- absolutely groundless.
The aldermen in question have
signifled their willingness to 20 to
the sacrifice, if need be, by taking
prompt action on the petition-ac-
ton which could doubtless have been
delayed. They founded their action
on the idea that II the voters in their
respective precincts considered them
unworthy Of longer representing
them the sooner new timber filled
tnelr places the better.
We know not who may be the op-
position candidates in any of the con-
tests, but we cannot but feel that
the farce which has been made of
the recall provisions of the charter
will do much toward keeping self
respecting, reputable citizens from
seeking to serve in public capacities:
this class of men will not stand for
the odium liable to attach to their
regulations through indiscriminate
use of the recall whip.
RECR IvIMINkN llnx< ea1aou1n,c,