The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-01
RECALL IDEA is REAcrloNARy.

J. NJ. Humphreys of Atoka, Okla, one
OF the prominent Republican floor
leaders in the Second Oklahoma legis-
lature. insists that also there is
nothing new in the doctrines now be-
ing advocated by Col Theodore Roose-
Velt. and he cites history to prove
that everything that Roosevelt adj
vocates. even including the recall of
judicial decisions, was used by the
Grecians.
1t will be recalled that Colonel
Roosevelt in his Columbus speech dis
cussed the recall of all public elective
officers, including judges, and enun-
ciated this doctrine as a brand new,
progressive principle; something that
was never discovered before, and guar
anteed to be the latest style OF legis-
lation and up to date in every respect.
Says Judge Humphreys:
The only trouble is, it was discov-
cred and used $500 years ago in lit
tie place called Athens, in Greece, a
place tabout the size of a small
county, which at that time had pure
democratic form of government.
Scion, in the year 594 B. c., wrote
a constitution for the Athenian de-
mocracy. This constitution, written
by Scion over $500 years ago, pro-
vided for the very things which Col
onel Roosevelt now advocates as being
brand-new, up-to-date, progressive
principles, TO wit-initiative, referen-
dunn and recall
The constitution Of Athens pro-
yided for the recall of judicial deeis-
/ ions, and the judges became respons-
| lille to the people who thenceforth not
! only elected them, but judged the
| judges in case they did wrong. Any
student of a high school who has read
the history OF ancient Greece and OF
the democracy of Athens ought to be
familiar with the history of Athens
and of the recall of its elective Of
/ fcers.
Colonel Roosevelt must think that
the people of the United States are a
set Of fools to accept the constitution
OF Athens as new and original idea
! discovered By himself.
Under the constitution of Athens,
with its recall CT elective officers, the
country soon degenerated into an
archy. This left the way open to
Pisastratus, who, protesting that he
was a friend of the people flor they
were advocating let the people rule
even at that time. tool, became the
first tyrant of Athens He was more
like the boss of great political ma
chine, however, than like tyrant
This condition brought on civil
wars among the pure democracy of
Try,-i 10 s--r
th mes proposed new constitu-
ton for Athens. The people adopted
this constitution and in it were CON
tanned the initiative, referendum and
recall, with an additional and perhaps
new progressive idea known as
ostracism
could recall judicial decisions and
could recall all their elective officers,
Including judges. But this did not
satisfy the pure democracy. They In,
vented ostracism. This was a peculiar
progressive device whereby Clisthenes
tried TO head of civil strife. Once a
year the assembly was given a chance
TO vote by individual ballot against
any man whom the voter deemed
dangerous to the state IL 5000 votes
\ were cast or 5000 citizens thought
that some one ought to go into exile
in order TO prevent strife then the
nan against whom the greatest mum.
Der OF votes was cast was compelled
TO go into exile
The whole of Roosevelts ideas
were tried by the Athenians and were
rank failures.
: "A man to be ostracised need NOT
I necessarily have committed any
7 wrong all that was necessary was for
s MIN to be under the suspicion OF the
people. The design Of ostracism was
TO prevent such usurpation as tina,
OF Plsastratus, who became the first
| tyrant of Athens under the initiative
D and referendum and recall of all cleo
4 i've olhcers under Solon's constitution
{ As usual, the power of the device
OF ostracism, lodged in the hands oil
the people, was not always wisely
used and some of the ablest and most
patriotic statesmen of Athens were
sent into exile. through the influence
S OF some demagogue who had for tbe
p time caught the popular ear. Greek
Il history says these provisions includ
!. ing ostracism, We're shortlived
), IF Roosevelt had told the Ohio con.
a I'm ehtlou lhat SCION In
the year 5a4 before Christ could write
e a better constitution than perha ps
/. they would write he would have in
suited their intelligence, but he in
i suited their intelligence more. and the
r PEOPLE OF the United States most. hi
: trying TO palm off on them discredjt
: ed theory of pure democratic govern
: ment $500 years old, and claiming ii
: as his own original idea of pure do
e mocracy and labelling it as a .cbarte,
s of pure democracy when he could
n have advised them simply in a few
= words to adopt Solon's constitution
= for the people of ancient Athens. ir
Greece, as an up-to-date constitution
and the best ever written
Colonel Roosevelt claims to be