The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1912-08-15
RECALL OF JUDGES
PROPER REMEDY
PROGRESSIVE MEASURES
S. w. ROGERS THINKS 1T
WOULD BE A SAFEGUARD
TO HONEST OFFICIALS.
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:

Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
This is progressive age. The mai
who fails to keep pace with progress
must either get out of the way or ge
run over by the wheels of progress
This fact applies to judges and law
yers as well as to other people. Ane
why not?' Are judges any more infal
lible than other men are infallible'
Aren't they subject to the same hu
man fraities that other men are? II
the recall is proper remedy to ap-
ply to other officials, is there any
sound reason why it should not apply
to judges as we'll?
The recall Of any official for non
lfesance, misfeasance, or malfeasance
in Office is unquestionably good in the
DRY. No one doubts the wisdom of
putting the rascals out if it can be
done. The only question is a ques-
ton of expediency. 1t is not ques-
ton of whether it ought to be done,
but rather question whether it can
be done effectively with the recall.
Perhaps only in few instances could
the recall be effectively used. Where
there was reasonable doubt the official
would be given the benefit of the
doubt just as the defendant is given
the benefit of doubt in the courts of
law. But the recall would be an ever
present weapon in the hands Of the
people. 1t would make the public SER
want servant Of the people in fact
as we'll as in name 1t would be a
! sort of sword of Damocles over the
head of the INSCRIPTIONS man and
should not necessarily be source of
terror to the honest man. 1t ought
to be safeguard to the honest Off
cial. Why should an honest man mind
being watched? He should not con-
slider it a reflection on his integrity
because the people are vigilant and
hold him to strict accounting in the
performance of his duty. He knows
that it is better to watch 80 honest
men in order to catch the hundredth
man who might chance to be dishon-
est, than the hundredth should es-
cape, thereby casting a reflection on
all who are associated with him.
Less than 10 years ago the initia-
tive and referendum was heard for
the first time on the stump in this
state, and that was by candidate
for the legislature. None of the other
candidates at the time ever heard OF
the issue before, so they just dismiss
ed it with learned silence. We all
thought the fellow was crazy, and of
course, defeated him. At the follow
ing session of the Arkansas legisla-
ture one member had the temerity to
Introduce an amendment to the con-
stitution providing for this step in
the direction of popular government
If 1 am correct, the measure receiv'
ed two votes. Two years ago the peo
pie of Arkansas adopted the /. and R
by a handsome majority. And, too
they adopted it over the honest pro
test of the more conservative mem
bers of the Arkansas bar.
Whether the initiative and referen
dunn will bring good to the state i:
yet to be SEEM Evidently, there was ;
crying need for such a measure, if WI
may judge by the number of measure
, that are about to be referred to tn
T people at the coming election. All thi
, indicates that the legislature wa
standing in the way of progress, ant
o the people have thus forced them on
of the way.
O The recall of judges and other off
a Gals is step further in the same di
rection. 1t is step in the direction
q of progress just as the election of sen
:, ators is a step in the direction of pro
q gress. All Of these measures are pro
r gressive measures. They are meas
ures which indicate the trend towar
; popular government.
S When our present form of govern
o ment was established the Hamilto
Q school politics feared the idea of poI
ular government. For that reason tn
J. progressives of the Jefferson schot
e had to concede good many of thei
d cherished ideas of popular govern
i ment.
). Since that time the people hav
+ grown in strength and in intelligence