The broad ax., 1912-03-30
THE RECALL AND THE MANY
EVILS IT WOULD FASTEN UP
ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Residing in the Various Sections of
the United States.
By Attorney Walter M. Farmer.

The wave of political and social
unrest that is sweeping over the
country today is but in harmony with
the almost universal feeling that has
lately manifested itself in Portugal,
China and other sections of the civil
lied world. There is a general feel
ing that our country is sadly in need
of political renovation. This feeling
it is true, has found expression main
ly through the utterances of ambi-
tfous politicians, nevertheless, they
have served to arouse the masses to
realization that there is something
wrong somewhere.
With the approach of our national
election, we may rest assured that
ambitious candidates will generously
call our attention to wrongs too long
endured and to dangers to be avoid
ed. But however. illuminating the
arguments may be, as to the general
effect of the policies and principles
of parties and candidates, the Col
ored voters must per force of pecul-
lar conditions, view them through a
medium as they especially affect his
race. Our political perspective has
been thus limited by a combination
of circumstances that we would glad
" have changed; but as long as the
race is regarded, in so many instan-
ces. as outside of the law. our vision
of great political and social ques-
tons must of necessity be restricted
and our citizenship at a discount. We
must therefore. guard with unabating
and discriminating vigilance our
rights as citizens and our interest as
a race.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt has come
to the rescue OF "the plain people"
and suggests that the source of most
of the political unrest is from not
allowing the plain people" a larger
participation in making of the laws
of the country and in their interpre-
tation.
The Colonel is always dramatic, if
not original and sees in the adoption
of the initiative, referendum and the
recall. a panacea for all our political
ills. The first two of these doc
trines are revolutionary and the re-
call is anarchy. The permitting the
masses to initiate the laws or to have
those passed by the law making body,
submitted to the people for their APP
proyal or rejection is not only dang
erous. but contrary to the form and
spirit of our institutions. The recall
of judicial decisions or of the Judges
rendering them, would completely
destroy every guaranty the people
have of security in their rights OF
person and property. 1t would rem
der so uncertain judicial decisions
that we would be in practical chaos
as to what our rights and interests
are. Let US take for an illustration
the disfranchisement laws OF the
State of Oklahoma. Not many
months ago a Judge of one OF the
Federal Courts declared the law I'M
constitutional. Suppose the PLAN
people" of that State were permitted
to vote to recall that decision. Does
anv one doubt that it would be re-
called by a large majority? And what
;s true. in this case, is true OF every
! law PASSED or that may be passed
restricting the Colored man in th'
! exercise of his rights as citizen
Prejudice, race hatred and passion
play too prominent part in the av'
erape Southern white mans senti
ments for US to risk our civil ant
poIitical salvation in his hands.
Under the system of recall adVo
Gated by Col. Roosevelt every con
stitutionaI guaranty would be sWep
awav courts would be rendered I'M
ootent and uncertainty and anarch!
: would reign. AS a race our hope Ia.
in the stability of judicial DECISION
and in the integrity of our judges
Iike Shylock, we "craze the law.
, Tai. that from US, and you take iron
, ms the prop that doth sustain on
, house" That is just what the reeal
means. One more illustration, sup
} pose in some community in this STAT
/. fIIlinois) a judge should, IN cas-
presented, sustain our civil righr
, law. 1t might be that the people Q
! that community are hostile to tnS
q law. They could recall that deeisio
. so far as that community is eoneerne'
III or they might recall the judge an
elect some one in his stead who Woui
\ do their bidding a.
>. If Col. Roosevelt has nothing oe'
\ t.r TO offer rs as a balm for our man
,....S .oe;.f wounds than d