Semi-weekly herald., 1913-11-24
GRECIAN STYLE OF RECALL

1t may be personal if not historic
interest to State Auditor Kenehan to
learn that in the virile days of the
Greek republics, long ago, they had
sort of recall that was effective in
the case of recal-citrant or stubborn
citizens. We are told by the histor-
ians of that period that when man
arose to such height of power and
affluence that he became positive
menace to the state, the citizens took
a vote on his case as an undesirable.
The senate reviewed the vote and if
it was sufficiently large and repre-
sentative, they resolved to invite the
offending one to take a few years
vacation abroad. Ten years was the
limit of the exile.
This was the beginning of the word
and policy of "ostracism," so called
because the Athenians wrote their
names on oyster shells, which were
the official ballots in those days. Os-
tracism did not inflict any stigma
upon man, nor were his property or
civil rights in any way disturbed. 1t
simply required him to leave the
country for ten years in order that
he might exercise no influence on the
course of politics. 1t was kind of
primitive recall which had the ad-
vantage of being equally applicable
| to the ins and outs. If any man
swelled too far above his fellows
there was always the leveling oyster
shell as wholesome corrective in
reserve.
We have resurrected this bit of
Grecian history for the edification
and instruction of Mr. Kenehan to
show him that the recall is no new
thing of this age at all, but that CEN
turies ago it was applied with re-
markable profit to the state to any
political who was 'swelled too far
above his fellows" and who might
have taken it into his too important
head that he was bigger than the law
or the constitution.
We hope this information won't
disturb the assumed equanimity of
the state auditor or his immobie de-
termination to continue Sitting on
the lid" however unnecessary that
operation may be. But Mr.. Kenehan
might unbend enough to let US know
what "lid" he has in mind and why
he should so industriously and sedu-
| lously usurp the solemn function of
sitting" on it. Is it his inference
| that the governor and attorney gen.
eral are not as patriotic and as COM
petent as he to safeguard the states
| finances? Does he intend the people
to believe that he is the only honest
man in the state administration
| State Treasurer Leddy has not ex-
pressed any fear of the integrity of
the governor and the attorney gen.
eral Neither has Lieutenant Cover
nor Fitzgerald or Secretary of State
Pearce or Mrs. Bradford, superintend-
ent of public instruction. They why
Kenehan? Ambition has killed more
than one willy politician. 1t is always
fatal when the people find him out.
The state auditor graciously states
that if the supreme court decides
again him he will approve the GER
tificates Immediately" This is vast
concession to the power and dignity
| of the court of last resort for which
the people will doubtless chant hos
annas-if they happen to think of it.
But we fear they won't. Instead they
will probably continue to tell Mr..
Kenehan what they have been saying
of him ever since his hegira to Seat
tie. They haven't written their opin-
ions on oyster shells, but their con-
demnation would spin into many
miles of type if stretched to its ca
pacity.
'Tis mighty lucky thing for Aud
itor Kenehan that he did not live in
the time of that sturdy Greek pat
riot, Clisthenes, the reformer of the
Athenian constitution. If he had, he
might be rusticating in Seattle for
the next ten years.-Rocky Mountain
News.