The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-03-14
HOLD THAT WHICH IS GOOD.
Chattanooga News.)


caption, would give him power to re
move municipal officers for "wilfully
refusing or persistently failing OF
neglecting to perform their duties In
the enforcement of the laws of the
state against lewdness, drunkenness
gaming or the sale and manufacture
of intoxicating liquors" This bill
would give the governor power to re
move the mayor, commissioner, coun
Gilman, alderman, recorder, police OF
city Judge, chief of police, policeman
or city marshal of any municipality
and appoint another in his stead.
The bill provides that such officer
thus removed may bring the matter
of his removal before the circuit
court of his county, which court shall
try the matter of such removal, and
If upon such trial the court shall
Judge the official not guilty, he shall
be restored to his office.
Laws giving the governor power OF
removal of such officials are in effect
in New York, Massachusetts, Michi-
gan and some other states. Strong
arguments may be made for them,
and Tennessee may finally adopt such
a system, but they have never been
leading issue in the state and are
considered innovations. We Rave,
therefore, expressed doubt as to the
ACCESSIBILITY of adopting such a dras-
tic system here. Gov. Hooper should
consider The question from its prac-
tical side. In the cities Of Memphis,
Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville
the recall" is already embodied in
direction when the people become
sufficiently aroused as to the failure
of an official to do his duty. Suppose,
however, the people did not recall
such an official and the governor pro-
circumstances we doubt whether or
not the. circuit court would find the
official guilty. The resentment which
would probably be caused by the gov
ernor's interference with the local
government would, no doubt, be. re-
fected in the jury. If the disturbed
official did not secure restoration
through the circuit court, he would
probably appeal to the people
through the recall of his successor.
In community which had tolerated
lawlessness the appointee Of the gov
ernor would likely have small chance
of holding his place, under such cir
cumstances. The likelihood is that
great many people who desired to
see the laws enforced would resent
the interference of the governor In
the affairs of city and his appointee
would promptly be recalled and the
official in sympathy with lawlessness
and vice would be restored to Office.
This likelihood would be even greater
If the present election laws were not
retained.
We merely suggest this as the out
come Of the passage of such bill as
the governor advocates
OF more Importance really is the
retention OF the honest election laws
which we now have and which may
be lost if the tricky scheme of those
who are secretly plotting against
this honest election system succeeds,
The governor says: Every enemy
of the saloon and every friend of
law enforcement is an advocate of
an honest election law" That is |
true in the strictest sense, but not
by any means al those who are ad-
vocating the so-called force bills are
enemies of the saloon and advocates
of an honest election law. Some of |
the most active are merely seeking to
divide the temperance forces. The
governor SHOULD recognize this vital
distinction.
The governor says: without
honest elections, the saloon and its
vices in the cities will control this |
state. 1t will be an unfortunate day
for Tennessee when the saloon in
terests gain control of the election
machinery and the government of
the state is then the domination of
the cities"
Now he speaks thoughtfuly. This ]
is the crux of the whole question.
The governor has stated it as strong.
ly as 1t can be stated. 1t is absolute
ly true that without honest elections,
the saloon and its vices in the cities |
will control this state. Honest cleo
tions are of vital and paramount i'm
portance, and no reform measure
which jeopsrdizes the maintenance |
of the system Of honest elections
ought to he considered for a NOM