The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-08-22
THE RECALL.

sale OF liquor, gambling and the social evil. 1T has been
charged that the result Of this failure the evils just
toned flourish openly and that conditions In Keokuk
than they have been for years To give force and eff
feet to this Indictment public meetings being held under
the leadership of Rev J. Sanders Others The ayowed
purpose those head Of invoke the
recall and vote the and city out
of office.
The Gate City holds brief for the present city admin
istraton and has been accused of undue Partially
for it The political future of its individual members is
secondary consideration and matter of small to-
The Gate City compared with the best interests of the
community These must be kept paramount all thought
action the matter or other Individual
interest personal prejudice and other unworthy motives
should be put aside and the question decided strictly its
merits with eye single what best for Keoknk and
in future years. Decision Of other grounds viii
eaby lead to confusion defeat Of the ends sought be
compshed injury the reputation and interests of the
conditions than complained of and everast
ing regret.
This paper is prepared to say that there are not
grounds for complaint against the present city admnistra
ton IN the matter of nonenorcemen Of law. From inorma
ton that has the conclusion that the
present city officials have not been active and efficient I'M
ferreng out law violations Of the kind complained Of asl
they could and should have been Assuming this be
sin Of omission their part does justify
mission against itself the part of the community II not
against Keokuk It's reputation and interests invoke
the recall at this time would be at least grave mistake
This must be apparent all who give the matter moment
serious thought There number of for this
conclusion but mention of few should suffice Briefly:
l. The movement invoke the recall this particular
time Is advlsed eonsldered inopportune and unfortun
The the midst of the activities of the greatest
hTaon and nits history when the greatest har
ony should obtain amongst all ifs citizens and hospital
M public and private find its richest fruitage This out
Of the question element Of divsve strife inject
81 into citizenship at the beginning. unfortun
ate time for stirring up something could not possibly have
been chosen
? Thepresent city officials have only about five months
to until the expiration Of their term office Tn
der the recall Of the plan of city gov
continuing in office until the end of their term thus
made certain in advance that they viii be candidates and will
be important factors in the By waiting
Of their such obligation become candidates be
put upon them It IS quite possible that convinced that
their office had not been acceptable to large
number of their constituents they would stand for re
election This would eliminate them entirely and allow of
choice be made between entirely men, which would
be distinct gain the accomplishment of the sought
BY the leaders of the present mistaken recall
There would also be saved the large of special
election which would additional burden upon taxpay
g. The recall movement as engineered by Rev Sanders
and others purely destructive constructive as ought
to be- The dominant idea is to down. without offering
anything definite and satisfactory place The leaders
admit that they have well thought-out we-defned plan
IN view Their whole idea to be to get rid of
ent and commissioners What then9 What assurance
has the community that their places will by men
less capable and less worthy In the tmxup of strenuous
city campaign strange combinations sometimes made and
unexpected results brought about Should present CITY
officials triumph the recallers as it possible thev
might they would naturally interpret the result as vindica
ton of their policy in the pasand perhaps accept it as
hint still further along the line nonenforcenent Of
law In either event Keokuk would suffer the
OF an III advised movement for its betterment
The movement for the recall is unwse because of the
reflection 1t casts the reputation of Keokuk Newspa
and people in neghboring not slow to seize
upon anything that is derogaoy the city exploit for
all 1t IS worth and more for the purpose Of niurng Keokuk
trade and prospects, just this city entering upon
and all hope, larger For number Of our
al TO doIit
attention to possible shortcomings and give black
Is mighty poor policy and more than questionable loyalty
What the leaders of the recall movement should have
done instead of naugurating movement is as plain AZ