Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-05-13

Louis A. McRae. chairman Of the
citizens committee of one hum
dred, has rejected tho proposal of
e. p. Swope. a member of the city
commission, that the task of select
ing new members for the city COM
mission be divided between the
citizens and peoples committees in
case the movement to recall ma
jority of the city commission sue
ceeds. Mr.. McRae, in his reply,
points out that neither committee
las any such power and that the
responsibility for picking new men
would rest squarely with Mr..
Swope and Thomas Hughes in case
Commissioner Walter NJ. Council,
J. T. Mclaughlin and ]. NJ. Ray
nolds were recalled.
Mr.. Swopes proposal was that
the citizens committee should pick
one new commissioner. the peoples
committee should do the same and
the two new commissioners should
then select the third.
pies committee, informed MT.
Swope that the suggestion met
with the approval Of his group.
Following are the three letters;
McRac Rejects Plan.
May ~, 1921.
"Mr. f. y. Swope,
"City Commissioners,
Albuquerque, n. NJ,
Dear Mr.. Swope:--I am in re-
ceipt of your letter. / am unable
to accept your offer for the reason
that neither, the citizens com
mittee' nor the peoples commit
tee are in position to say who
shall govern the people of Albu-
querque. We are not governed by
soviets in America. neither
soviet of business nor a soviet of
labor; we are governed by the
people of n great democracy as
expressed at the polls,
II have no lack Of confidence In
the people and their wisdom and
! am sure they will decide this
matter on May 20 intelligently and
overwhelmingly.
Should the people decide in an
unexpected way to recall the three
commissioners, we expect to allow
the selection of their SUCCESSORS by
the route fixed by law. as written
by the people. The responsibility
assumed by yourself and Mr..
Hughes when you took office,
must be carried by you in accord
ance with the law and your OATH.
Yours very truly,
LOUIS A, McRAE,
chairman, Citizens Committee
of One Hundred"
Swope's Proposal.
Albuquerque, n. NJ. May II, ly2l'
"Mr. Louis McRae and Mr.. VIM
Ball.
Gentlemen: A number of my
friends who are affiliated with
your respective committees have
inquired of me how the vacancies
on the city commission will be filled
in the event of the three commits
sioners being recalled at the en-
suing election.
After giving the matter con-
siderable thought, offer the fol-
lowing solution. subjec, TO the ap-
proval of Mr.. Thomas Hughes, the
other commissioner.
Il SuBGcN tnaL III thS tNeIit liio
three city commissioners voted
upon, are recalled. that Mr.. Hughes
and myself asE Mr.. McRae and the
committee of one hundred to Sc
lect one man, and Mr.. Ball and the
peoples committee select one man,
the two to select the third man,
and recommend them to Mr..
Hughes and myself. and feel sure
that such selection would meet
tho approval of all good citizens.
VERY cordially and respectfully
yours.
"E. B. SWOPE.
"City Commissioner.
Ball is Willing.
Albuquerque, N. NJ. May IL, 1921.
"Mr f. B. Swope, City Commits
sioner.
Dear Sir: 1 have received your
letter offering n solution relative to
the selection of men to fill the va
cancies on the city commission in