Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07
BY FREDERICK L. BIRD

- Mayor whom they recalled less
than two months ago. AS the
result of queer quirk in the Michigan
recall law, Mayor Charles Bowles, who
was ousted from Office on July %, by a
majority of more than 10000 is still
as mayor are all too good to suit be-
wildered Detroiters who think that once
an officer is recalled, he should stay
recalled.
The Michigan recall law permits
public official who has been recalled to
be candidate in the election at which
his successor is chosen. Since the vote
at this election may be split by large
number of candidates, the very man
who was thrown out of Office a few
weeks before may, by skillful political
maneuvering, succeed himself in Office.
The possibility is further enhanced
by the fact that the law permits the
recalled official to remain in Office until
his successor has been chosen. In the
case of so powerful a post as that of
the chief executive of Detroit, this gives,
been fatty rejected by the people,
great advantage.
Opposition May Divide Votes.
Frantic efforts have been made in
the last few weeks by the good govern
ment element in Detroit, as well as
by those whose ennity Bowles has
aroused for other reasons, to agree upon
one candidate SO that the issue would
be clear cut in the election as it was.
in the recall vote itself This has only
partly succeeded. Three candidates
besides Bowles have tossed their hats
into the ring.
These are George Engel, who made
an excellent record at one time as City
r1-nd ef
of the better element" will be concen-
trated; former Mayor John w. Smith
and Judge Frank Murphy. Murphy
and Smith, it is generally conceded
will draw from virtually the same
sources, and will split the usually solid
lower east side.
whether Detroit will get rid of a
mayor whom 1t has just thrown out
of Office by decisive vote, will depend,
these two later candidates draw from
the strength of George Engel.
Interestingly Employed.
Detroit is the largest city ever to
remove its mayor by the recall The
spectacular use of this comparatively
little known weapon of democracy IN
the Michigan metropolis focuses atten-
ton upon its quiet but steadily ncreas-
move undesirable officials.
In California alone there have been
nearly 100 recall movements against
public officials within the last five years.
This contrasts with the preceding i've
year period, when approximately half
this number of recalls were launched.
The recall incidentally, should not
be confused with impeachment, which
is used occasionally to remove State or
local officials from Office. Gov. William
Sulzer of New York was impeached in
1918. The sensational removal OF
James E. PA" Ferguson from his I'M
easy seat as Governor of Texas several
years ago was by impeachment. This
was also the case with Gov. John G:
Walton of Oklahoma, whose pontlcal
career was wrecked on the shoals OF the
Ku Klux Khan In 1928.
Filing Of Charges Unnecessary.
The advantage Of the recall over the
Impeachment process is that diSSatiS-
faction is the only reason necessary for
its use. In Impeachment proceedings
charges must be preferred against the
offending official and he must be tried.
Frequently an official has not actually
done wrong, but has simply been so IN
effective In his job that his removal is
desirable. Also it is often difncult TO
prove misfeasance or malfeasance in
ONCE. The recall avoids the formal
presentation of charges, simply putting
the question up to the voters as 10
whether this man should remain In
ONCE or not.
when DIR. John B. Haynes of Los
Angeles, father" Of the recall, hit upon
the idea he had no fantastic illusions
regarding 1t. After many years OF OBJ
servation of corruntion and misman-
agement in politics, he had come to the
conclusion that the ordinary political
panaceas were Of no avail; that the
election of good men to Office was an
accomplishment only spasmodically
achieved and then frequently disap-
pointing in results. and that the only
hope for civic progress lay IN enabling
the honest majority of people to con-
centrate definitely on some clear-cut
principle or project.
Third in L. r.. and r.
To do this it was necessary to give
20 the honest majority Of the electorate
the power to initiate legislation refused
them by their legislative bodies-the
initiative give to the honest majority
the power to veto the acts of their
Legislature-the referendum, and give
to the same honest majority the power
TO recall from ONCE at any time any
inefficient and incompetent ofncer-the
recall"
In the turbulent days when Theodore
Roosevelt was stirring the country with
his vigorous crusade in behalf OF popu-
lar sovereignty the recall came in for
more than its share of attention. 1t
was one of the most popular battle
grounds of the progressive movement,
since 1t afforded Splen lid range both
for the unrestrained enthusiasm of the
prophets of the new democracy and the
soulful forebodings of the decimated
but intrepid survivors of the old guard.
Called Gun Behind Poor.
While the former dreamed dreams of
o completely liberated popular will and
q continuous control calculated to pre-
serve at all times the relation of mas
ter and servant between the people and
their representativ 1" the latter con-
jectured disturbing nigh lares of cha
otto conditions that would result from
repudiating our constitutional system Of
government and inaugurating what was
1.-The last modification of the ancient
popular systems of government before
their final downfall and disappear
ance."
The friends of the recall made light
OF the lurid pictures drawn by It's
opponents of impending chaos resulting
from overtndulRence in its use. as thev
believed that it would be seldom en-
ployed. The mere knowledge of its
existence and potential force would he
SUFFICIENT to keep officeholders perpet-
ually mindful of their responsibility to
the public. It was, as Woodrow Wilson
expressed it. "the gun behind the door"
In much the same manner 1t also would
clear the way for the greatly needed
increase and concentration of official
responsibility and the lengthening of
terms of Office without the fear Of any
1ong-continued abuse of power.
First Adonted In ms Angeles