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The Commoner.
OCTOBER 7, 111
LCURgeNT ?opicsj
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THE OFFICE building of the Los Angolcs
Times, published by General Harrison
Gray Otis was dynamited October 1. Twonty
persons were injured and nineteen printers and
newspaper men were killed. General Otis and
his associates charge that the dynamiting was
the work of representatives of union labor, Otis
and the Times having waged a twenty-year war
against labor organizations. Union labor men
bitterly deny the accusation. They have offered
their services to help hunt out the guilty parties.
The city of Los Angeles has offered a reward
of $10,000 for1 the discovery of the perpetrators
of the crimo.
6&np:iE COST OF Rooseveltism" is a favorite
X subject these days with the New York
World. The World says: "The total expendi
tures of the United States government from the.
inauguration of Washington in 1789 to the be
ginning of the civil war in 1801 were $1,795,
273,344.14. The appropriation bills signed by
Theodore Roosevelt during his second term in
the White House, from March 4, 1905, to March
4, 1909, authorized expenditures amounting to
$3, 522, 982, 81G. 87. Four years of Rooseveltism
cost twice as" much as the first seventy-two years
of the republic! One term of Theodore Roose
velt took twice as much money out of the pockets
of the American people as the combined terms
of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, John Quincy Adams, Jackson, Van Buren,
Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Fillmore, Pierce and'
Buchanan. During the seventy-two years cov
ered by the administrations of these fifteen pres
idents the United States government paid the
revolutionary war debt incurred by the states.
It paid the cost of the war of 1812. It paid the
cost of the Mexican war. It bought Louisiana.
It bought Florida. It paid for the Gadsden
purchase. It acquired all that vast extent of
territory from the Mississippi river to the Pacific
ocean. What have the American people gfct to
show for tho four years of Rooseveltism which
cost double the money? And what would be the
cost of four years more of Roosevelt under the
New Nationalism?"
THE PRACTICAL operation of "the recall"
is told by William Tittle in LaFollette's
Magazine in this way: "The recall was adopted
in Oregon through the initiative in 1908, by a
popular vote of 58,381 to 31,002. That decisive
vote shows that the people want the. right, under
reasonable limitations, of recalling an unfaith
ful public official. One such limitation is tho
filing of a petition for the recall signed by at
least 25 per cent of tho voters in the given
district at the preceding election. A special
election within twenty days determines the re
call of such officer and the election of another
who will truly represent the people. Every firm
or corporation employing an agent at a distance
retains the power of recall and summarily uses
it in case the agent betrays the interests of his
' principal. The state is a corporation, the people
are the stockholders and directors and the rep
resentative Is the agent Tvho should truly and
fairly represent those who elected him. The
recall works by threat of use as well as by actual
use. In Des Moines, In 1909, the evident deter
mination to use it if necessary, caused the hostile
city council to appoint a police marshal who had
the confidence ,of the people. ' In Los Angeles,
the city council had voted away three miles of
river bed worth $1,000,000. The threat of tho
recall compelled the city council to rescind that
vote and restore the property to the city. The
threat of the recall forced certain members of
the Oregon legislature in 1909 to carry out their
pledges to abide by the popular vote for United
states senator. The power to use the recall and
the certainty that it will be used if necessary
;vyill in most cases bring the desired result tho
obedience of the representative to those who
elected him. But the recall has been used with
excellent results. In Los Angeles, its use re
moved an alderman who had voted to award tho
Contract for city printing to a machine newspaper
for an amount $15,000 more thaji the bid of
the other journaJs rCn it be doubted ihatjho
iecall ought to have been used on such an offi
cial? In January, 190.7, A. C. Harper was elect
ed mayor, of Los Angeles for a term of thrco
years. It soon bec&ino plain that ho was allied
with or controlled by tho Iwo forces that have
given bad government to most American cities.
Ho was administering the city government for
the franchise companies and tho vice district.
Besides, tho city had just issued bonds for $25,
000,000 to bo used for public Improvomonts.
Tho fear of graft in contracts and tho. actual
protection of vice and special privilege, led 200
of the best citizens of all parties to meet and
determine on tho recall. The law required on
tho petition for tho recall 25 per cent of tho
voters. More than 33 per cont signed such peti
tion. Before tho special election, Mr. Harper
resigned as mayor and also withdrew as a can
didate for re-election. Tho now mayor, Georgo
Alexander, was elected In March, 1909, and for
a year and a half has proven to bo an honest,
ablo and efficient executive. There is no danger
that tho recall will be abused. It will not bo
used until It Is absolutely necessary. The peoplo
will bo just and will bo strongly inclined to stand
by tho preceding olection. It would bo a per
version of tho recall to harass a faithful public
official. Such action could only como from tho
enemies of popular government. It Is safo to
say that it will almost never be used for 'light
and transient causes.' But it will safeguard im
portant public interests against transient and
unfaithful representatives."
DEMOCRATIC managers at Washington, en
couraged by tho result in Maine, say that
there is now a chance that tho democrats will
control the United States senate. A Washington
dispatch to the New York World says: "Thirty
senators will retire March 3, 1.911. Six are dem
ocrats. In all six instances democrats will be
returned. These seats are those of Culberson
of Texas, Swanson of Virginia, Money of Mis
sissippi, Frazier of Tennessee, Rayner of Mary
land, and Taliaferro of Florida. In Indiana
Albert J. Beveridge is fighting to bo returned,
with the chances against him. In Connecticut
Senator Buckley faces bitter opposition. Gilbert
M. Hitchcock in Nebraska expects to swamp tho
divided republican organization, whoso candidate
is Senator Burkett. In Missouri, Senator Warner
is almost certain to be succeeded by a democrat.
Senator Nixbn does not expect to return, and
tho Nevada legislature probably will elect a dem
ocrat. Maine has elected a democratic legisla
ture. In Montana the democrats and insurgents
are expected to combine in a fight on Senator
Carter. New York may elect a democratic legis
lature and a democratic successor to Depew. In
Ohio a landslide may place a democrat in Sen
ator Dick's seat. In addition Now Jersey, Massa
chusetts and North Dakota may flop, and a turn
over in West Virginia is a possibility. Should
tho thirteen states referred to return democrats
that party would control tho senate. Arizona, at
her final territorial election has gone democratic.
Should she repeat the performance next year
after she has entered tho sisterhood of states
she will have two democrats in the senate within
two years. New Mexico, also on tho threshold
of statehood, Is about an even bet."
THE REMARKABLE financial returns of tho
Chicago and Northwestern railroad during
the last ten years was brought up recently be
fore the interstate commerce commission by at
torneys for shippers who are fighting an increaso
of freight rates. A Chicago dispatch to the St.
Louis Republic, referring to these disclosures,
says: "The witness was W. A. Gardner, vice
presidont in charge of operation and maintenance
of tho road. His testimony elicited by cross
examination by Attorney Frank Lyon for tho
commission was, in short, that tho cdmpany
thought Itself entitled to raise freight charges
now In direct dividends and in unappropriated
surplus more than the amount of capital stock.
Tho witness also controverted testimony of Illi
nois Central officials that tho Increase in cost of
operation and maintenance was In large meas
ure duo to higher cost of materials. Mr. Gard
ner's opinion was that the increase in cost of ,
labor and the restrictions put on workmen by
recent Independence through unions and similar
associations were the largest factors in cutting .
down not profits. Mr. Gardner did agreo, how
over with tho railroad officials who previously
testified to chargo sblppors enough to pay divi
dends, flxod charges, cost of oporatlon and mala
tonanco and in addition to return a substantial
yearly surplus. He likowlso bollev thin should
bo expended in additional or improved proporty
and then should receive a suitable Intorcst or
dividend from tho earnings. 'Tho Northwestern
lino will not go Into bankruptcy next year, or tho
year after, or tho ono after that, unless It now
raises rates began Mr. Gardnor, touching upoa
this subject, 'but I do say that rogulatlou by tho
commission does not control tho cchmorcial con
ditions under which wo got money, and unless
wo soon may got higher rates, wo will, In tho
futuro, have to run out tho rod flag. Wo muat
bo allowed a satisfactory cash surplus above
everything each year as a baromoter of our
surety for credit.' 'Would you still say that you
should have a right to secure that yearly surpluu
If you know your road had, In ton years, paid
on $85,000,000 of stock, dividends amounting
to $50,000,000 and had in addition an unappro
priated surplus, taken from earnings of $30,
000,000 more an amount of not return to stock
holders of more than tho capital stock?' asked
Attorney Lyon. 'Yes, I would. As I said I
consldor Its needs only from tho standpoint of
kooping up credit.' 'And In tho faco of tho show
ing I mentioned, you think that also is roquired
for maintenance of credit?' 'I do,' answered th
vice president. Mr. Gardner's testimony In re
lation to tho effect of labor pay increases oa
general maintcnanco, made up the main part
of his direct examination."
REV. DR. L. A. LAMBERT, of Rochester, N.
Y., died recently at Now Foundland, N.
J. A writer in tho Now York World says: "The
Rov. Dr. Louis A. Lambert hat been for.jaaviy
years editor of tho Freeman's Journal, u Cath
olic weekly, but is bettor known us one of tho
old school of religious controversialists. Dr,
Lambert was taken ill thrco weeks ago. He was
to read a papor at tho Eucharlstlc congress la
Montreal. Resolutions were passed thero com
mending Dr. Lambert's long service in tho
church, nnd his papor on the Eucharist was re
ceived with applause. The death of Dr. Lam
bert will remove the last of tho old school of
religious controversy in this hemisphere, at
least. Leaders of tho religious world aro now
using tho milder forms of dlscourso to convince
or to convert. Dr. Lambert was born soventy
fivo years ago in Allenport, Pa. Ho studied at
St. Vincent's College, near Latrobe, Pa and at
the Diocesan Seminary in St. Louis. Ho was
ordained In 1859 at Alton, 111. During tho civil
war ho was chaplain of the Eighteenth regiment
of Illinois Infantry. After tho war he became
professor of normal theology and philosophy at
the Paullst Novitiate. In tho early eighties he
made his famous replies to Bob Ingersoll, which
were published under tho title 'Notes on Inger
soll.' Ingersoll was at that time contributing
a series of articles to the North American Re
view in which ho attacked Christianity. Two
years later a disciple of Ingersoll mado a formal
reply, and Dr. Lambert followed with his 'Tactics
of Infidels,' which was dlssomlnated by tho Y-.
M. C. A. About this time ho became involved
in a long and bitter discussion with tho lato
Bishop McQuaid of Rochester. The bishop re
fused to assign him to parochial duty in that
diocese. Lambert appealed to Rome and tho
papal decision was in his favor. Bishop Mc
Quaid then assigned him to a village church at
Scottsvillo, Monroe county, where he has resided
for nearly twenty years. He became editor of
the Freeman's Journal In 1894. Recently
Protestant and Catholic clergymen joined with
him in celebrating the golden jubilee of his
ministry. Close friends of Dr. Lambert liave
been deeply chagrined that his service did not
receive some official recognition by tho church."
BUT, WILL WICKERSHAM MOVE?
"Government All Ready to Move Against
Sugar Trust Suit to Dissolve Only Awaits Word
from Mr. WIckersham, tho Attorney GoneraJ,"
reads a familiar newspaper headline. Is the at
torney general In real earnest this time, or Is
this just a "wicker" sham?
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