The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22

sey rose and spoke against the change.
He said he was Democrat from the
ground up. He had voted for General
Jackson and been accused of continuing to
vote for him: but in municipal lntatcrs he
had voted for Republicans and even for
Prohibitionisfs. He did not care a snap
for politics in municipal matters, and was
willing to go with any movement that
would result in securing efficient officers;
but he wanted to ask how the committee
expected to get efficient officers if it did
not nominate them. Would the nominal
ations Of the committee be made at mass
meeting?
Mr.. Leddy explained that the committee
would not make nominations. 1t would
have no candidates Of its own, no politics.
1t would vote for the best men, being free
to select them from any ticket presented.
It proposed to watch the ballot boxes and
Bee that proper administration was
chosen, but it was not to be a political
party.
DR.. Ramsey said that he would like to
hear of some practical idea concerning
the manner of putting IN the proper off,
GERS.
Mr.. Anderson still criticised the wording
of the clause.
G. K. Jenner said that parties could not
be depended on to make nominations.
The league should make its own indie
pendent nominations. The history of the
past showed that at times no good choice
of party men could be made by indepen-
dent voters. He was Mugwump of the
deepest dye, and he believed that this
movement was Mugwumpian, and called
for by the condition of affairs in the city.
Secretary Hawley rose excitcdly and re-
marked with force that he was not Mug
wump, and that he hoped God would
strike him down if ever he became one.
This organization should be different. The
kind of feeling wanted was one that should
permeate all parties but not become
party of itself 1t should be greater than
parties. The league would lose force if it
attempted to secure party action for ITSELF
1t should be at the primaries and at the
polls and see that the best men were
elected. The right spirit was the thing.
DR.. Ramsey said there seemed to be two
ways of proceeding to gain the end de-
sired, either to select the best men from
the nominations of the different parties,
or to nominate ticket independent of all
parties. He was willing to stretch his
hand across the bloody chasm, but ne did
not grasp the idea of how the league could
do political work without going into pol
itics.
w. E. Lockard was opposed to going
into politics. Any party will give us good
government if the people demand it. No
stream could rise higher than it head. The
demand of the people here for change in
the administration Of affairs had already
borne fruit.
NJ. e. Clare asked if citizens not named
in the committee of 100 could participate
in the work of the evening.
The chair ruled that only members Of
the committee could vote, though the
presence of citizens not members was not
objected to.
Colonel Langley said that there seemed
to be a conflict of theory in the resolution.
He favored the striking out of the clause
referring to nominations and elections
and wait until crisis demanded action
on the question. He though it was better
not to commit the league to any set course
of action.
F. H. Peterson seconded the motion to
strike out the clause referred to, and the
question being put, the vote was very close,
and a division was called for. A rising
vote showed seventeen in favor of striking
out and sixteen in favor of retaining the
clause. The clause was ordered stricken
out. and the resolution adopted as whole.
A committee of seven was appointed to
submit nominations for permanent officers
and draft constitution for the league,
and report at the next meeting, as follows:
J. NJ. Wrestling, B. f. Thacker, DR.. A. P.
Mitten, Judge J.. A. Stratton, H. w.
Wheeler, ]. A. Gould, Jacob Furth.
A speaker said that as there was con-
templated change in the Office of chief of
police that the opportunity for the league
to exert its influence was at hand, and it
was moved that the police commissioners
be asked to accept the resignation of Chief
Monroe and make no new appointment
without consultation with the league.
Mr.. Jenner thought good man for the
position should be recommended.
DIR. Gay said the place was already
pledged, If information at hand was cor
rect.
Mr.. Teddy said that if the proposed Off
Ger was good man, all right; if not, the
league must stop the appointment.
A committee of three was appointed to
wait upon the police commissioners Mon
day, and w. +. Lockard, ]. S. Chase and
James Leddy were named.
Mr.. Teddy said that Senator Parkinson
was delivering lecture on Civil Liberty
and Its Preservation; or, the Politicians
and the People" and that he was willing
to speak before the league. As the league
proposed to hold meetings to ratify its ac-
ton and policy, he proposed that COM
mittee of three be appointed to wait on
Senator Parkinson and request him to
speak, and report.
Major Hayden said he hoped that the
motion would not prevail. He thought