The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-01
IN EARNEST APPEAL.
The Firemen Protest Against
An Incompetent Chief.
.o, ,1,cs IN THE DEPARTMENT.
Firemen Sign . Memorial
n. CounciI-A Matter Affect.
ing Life and Property.

.&..chIs in the fire department has taken
-, serious aspect. At the last meeting
~. ers commissioners II was resolved BY the
y. If MsyoY Ronald, Frank J. Foster and
49, w.. Mssel against the negatives OF John L.
v1s.Isr and I. z. Jones. to declare the once of
- ,sc.at AMI that A. B. Hunt be elected
w. 1a.s, chief Kellogg begged the board not to
ea -. s.s,sy. and the mayor decided to postpone
era action ua'ii 'N'' "'A '"e oo.'o
Nil NEE: again.
-..,.ims. Mayor Ronald has privately exam
"a everx member OF the fire department, but
-. man we're pledged to secrecy and the mayor
.s.,,ivey refuses 10 speak until tonight
p,s~.,Ian al business and insurance men
- mon the mayor and requested that Mr..
r.,iogr be retained ia his present position.
IT, aep.rtnnsnt 10 torn up by dissensions. most
:, tss meg expecting 70 be discharged, and 9TH
;. =. noniug. BY currying favor with the Demo-
...,ie majority of the board, to retain their
.ns.,ons in the event of an apparently newt
able change.
,.,ss .nonr the men protesting against the APP
.at,t,neut of sny chief who il not well qualified
g. The Office, since the lives OF the men depend
MN the Judgment and efficiency OF their
.ar.,io, otleers. The document is as follows:
;. IN Manor and Board Of Fire Commissioners:
a. sns uadersignsd members of The seattle
~. s,s beius made to convert this department
sn,o : political mschfnc. We were assured
Amr.s the progress OF the last city election that
IN dfe department should be preserved in its
integrity. We bad the assurances OF the mayor
- sSst efYeet Scarcely had the result Of the
s;ecfiou been declared before We were informed
sssf re we're 20 have new chief. Positions were
~srnsed cut - If they were already I'm posses-
son 81 the whole department We learned for
~ Ant time that one OF the commissioners
-: hsd pledged himself in writing to vote for
! esrtaia man. or, If he was not available, TO
vois lor some other Democrat; but Ii must be a
psnocfrs This wa. Immediately followed by
~ st,eup 10 remove the present chief. In that
saasf thsy we're not successful, and We have re-
ii1iupee Jour influence To prevent the radical
ehaues that were proposed.
nd % our sorrow we find that we can no
49, depend on the assurance made us. For
~ III that our present chief would not, at the
s,ouest OF one of the co commissioners, bestow
srIt;ens for political services performed, the
= appointed by the city council who, for
,nabat political reasons. has been from the
dd.his appointment busy in his efforts to re-
naour chief This same comm missioner. not
SusMtisfed with disposng OF our chief, has
Nd OF radical changes to be made in the
tpasment Immediately after the coming (pres-
jGIenaij SECTION. No reason other than politi-
q: en- Be assigned for this mans hostility to
u dspastment as at present constituted.
d his sndeavors TO bring about such changes
aas sonte plated by him he has been aided
haesss Of fremen largely composed of men
Theiof various offenses have been dismissed
toa The service With the aid OF these men he
h hssu successful in turning the mayor from
sn position originally taken by him In depart
neat matters. These are consequences of vital
mp0tance to Us We look TO our chiefs TO pro-
theu, having full confidence in their ability to
doA While we know that our positions are at
tine, and from the nature OF things must be,
dangerous, We have implicit confidence that no
kf~.< nt,tt l.
danger but that they equally expose themselves.
Esapprecate their judgment and will follow
than without fear. Hence these proposed
changes carry with them consequences of vital
importance 10 u and prompt US at this time to
aci q Ne do
We know that in this action we have the sub
stsntia encouragement OF niue-tenths of the
best slfment In the city. And we know that il
the Influences that are now and have been used
70 ppvsnt the change now contemplated cannot
prevail oar positionS from now on viii be most
Uncasiabe and eventually unbearable. And
via e sus RESPECT 20 the POWERS , ina. BE- we
promises now made when promises heretofore
made AZ disregarded
30, after full discussion among ourse yes,
without coercion from any person, each man for
himssi. We hereby tender your honorable body
our roignsnons. to take effect with the retire
nent nom once of our present chief.
Rev follow the signatures OF thirty-two mem.
besd he IRE department
tepplement is added 20 the above from
xhiea the following IL an extract:
@nes the above was written and pretty gen.
esally signed IL has been suggested that tho
language OF the document would seem to I'm
w mat we are unwilling to work under any
eee9 chief than Chief Kellogg. Nothing can
0lrftheE from our intentions. We are willing
M4anxious TO retain the positions, actuated
engey principle: willing and anxious to work
tee3 any man that we know capable OF pro-
eeear us In our calling. But we cannot be ex-
$500 TO place ourselves in danger under q
~ whose judgment We cannot rely upon to
Nctsct us
The reference in the last sentence above 10 70
u Hunt. new captain OF engine No. 8