The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-11-23
)flial PaDef d N0Ftl YAKIMA.
A WORD EDTroRIALLY.

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A WORD EDTTORLALLY.
We ought 10 apologize to our country
and distant readers for covering 90 much
space this week with opinions Of reput-
able and esteemed business men concern
ing the effort to job our fair city with the
reorganization trick; but the matter has
become subject Of great importance to
every taxpayer In the city and indirectly
in the county. and The HERALD is COM
PEELED 70 respect it, duty to q class so
large and worthy. Should the jobbers
win, the city, through the medium Of
every man or woman who owns a dol
lara worth Of taxable property in 1t,
would pay dearly for it, negligence. In
oil conscience and justice, the tax for
1893 10 high enough. Why should any
man. In these hard times. increase his
expense unless there Is at least an ult-
mate profit In the outlay7 Who among
the reorganixers can give us a single
point in favor Of reorganization Who
among them has yet offered a solitary
syllable Of argument in favor Of such
ridiculous move? Who can tell us where
We would obtain an advantage in
change for the charter that gives us the
special privileges for which we petitioned
long ago7 Why should we swap that
which We know is valuable and meri-
torious for that Of which every town in
the state which possesses it is complain
ing % bitterly? Will any intelligent tax
payer or elec;or without property be de-
ce1 I'D by the empty declaration that eve
q list have new charter" when such y
Declaration 10 accompanied by no argu-
Jment az ~ why we must have it7
Should we give ear to the specious plea
that our present charter doesn't fit III
simply because some saphesded agitator
tells rs that there are 'conflictions" 10
it? The most conspicuous "confliction"
il found 10 exist between the mind tina,
conceives II and an ordinary bulk Of COM
mon sense. But these agitators know
better than to believe that we should re-
organize. They seek political and per
sonal advantage, and they are aware thai
they can obtain 1t better under charter
whose terms specify nothing In particu-
lar and are subject TO the within Of every
crank legislator than under the one nov
In existence, which specif ally sets forth
the line Of action in every department Of
our municipal business. They know |,
land they would rather be charged with
dishonesty than ignorance; but they ma,
choose either horn Of the dilemma they
desire and the intelligence Of the com
munity win convict them Of both. Dis
honesty Is the vary germ of crime, and
both are nourished and matured in the
soil Of ignorance and iniquity. Dare
they face the charge till the public shall
announce its verdict?
The movement was begun by two or three per-
sons who seek personal advantage regardless I, I
the sacrifice entailed In public way. Their
supporters are mainly the rifffaf OF the city
who have nothing to lose in any event
This ID the paragraph printed editori-
ally In The HERALD last week that
offended some people. The assumption
therein made was based on the general
character Of those who voted for reorgani-
zation when 1t was originally sprung on
this community. The great majority Of
the votes cast for II at tliat time came
from the tinhorn element--the local
midway plaisance" and places OF SINH
larry low repute. They were, as a rule,
men Of questionable character: while a
few Of the leaders Of the unholy PROPOSE
ton we're men Of character and good
business standing, as the world goes.
When we said supported mainly by the
riffraff" we used the phrase advisedly,
knowing II could harm only those to
whom II applied appropriately-and We
knew. too. that they would squeal when
II struck them. This they did. The
irresponsible ninny who strobe about the
city, with gaping m ruth and foolish mien,
insulting respectable people Of intelligence
by trying to persuade them that Tin his
estimation at least) the reference applied
to them, hoping thereby to create bust
ness prejudice, Is less man than puppy |;
and, II that be his method Of warfare in
such grave matter, we challenge him
Into the conflict. TIE HERALD desired
to discuss this matter impersonally, but
II attack be made on 80 low plane and
from such q debased source, 1t may as
well be distinctly understood at the out
set that we are not unwilling at times to
stoop TO conquer.
The unusual reduction In the present
market value Of our city warrants Is
directly chargesble to the work Of the
disorganizers. When they declared that
we could collect no taxes for '93--a lie on
the face OF it, as has now been proven
tho banks and the brokers refus ed our
warrants ut the usual discount. The
howlers had standing a. l,yal citizens.
Their outcry was more or less effective,
In that 1t created doubt In the minds OF
those unfamiliar with the facts In the
case. Investigation, however, has dis.
closed the fact that every dollar of tax
for '93 can be collected and that the dis
credit Of our warrants is purely artificial.
II the purpose Of the feorganizers be to
destroy the business character Of our
phenomenal city, they are succeeding
admirably. but the effect Of the outrage
win rebound upon them with redoubled
weight in short time. The credit of the
city Is, as matter Of fact, all right, and
nobody questions the suspicion that the