The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-01
THE GAMBLERS PLOT.
Futile Attempt to Force Mayor
Ronald to Resign.
oENIALs MADE ON EVERY SIDE.
Rumors Of scheme to Scare Ronald
Out OF the Way by Threats of indict-
ment-An Unsavory Cabal.

/.
gambling may be opened up. The force OF
| public opinion has so far kept the mayor
to his pledges of the reform" administra-
| ton as to gambling, although he has often
been thwarted By the duplicity of Miller.
who has been the pliabls tool of the sport
| ing element while acquiring credit as the
| champion of purity. The latest move IS
| by whispering threats of impeachment TO
compel Ronald TO yield up his seat 10
more pliable man. The futile attempt
made when Alderman Leander Miller was
acting mayor to Gust Chief Of Police Jack
son discouraged the vicious element for
time. but ii is now endeayoring TO take adj
vantage OF the disclosures made by the
Krug investigation to frighten Ronald. II
would be very difficult to remove him by
direct means.
The charter provision on the subject of
impeaching the mayor is as follows:
1.-The mayor may be removed from his
Office for any wilfui violation of his duty
during his term of Office, or for the COM
mission of a crime or misdemeanor in-
vosving moral turpitude. but only upon
notice thereof together with copy of the
charges against him, given 10 him at least
five days before the hearing and an op-
portunity TO be present in person and with
behalf, and to be heard by himself and
counsel, and then only upon the affirma-
tive vote OF two-thirds of the members of
the city council when assembled as court
of impeachment, and for that purpose the
city council shall have the same power
that il would have in trying any other
officer"
The difficulty of forcing Ronald out By
any such formal course is well known TO
he az Nf h,.e hox
have hoped by their threats to compel him
TO resign. This Mayor Ronald says he
will not do.
II have been guilty of no wilful viola
ton of dutv," said Mayor Ronald yester-
day, land my conviction of crime or mis-
demeanor must first be made by judicial
proceedings. I have nothing to fear.
have told all there is to be known against
me. and will not resign, l do not balleve
there is any serious combination of the
council against me. Ny relations with
both houses have been exceedingly har-
monious of late: and almost every mem
Der of both houses has taken occasion TO
express belief in my honesty. Many OF
the members have stood by me nobly dur.
ing the trying circumstances by which the
administration has been confronted, and l
am very unwilling 10 believe that any of
them have entered into such an unholy
alliance"
That the kid committee are in close
league with the gambling fraternity, re-
cent events have abundantly disclosed.
and they are industrious in fomenting dis
cord by which they hope TO profit It
cannot be denied that some such plot is
on foot An attempt was made to gather
caucus at DR.. Crichton's office yesterday
afternoon, and it was attended. it is said,
by Delegates Drew, Lyon, and Ingram.
and Alderman Miller. While they all
deny completely. the kid committee, rep
resented by Lee Hart. the attorney for the
| gamblers. and l.. ID. Ross, have not been
so scrupulous. Eugene Way, whose I'M
| paid check for 5000 is still among the pa
| pers in the city treasurer's Office, and
| Robert Levy. have been actively at work
aud have threatened indictment of the
mayor. 1t has been boosted that they had
a majority OF the council and they have
| not hesitated to use the names of Drew,
Crichton, Brace. Ingram. Miller. Lyon,
| Cook and Stocks. The plan was to have
| an indictment laid against Ronald and
to elect Alderman Miller or Delegate
| Brace to the mayoralty.
4
the gamblers, seems TO have been an in
| dustrious instigator of the movement and
he has been busy circulating mysterious
| rumors that gambling would open up soon,
that Mayor Ronald would be forced 10 re-
sign and that Chief Jackson would soon
/ follow him.
Alderman Cram, of the Second ward. has
recently been chosen 10 preside over the
board of aldermen when Miller was alb
sent. and IL has been said that his CO..
| operation was secured by promising to
| have him elected mayor if Ronald were
| deposed. Any such project is out of the
! question. The jealousy OF the members of
both houses of the aspirations for mayor
| atty honors with which several are credited
| would prove an effectual bar TO the eleya-
ton OF any one of their number.
Dr. ]. S Kloeber yesterday denounced
| the attempt as most unwise. He declared
| his intention to stand by Ronald. who. he
| believed, vas now doing his best TO do his
| duty. He had heard OF combination
| among certain members To hold caucus
| TO bring about Ronald's indictment and
| removal or resignation. but had declined
10 have anything to do with it.
Alderman Sweeney gives the most posi-
| tive assurance that no member of the
| council has ever approached him on the
subject. lie says the only a,iusion ever
made TO II in has presence was by an out
slider, who asked him if there was any
truth IN the story. As Sweeney was de-
/ posed by the gamblers inluence he is not
| Likely 20 be in their confidence
Foundation for the scheme is traced in
| part 70 Alderman Stocks. He is an old
ernpioye OF u. T. Denny and succeeded,
a. alderman from the Ninth ward. Wolfe.
/ who Is now member Of the board og p,1b-