The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-10

WHAT II A "RIxoY"

WHAT II n "MAN0F
There il Zeal Of vague bowling about
"rings." A political ring" simply means
the organization OF men Of one mind for q
common purpose: II the purpose is COR
Yups or injurious TO the public veal. then
4 ring is detestable. but II its purpose Is
efficient organization TO secure the best
government possible within party lines.
then the so-called "ring' IL not open TO
Just criticism.
A ring ike an honest man. Is not In
faiIibie: its purpose may be upright and
Its methods impracticable or insufficient,
but in no other way can men OF common
minds act efficiently for the public good
save by organization. So the common
sneer, he belongs to ''the ring" is no re-
proaeh to any man, unless the purposes
Of tho organization are corrupt or
its methods impure. To illustrate:
What 10 q "citizens' league" but
s'ring," an organization 70 efficiently work
for and accomplish what the individuals
composing the league desire7 morgan
anything more than wind does In the
primitive field of nature; bat in civil isa-
tton We harness the air; We heat 1t; We
crib, cabin and confine its Grant forces,
and the result IN We make IL propei steam
boats and sailboats: vindmills; We make IL
the power that keeps in motion million
wheels; We make 1t the fiery breath Of
various engines and machines: in short,
We organize. utilize and apply the forces of
the errant air and make 1t do something
besides destroy; We make 1t stand for
something besides u waste of power. SO
with public opinion; in unity. organiEa-
tion and application of organized force
there il strength for good or evil, accord
INK to the design and purpose Of the
organizers.
Five hundred honest men may agree
tomorrow that things are not ~ they
should be; they are agreed as to the end
in view. but the arc not agreed as to the
means; some Of them quarrel about meth
ods; some of them quarrel about men.
Finally some practical fellow with gift
for leadership rises and says: 1--WE are ali
agreed as to the end In view, but We are
not oil agreed a. TO the method or
men; now we must agree and
organize and make our strength felt as
unit or all our individual dissent. discon-
tent and revolt will come to naught; we
viii vapor when We ought TO shine. Be-
cause every man can't have his way as
to methods and men our strength will DO
dissipated. the "aying wedge" of the devil
and all his angels will force Us from the
field.
Men who listen to this kind Of counsel
are men Of level heads. who know that
compromise always has spelled statesman-
ship. and they accept this counsel as sound
and form "a ring"
The disgrantled few, who when they
cannot find fault o. once consult a ply
stefan because they suspect they cannot be
In health, flock by themselves. They gen
orally vote in the air or fire in the arr
these are the kind Of folk out of which
eranks are made. To them the end in
view is nothing unless you adopt their
patent means to the end or their pet exeeu-
tiyes OF the means, A ''ring" therefore
means the comfnon-sonsc organization OF
men agreed "a to the end in view, who
know that firing by rank Is more deadly
and effective than stupidity scattering as
sharrshooters and trying 90 beat the ad
vance of an emhastled front By droppins
fire.
Now as we said In the beginning. TO be.
long 20 "a ring" is eredi,sble 20 a man
good sense who knows that organization
and unity are essential to efficient fight.
ing If the ring is organized for bad
purpose; If les ends in view are ccrrup,
81 its methods are immoral. then such a
''ring" is to be deplosed and denounced.
bat il cannot be defeated by denanciatlon
orsaia regrets;.it mus; be met by another
ring" another organization Of public
opinion whose end in view is public good
ss opposed 10 public evil.
SO let US step this stupid chat ahoa.
'rings" fer Sc; foE they are only inevita-
bic organizations Of public opgnion whose
end in view may be the safety or the dis.
honor Of the state. We are bound. there.
fore. when ne talk about rings" 20 dis.
tinguish between ;hoss that are organized
for the robbery or the protection az the
community, aud he is bat a siupid fel
low who tioeks ey himself and ssys: Il
Won't vote for the ring candidates" /.
the so-called political organization O;
ring" has nominated bad men; IL il,
conduct when in power has been eorrup,
the decision 10 repudiate IL and ali rs
works il sound, bat ii /, is merely The
voice Of individual prejudice against :
''ring" which has wrought the community
no harm, ens has tried by organization 70
make effective It's desire for sound and safe
management Of public affairs, then the
man who dcnoaness "the ring Is mere
crank at the tyre that va. oace describes:
as needing nothing ent euach Of rnatche.
90 SO bark ct The barn snd get up lissls
he'll of his own.
Men who wen's cooperate; woa's com.
promise under any circumstances wlth