The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-02

NEED OF ORGANIZATION.
Purity I'm politics can never be attained
by the absence OF organization. While the
chief grievance OF the idealist is that NOM
nations for Office are made through the
agency OF primaries and conventions in
stead OF directly by the people. the real
danger is In the want OF organIzation-in
the failure Of too many citizens TO partici-
pate In the work of organization.
Tho election OF trustees TO the Seattle
tomorrow forms a good object lesson in
this doctrine. There are over 300 members
of tho chamber and twenty-five trustees
are to be elected. In order. no doubt. TO
prevent any suspicion of an attempt to
control the election. the ballot contains the
name OF every member. All the names are
those of good citizens. but not onc-fourth
OF the members know who are best fitted
for the Office. who are willing to serve or
who could serve II elected. The result
will, no doubt, be large number of scat
tering votes: and If the best possible board
is selected IL viii be a matter OF the most
extraordinary luck.
There is some excuse for this proceeding
I'm a comparatively small body such as the
chamber is, but II affords a clear example
of the confusion that would result II 10000
voters should undertake TO make selec-
tons at tho polls without previous agree
ment upon rational number or candi-
dates. The inevitable consequence would
be that the votes would be scattered. and
small. compact body OF men acting In
concert could control the election.
Tho principle OF self government in the
United States IL the nearest approach TO
perfec don IN the world. II IT has a fault
o. is the extreme latitude afforded by
the electoral franchise Manhood suff-
rage has been the goal OF all liberal
thinkers In Europe. 1t IS regarded there
as the attainment OF absolute liberty and
the invesuture IF every man with the
power of sovereignty. Neither property
qualification, creed. race or color is CON
sidered in this country. The machinery
by which that grand principle is put into
effect Is also ideally perfect. II provides
for meetings or conventions IN every dis
tract. township. ward. precln1t or other
political subdivision Al these meetings
every person supporting thu principles
OF party IL free 10 express himself
lie may vote for whom ae pleases as
delegate TO the larger conventions. where
nominations are 10 he made. and he may
himself be candidate for tho position
% delegate at such conventions. If a
sufficient number OF hts neighbours vote
for him his election cannot be disputed.
At the convention aspirants for once
submit their claims through the advocacy
OF friends. and The men getting the larg-
est number OF votes become the accredit-
Ell candidases o, the party.
On election day every voter 10 entitled
TO cast his vote either for hts own party
nominee or for any other candidate on
any other toket.
why then. 81 may be asked. should there
be any difficulty IN selecting the men de-
sired by the majority? There would be no
difficulty If every citizen interested him
self In the primary selection OF delegates
and in securing by his own presence the
largest share or representation. II. hav-
ing done that. he finds himself IN a min
GRITTY. he must bow 10 the viii OF the ma
jority. In some precincts OF large cities
the prepondersnce OF the worst element
of society may make IL disagreeable TO
enter into rough encounters in order TO
obtain recognition In the voting. but that
is very small matter. as Il IS usually
confined 10 one section. and 80 long as
thc vicious are as free 20 vote as the
virtuous there is perhaps no way by
which unpleasant associations can BE- al
together avoided. The number OF those
failing 20 participate in party orEsntza-
ton is VIGOROUSLY largest in what are
called the residence districts. Apathy Is
Il must be Insisted, the cause OF unwfso
nominations.
The usual indifferent excuse e that Il
does not matter who Ills the minor or
COS. hat that Is not true. Y matters very
much. as the apsthetic voter should have
discovered BY this time Tho choire Of n
city council has everything 70 do With
local laws: II determines whether casci-
ency or Incompetence. economy or extrav-
agance. enterprise or slugglsbness shan
characterize municipal matters The
character az a city council very materially
determines the rate 81 taxation. ana thus
every citizen IS very directly concerned
The experience ot the past two or three
Years should not be d!sresarded. This IS
the time when the cost IS counted OF tae
errors - the pest TIE fault has not
been Ia organization. e4s IN tie failure