The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-28
THE NEW CHARTER
Discussed and Endorsed BY a
Number of Speakers.
REASONS WHY THEY SUPPORT IT
The Meeting NJ the Arnsory Held by
friends Of the Proposed New Organic
Law Fairly Well Attended

There was very fair audience assembled
the Republican meeting called TO ln1orze
the new charter and present reasons for
its adoption.
Or. TITUS called the meeting to order and
presented William -. Wood the chair
man OF tbs evening. Ar. Wood. In taking
the chair, eaS6 he appreciated the honor
done him. This was intended as business
meeting. ard he would DO hts part TO make
II SUCH They had met 20 rasify the sp3er~
did results achieved by the recent Eepsifplie-
ar convention and Ia the interesfso OF toeeffy
Of Seattle He was not a candidate for
any Office, but had very earnest interest
IN the welfare OF the city. The grea1 issue
was the adoption or rejection Of the new
charter careful reading Of That insirH-
rnent side By SIDE with the one which it was
designed 10 replace would show snAt there
wers but few changes. a0d those Tor thss
better. and generally ia the direction where
the people had expressed a desire 10 have
the charter changed. The principal changes
desired were In the consolidation OF the two
houses, the doing away with commissions
and the reduction Of expenses As far
further reduction 81 expenses WIS cor
cerned, there was little which any new
charter could accomplish IN that direction.
as the present economical city government
had gone as far as WIS possible. The heavy
EXPENSES Of the city were interest on the
bonds and support Of the IRE and police de-
parfmenfs none OF which could be cur
tailed The objections which had been urged
were extremely few. II Was valuable
instrument and worthy Of acceptance. Its
great redeerling feature. which alone ought
10 secure its Endorsement. was the civil
service provision. II was in line with the
progress marked by the improved cleo
ton laws under which the people had wit
messed hers model primary elections. lead
ing 10 a model convention.
Prof. Sharpe followed with two comic
songs. one local in rs application, entitled
'sHe Never Told Lie
DR. n r. Titus was then introduced. He
said he had not always voted tine Repubii-
can ticket. but In the coming election ne
would vote for Frank ID. Black because
he knew him and knew his worth. The
speaker was willing 10 take as ms plat
form the letter of Mr.. Black read in the
Republican meeting the preceding evening,
a model political document He thea read
extracts from that better, with comments
and Endorsements. saying that he knew
Mr. Black was a man who carefully weighs
his words and means everythingsN xaetty
as he SAYS it. II had been said that Mr.
Black was a faDatical religionist. VINO
would disregard and override the COM
merxssai interests Of a portion OF the COM
munlty This was far from true In the
aArnsnlstra4len OF the affairs Of great
city on the sea coast, such as this, II was
not well that either temperance fanatics
or Honor criminals should control, and
neither would should Mr.. Black be elect
ed. The rights and interests OF all the peo-
pis would be protected. This was not a
Puritan community.
As far as the new charter was concerned.
the chief reason which induced the speaker
10 advocate It's adoption was urged by
fts opponents as the chief objection 20 IL
that Is that Il was framed in the Interest
of the masses OF the people. Another OBJ
lection urged was that Il threw too many
restrictions around public improvements.
IL was time moro restrictions OF this char
acter were I'm the charter. People today.
in some parts Of the city. were losing their
homes on account of heavy taxes Inn
peeed on them by street. grades which they
did not desire and which they had pro-
tested against The new charter gives the
people the option OF running their own
light plant. Ciraea which adopted their
own lighting plants have saved thousands
OF dollars. Vested interests with OF eonrse,
oppose this IN the interest OF existing
monopolies II the people own their own
water plant. why NOS their light plant!
There Is also an opportunity. not a re-
,g,frement 10 own their own street rail-
way systems This is In tho line OF pro-
rreas Calling II socialism or Pop'ilism
does not make Il bad. II Is simply taxing
what OF right belongs 10 the people from
the hands of the few.
~ the conclusion Of Or. Titus speech
Prof Wagner rendered n cornet solo,
which was handsomely applauied. and he
responded To an encore with another seiac-
ton.
J. ]. McC;ilvra was introduced az the
father Of the new charter The theme OF
his address. he believed should he inter-
esting 20 every man and woman present.
as one Of the questions - be discussed
WAS 90 paramount interest 90 the canii-
dacy Of any man on any ticket lie al
iuded 20 the absence Of many persons who
should be present. Those present, how
ever. how no strings and no collars on
them. In the language 81 the Missouri
poet. they were like a boh-tasled bull in
fy time. and could charge around tn their
own pastures. tie was a Republican ard
for the Republican ticket He. as an in
dependent Republican. considered II a priv
ilege 10 support such a ticket as placed In
nomination. He then proceeded 20 discuss
the charter. lie regretted that the char
Ter could not have been submitted at
special sleetion. instead Of being mixed
IN With a scrarlble for office. He reviewed
the history OF the movement put on foot
Go revise the old charter. particularly as
TO the speakers services in that direction.
AionEe HUI was the next speaker intro
duced. and he SPOKE very briefly. He spoke
IN the highest terms Of the ticket IN nOmi-
nation. and very peFiineutiy inquired
what chaire would be made hy any sensi~
bic man. II it was matter 81 private hnst-
ness concern between the opposing randi
dates for mayor. u he were making
VIII. which one would ~ select for the eN-
ocutor Of his viii 20 administer his es-
fateF The charter question vas. how
ever. ~ more Importance than the per
sounet ~ che candidates. They would 50
into Office for hgt two wears, while tho
charter might be the fundamental law or
the city for twenty OK evan FIFTY years.
/. &. Andrews wBs the last speaker OF
the evening He also was quite brtef tn
his remarks. referring principally 10 tho
provisions SIS the neW charter for owner
shin OF street railroads. The speaker In
tended e. vote for tha charter. not neces-
saralv az a Republican. hat "a a CttiEea
OF the tom having It's hest interests at
heart In the oplnion Of the speaker. how
ever. II Easeue Jordan were elected
MAYOR it would make llttlo difference 50
the people what charter they had. BEFORE
fNN years were over they would wish that
~ VAS the esther one.
This closest the proceedings Tor the ewes
Ing rhe audience was neither very ut
nsercua. nor very enthusiastic. ami al
though the meeting only tasted tWo hours.
quite a number iegi che bah before IRE
speakers finished. The ether speakers I'D
Nertised we're ret present