The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-14
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az tie first regular meeting OF the
Current Topics Club last "Wednesday
evening. excited so much interest thar
the PosI-Istelligeacer takes pleasure ,hfs
morning ia printing II in full Inreres,
IA me paper was really enhanced BY tn.
open discussion which followed. although
several OF the speakers differed widely
from Mr.. Ligyd's conclusions. The paper
vas IS follows:
Iae administration ot municipal affairs
may be compared 10 The running
o. an engine. The mos. skallf,,f
engineer nnds his arr crippled by an
INFERIOR locomotive, while the grandess
monster { STEEL and iron ever pat togeth-
~ IN d railroad shop IS impotent 10 do It's
"ess without i vel instructed brain and A
responsible conscience 20 d!rec: It, The
essentials Of good government are three
~ NUMBER, viz: Officers who are experts
IA their departments, officers who are. men
% hohor and integrity. and an oreantza-
ton which caa he run with slight fricflon
ana the minimum number OF loopholes for
corruption. Cur field OF inquiry Is the last
OF these throe-the ideal city machine:
though, as We pass along. we may he able
70 hash side light now and then unon
me question Of securing able and honor
anne men I4ty government at the pres
ent time takes its foundation from the
Devils Book OF Proverbs. II is govern
ment Of the people by the bosses for the
ring.
Inc increase Of cities IN population and in
area was not foreseen by the pioneers who
hrst founded them. Nothing less thai, rhe
mystical Insight Of a prophet could have
predicted taat the hamlet of 50 or IS wears
ago was DIES ined to become 4 human bee
ave into which farms and villages and
country ioRns We're to pour swarms Of
gold nunfers or searct1ers for learning
Ike TIE fisherman in the Arabian Nights
taoie. they did not dream of the giant
fcfts tsld prisoner within so little COM
pass, AMI would have been beyond meas
ure astonished TO see the contents Of one
small casket stretch out into the towering
stature or "A colossal genius. The result
OF TINS failure TO measure the possibility
OF growth held in the womb of the future
was want Of provision for that growth.
Charters were secured altogether too mar
row Tor The young municipality 70 grow in
something on the Chinese plan of banaag-
ing the feet Of children 10 prevent their en-
iargement. The torture Of this last pro-
cess is said to be agonizing: certainly the
misery and wrong inflicted upon a city's
future by such short-sighted treatment
are not less terrible.
do not here critIcise the rectitads OF
the intention OF the founders OF our cities,
Their foresight and wisdom alone were at
fault. But the blunders of parents are
visited upon the children. as we'll as
their sins. and we are reaping the harvest
OF corruption sown by our founders
want of faith In the future of a city of
tnelr own building 4 narrow gauge
charter was granted by the state legisla-
ture, and as soon as ii needed expansion
lhe Iesisiature must again be appealed
TO. This threw the work into the hands
of those members of the legislature who
represented city districts. The country
member was ignorant Of city needs and
could be led by the nose to consent to
any measure which would line his pocket
This tampering OF state legislatures with
city charters Is and has been Infamous
1t has been an open door to unwise and
interested interference with city officers
amounting TO the creation Of an irrespou-
sioie oigarchy over the heads of the vot-
ers. A city had in one instance elected
Republicans upon Its municipal ticket.
the legislature was Democratic In the
main. The Democrats in the legislature
simply changed the city's charter. turned
everything topsy turvy, threw out the
Republicans Just elected, and voted them
selves in. The first step to reform must
begin with this matter Legislatures
should fix general rules for city orraniz-
alton. and leave the more definite franz
ing or the city's charter TO the citizens
OF the town. with the proviso THAI re-
submission be allowed il reform be need
ed in the future.
Then there are two other factors 10 be
taken into account In this prelude TO our
answer TO the problem. There is the in
difference OF Intelligent citizens. and the
existence of class of ignorant foreign
voters. Good citizens. SO called. do not
care to vote, and foreigners do not know
how to vote. The MEN who ought to vote
are Disguised with the rottenness Of poll-
tics, which their own neglect IL heIntng 10
create. and the men who are unfi. to vote
are shared in the web OF cunning deIna-
gogues whose livelihood depends upon
keeping politics corrupt. In New York
in 1890. 10000 Of its best citizens
did not even register. The TaTnmany
Tiger would have been in power until
this moment had 1t not been for the un-
finching perseverance, the sturdy honor,
and the belief that good government was
as much Gods cause good churChman-
ship. which made one man go to the front
az the champion OF righteousness and
purity in city life. Single-hanaed he
hewed his way through misundefstand-
ing. contempt. SANDER and heartache, I'M
I'll today wherever the name OF Or.
Parkhurst Is spoken the Tammany
Sachem strikes his tomahawk into tree.
folds his hands and bows HIS head In
submission. and begins TO chant his death
song.
Beneath ideal. municipal conditions
there must lie three axio.ns: First gov
eminent OF the people for the people and
by the people; second. the government Of
city in business. not politics: third,
charters are subjects OF divine fnspira-
ton and sanctifed common sense.
OF these t:rse points the second needs
a passing explanation, The only two par
ties which have rational basis for ex-
isteree in city elections are the citizens,
or municipal party. and the DOODLE party.
A. present the national parties are in con-
troll for Doodle only. In the politics Of the
nation. issues are defined in the platform
anyone can decide where the marty
stands upon questions IN dispute: but in
the city these issues do not exist. and
rothing is left for the parties 20 do bat
to light for the spoiIs alone. The nation
and the city have different needs. and TO
make the same parties share In the poll
ties OF bo,A is as absurd as for gold
washing machine 70 be expected 10 turn
out loaves of bread, or pictures. The
best way 30 break UP this party spirit
seems 10 rna 70 be: first. ia create plat
form bread enough % include the better
citizens Of both parties who are really in
tereste6 in good city administration; and
second. - organize committee Of inves-
tigation, Whose work shall be siupiy To
uuearsh and bring 20 light and expose The
dark and wicked schemes woven behind
tire scenes IN every department OF town
politics.
Ard bow We reach the constructive part
Of the essay. Exposure Is insufficient of
itself There must b. a determined enort
s. changed conditions, In other words,
every movement whIeh aims AZ municipal
reform muse offer SIS wei wtshers q pro-
rrarn-ae % acfi5u ss Il substitute for 1he
present twsafed and unhappy state u AZ