The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-19

Precisely what Il IS INTENDED 20 accom-
rlssa By means Of the metropolitan police
bsiL should 1: become a Law, can be seen
By recent Occurrences IN Kansas. That
state rstcices n a polscs baw suca as 81 In
designed 70 inalct upon this state. TIE
law iu Kansas zas passed during q term
when every exsrtson was made for rigid
enforcement OF the prohibition laws Of ths
state. and the cities were deprived OF ell
control over the police. because II vas
claimed thar the city police would not en-
force ths laws scrhiddlng the sale OF
liquor The new Law eit not succeed in
making the enforcement OF the prohIbltory
law any easier. and to that extent was a
decided failure.
The Popaiists now having ooznplsts con-
troll OF Kansas. there has beer a division
OF the spots; but. as usual. there was not
enough % go around. Thereapon the gov
ernor. two weeks ago, removed the Rspub-
lean police commissioners Ia me various
cities and substituted Populists. The new
commissioners promptly commenced to
reform" the force. At Topeka, the state
capital. every man on the force. with one
exception. was discharged. and the places
were filed BY the fusionlsts. in order; the
higher Offices going 10 the Populists. while
the Democrats and Silyerites were given
some OF the positions as patro3men- OF
the newly organized force, but four men
ever had any experience on q police force.
The Topeka Capital says that the new
|, force with perhaps two exceptions, are
political ward heelers, selected because OF
their usefulness in railying Popuhst votes
to the polls on election day and without
either experience in police business or
aptitude for 1t.
No other motive lies behind the metro
politan police bin than the desire 70 ac-
compigh In the three large cities Of the
state OF Washington what has been done
with the police force in the Kansas cities;
to take the police out from under the pro-
lection OF the civil service rules and ill
the department with Popullst ward heel
ers. not only as reward for past political
services. but go that the police can bo-
come a portion OF the Populist political
machine.
vi FEoROoAlENa ~ Gtl4lso tue
cities OF their right TO select their own
officials L. Ia violation OF one Of the most
loudly proclaimed tenets OF the Populistio
faith. the right of local self-government
But principles OF any kind. Populistic or
otherwise. do not seem 20 have much
weight with the majority OF the legisla-
ture at Olympia. The original fusion was
made upon the basis OF distribution OF
the spoils OF Office; and as this was the
sole principle which the fusionists had in
common, Il would seem that spells or
Doodle are the only objects upon which
there can be had a fasionist concert OF
action. And herein les the danger OF the
passage Of such bin as the one pending.
II will give the Populists or the fusion
lists hundred ard nfty or so more Offices
TO distribute. Tina, fact IN Itself Is SUI
neient 70 rally 10 the support OF the bill
a very considerable following.
There should certainly be prompt action
taken By the people OF the cities inter
estsd to show their disapproval OF a
scheme ny which they are to be taxed for
/ the support q officers over whose appoint
I nent they VIII have no control. and for
( the rsiuausuratlon Of the partisan spells
+ system In the police department now
/ happily free from that evn.