The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-27

InE SO1IAG ELEaIION.
1t Is not too early 70 begin preparing
for the municipal election 10 take place
In March At any time it would be i'm
portant that the mayor OF this city
should be man commanding the conf
ing among us as equally 30 command
respect for the city abroad. But ii has
never been SO important as now. 1t is
not too much to say that for the next
year Seattle viii be more talked of than
any other one city in the United
States To be the focal point for the
thousands on their way to the kion-
dixie. and to be until the prospector's
return next year the first place from
which news can be had, is to place Sc
attic in a position Of unparalleled con-
spicuousness.
Without disrespect 10 any gentleman
who may be nominated by political
partyn We are convinced that il would
be very undesirable to have il go forth
that Seattle had elected a Popukist
mayor. IT cannot do this if the electors
register and vote.
The next two years will be the most
critical in the history of Seattle. We
are on the eve of a sreat influx of peo-
pie, among whom will be sprinkled some
with whose presence we could we'll dis
pense. The accommodation Of the de-
sirable sojourners will tax one func-
ton Of the city government and the re-
ceipt and entertainment of the unde-
slrable class win tax another We shall
have barely lost the outgoing travellers
before the steamers will begin to come
in with million after million of dollars
in gold. Later on q reaction will set
in Hundreds who have been unsuc-
cessfui, who have been entirely untitled
for the rigors OF Alaska, who have gone
into the KIondike ill-provisioned. viii
turn hack and come penniIess to Seat
tie. 1t will take no ordinary legislative
these problems. Incidental 10 them will
come demands upon the treasury both
for charity and for the extension OF city
works.
The membership OF the city council u.s.
therefore. of the utmost Importance. 1t
is understood that some of the present
IL int
experience they have gained would
make their services valuable in spite
of differences of opinion as TO some of
their opinions. Every man nominated
to fill a vacancy thus created should be
selected with the utmost care. We APP
peal to the voters, solely in their own
interests. not to permit an ambition
creditable enough In itself. on the part
of neighbor to stand in the way of
the selection OF the very best man In
every ward who can be persuaded 10
take the office. IL is an office which
demands sacrifices of time. The small
salary attached to II is only a pretense
al compensation 10 SbfDHS man,
who is determined that the city shall be
run on business principles, il is not "A
disagreeable office: II only becomes irk-
some when he temporiZes with what he
knows To be right or permits considera-
ton for his future political career 10
turn him from that which he would nat
urally do.
This city has never been governed bet
ter than IL has been during the past
few years. II has made mistakes: it has
done things which might not have been
done had the consequences been fore
seen. But il must I've remembered that
ne shall never have government which
shall be perfect; We shall never have
council with some OF whose members
We will not al times be dissatisfied. or
with some OF whose views We viii not
sometimes differ. The general result Is
the test Of the capacity Of the govern
rent. Let net those who may fne
fault place US at the risk Of getting a
worse government than one which has
been at least fairly good.