The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-23
Tell the Truth.

Several of the petty organs that snatch
at notoriety by barking at the heels of
the Post-Intelligencer have thought 1t 1T
lately, by some preconcert OF action, ac-
cidental or directed, TO accuse this paper
OF Inconsistency in advocating the cleo
tion OF the Republican municipal
candidates last spring and critics.
ing the utter neglect of duty
today. We should ask them. If
we thought compliance were possible to
their natures. to tell the simple truth.
The -Intelligencer supported the men
now In power in the campaign OF last
March. 1t exposes derelictions now, where
these are patent. And in both cases 1t
had and has one sole motive; to secure
the best administration OF municipal af-
fairs.
Last March two tickets were before the
people. Neither was OF our choosing, but
one or the other must be elected. II was
our opinion, with the Understanding then
had Of the situation, that as whole
the success OF the Republican party was
much TO be desired. Our reasons as then
given need not be repeated now: but 1t
should be understood that the support OF
this paper was founded first of all upon
the presumption, openly and repeatedly
asserted, and never denied by any OF those
interested that Republican success in
volved a government OF law and order
and not an unlicensed carnival of vice
aud crime What reasons for this faith
existed? First, the party platform was
explicit, We quote from IT;
We are In favor OF the enforcement OF
law and order, and the Republican party
does hereby pledge itself and the nominees
OF this convention that. II elected, they
viii use their best efforts I'm good faith
to enforce the existing laws ana ordi-
nances OF this city.
Words could scarcely be stronger. But
how about the candldstesg In a speech
| at the Armory. made one week prior to
election. Mayor Hnmes announced that. II
| reelected. he would follow his former poll
Icy what was thatF Here Is an ox-
tract from his address. bearing on the
pOIn, in question;
| have consulted neither with the
| churches nor the had people IN dealing
/ With questions which confront the mayor
| Of Seattle. ! have done simply what
will do again II elected, namely, consulted
men who are the backbone and sinew II
this town. and from them learned what
they wished and carried IL out. { viii
! consult, | say, the business men the
iaborers. the mechanics the bankers. the
carpenters ana the other men who build
these new homes. and then ! will carry
ouS that policy let what win come.
SO far, the mayor; and there Is nothing
IN that promise 10 cover the conditions
that exist today Now as to she sun
porters or the mayor. The position Of
the Post-iutelAsencer has never varied in
,he slightest We believe in a municipal
administration that Is reasonably liberal
and reasonably conservative. Certain
evils attendant upon city NE cannot. we
are convinced, De wholly suppressed We
sec ne gain, but ceftaia loss. In attempt
ing the impossible. Without. then. ex-
pecatng or desiring the setting up az a
purisauical regime, the ,-Intelligencer
believes in protection 10 lilc and prop
erty, the restraint and restriction OF vice.
an honest ana efficient police admins
sTaiion. the clearing out OF crooks ana
thugs,-in a word, in the sort % admin
isiratioA given In every city in Tie coun-
try that is neither wide open" nor tight
shut"
This IS also what the people whom the
mayor said he would consult believed in
then and believe in now. So much dis
! content was felt and expressed by them