The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-21

tween MI. fSOndiI ana MS WllliNE toot
Krug. for the reason that the moment
the defalcation was exposed Mr.. Ronald
secured a withdrawal OF that tell-tafe
note of his from among the papers seized
IN Krug's office The parties who picked
out Mr.. Ronalds note from among the
mass of alleged securities found In Krug's
desk exceeded their authority and had
no more right to do so than to return any
OF the other securities. genuine and spu-
rious. which were subsequently listed and
published, but Mr.. Ronald's cunning pre-
vailed and perhaps for the honor OF the
city he represented. those gentlemen con-
sidered 1t the part OF wisdom to allow
him to take the note and put in its place
the 1850 which IL represented II in no
ways exouerates Mr. Ronald His plea
OF ignorance that ii was city money was
never accepted as true BY those familiar
with the doings of the Ronald administra-
ton.
The published list OF Krug's friends"
who helped him to squander the city's
money. runs into the hundreds, from
Mayor Ronald down to smaii-fry poll
ticians and gamblers, and shows Demo-
cratic reform" with a vengeance
When Mr.. Ronald's 81. 500 transaction be-
came known he became very prolific with
explanations as 10 how ne came to borrow
the money. giving note and mortgage for
IT; and how 1t passed through the hands
the notorious kid committee" who. ac-
cordfng to the records. was one OF Krug's
favorite borrowers. In one Of these many
published explanations OF Mr.. Ronald's.
he says:
HE REGRETTED 1T.
II regret the circumstances. in the light
OF subsequent developments as much as
any man possibly can, and l realize DO
litically, being the head of the admin
istratfon. that ! must share the odium,
the transaction. never had a suspicion
that anything was wrona until after I
read the editorial article in last Tues
DAYS Post-Intelligencer" tSeptember Il,
A clearer admission of inconsistency
could not we'll be given. For over one
and a half years Krug had been trafficking
IN the city's funds until a defalcatIon Of
nearly quarter OF million was reached,
and yet Mr.. Ronald. as mayor OF the city.
whose duty 1t was to see that every dol
lar or the ctty's money wsc properly ac-
counted for. knew absolutely nothing OF
anything wrong until the fact was arst
brought to his notice hy the Post-in-
teiligencer. The question has often been
asked: How was II possible for Krug 10
scatter trust funds about so la4ishly
wtnout II becoming knows to someoner
Just the exercise OF ordinary business
precaution SHOULD have led Mr. Ronald
70 detect that something was wrong. had
he peen mentally equal to the RESPONSE
Mr.. honald had warm supporter In
his city comptroller, Mr.. Carson, who
became known as the famous letter
writer of the reform administration.
Mr.. Carson was equally as honest as M.
Ronald, but more vindictive, Neverthe-
less he also found II convenient to dip
,ns 20 the cIty's purse to the extent Of
si,sop ana give his note for Ii. This note
ne subsequently paid into court. Mr..
Carson rushed into print on the slightest
provocauon, always in defense Of Mr.
a h yh 1ar
policy and the condition OF the municipal
treasury. He even defended Krue. and
speaking of his loaning out moneys he
said IN one OF his many and frequent
Technically speaking. I with say. That
very little ! suppose. OF the $500, 7os.07 of
the city's fund is actually in the city
and likely never will be kept there. but
IL In the banks of Seattle, subject to
the order or check OF City Treasurer
Krug."
VAULTS SAY DIFFERENT.
The vaults Of the city treasurer told
different tale. The editorial in the Post
Intelligencer of September H. to which
MT. Ronald refers as being the first In
timation he had of anything wrong with
the cftys funds was the cause of a letter
of pronunciation from Mr.. Carson bitterly
attacking the press for its s'meddlinR pro-
ciivities. and Offering to prove that every
cent could be accounted for. The POST
Intelligence replied with a peremptory
challenge to him to so prove his state
ments. That same day Krug absconded.
the defalcation was made public and
Mr.. Carson subsidized.
Among Krug's assets were two notes.
one from Eugene w. Way for 5000 and
one from L. ID. Ross. also for $500 These
were subsequently, paid by the bondsraen
City Clerk Stoneman. OF the Ronald ad-
ministration, also had a note for e5le
Part Of this was nsid IN inssalments. and
an unpaid balance still remains
The reform" administration under Mr.
Ronald was failure from its inception
II was founded in corruption and the
transportation OF trust funds became
the rule and not the exception OF that
administration. Anybody within that cor
runt political circle got money on notes,
l. O. us, due billa. vainefess stock
checks, anything and everything went
and those that were actually repaid were
more due TO the voluntary honesty 81 the
debtors than TO any effort on Krug's mart
who appeared to have been poweriess 70
help himself
The records show that incompetent ex-
Mayor Ronald. Comptroller Carson CITY
CLERK SLOVENIAN and one OF the kid com.
mit;e~" T. u. Ross. all owed Krug money
at one time or another. given them from
the city funds krug's iootinx was COM
plete. and due exclusively 20 the fact that
y T. Ronald. whom the vnters on 'sre-
look after the city funds, had neglected
70 do his duty 10 an extent that may well
be termed criminal and a. result ~
hf4 shortcomings the city treasury In 10.
asv short the sum ~ ssS 81 es
This Is tbs man who TODAY seeks "a be
elected 81 representative In congress from
the state % Washington.