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


organized work was begun against the
Republican ticket; and 1t was believed
generally, a short time prior TO election
that it was beaten. At that time close
personal and political friends Of Mayor
Humes stated freely to the dissatisfied
that. II he were reelected, there would
be different order from what was fear
ed. They gave assurances and said they
would make them good that. II the ticket
were successful, crime would be punish
ed. lawlessness restrained. and very
different order inauguratsd. They prom
ised and promised positively that license
would be curbed: and that while certain
evils must be tolerated they would be
carefully restricted and a much stricter
system Of administration than then pre-
vailed would be put into effect.
These representations were effectual.
The Post-Intelligencer relied on them and
gave It's unqualified support. The peo-
pie relied on them. and changed prob
able defeat into victory. That there
may be no doubt concerning our own po-
sition, WE quote from an editorial arti-
Gle in the Post-Inteligencer of March Z,
the morning after election:
The people of this city are practical
people and believe in practical things.
They want law and order maintained,
life and property made secure, and the
hand of necessary repression and regula-
ton laid upon vice.
To our Interpretation of the public ver-
dict no objection was entered. On the fol-
lowing morning. March s, the Post-Intelli-
gencer said editorially:
Reports which have been sent out that
this Is "wide OPEN victory, that all
restrictions will be relaxed. and that the
undesirable element to be found In every
community will have things it's own way
are cut from the same bolt of cloth as
the shameless ISLANDERS that did duty to
attract the votes of men whose moral
sense was more acute than their kn0wl-
edge of practical affairs.
We believed this to be true then, for
the excellent reasons already given.
Events have proved us misinformed at
that time, but neither shffty nor insin-
ticle:
The desire of our people we conceive
to be an honest, capable and practical
enforcement of the laws. without undue
tolerance on the one hand or an I'M
reasonable severity. certain to defeat
itself, on the other. They desire the
ma int ~ Ian nd n~da aolr
that life shall be safe from assault and
property from depreciation. They wish
to see the unruly gentry who flock hither,
attracted by the thrush Of population.
dealt with unsparingly and either run out
OF town or placed where they can neither
injure nor annoy. They believe that the
liquor traffic should be restricted as 1t is
at present, and that all forms of vice
should be Under the closest surveillance.
where they can neither run riot nor
offend, compelled to bow to the law and
to bear its penalties.
With careful definiteness, at this early
the public as justified by assurances
given. No protest OF Misrepresentation.
made. No protest OF misrepresentation.
no announcement of defiance was made
by the administration when these words
were published. The Post-Inteligencer
has never swerved from the policy which
they express 1t stands now and will con-
tinue to stand for just such municipal
administration.
What have we instead7 system In
comparably more lax and indusent than
even this city ever saw before. Robber-
les, assaults and holdups of almost daily
occurrence. because criminal characters
are permitted to remain here. Hundreds
of slot machines everywhere keeping
school where the young can get at
them, for the gamblers university. Skin
and sure thing games winked at. The
wine room and the side entrance winning
to disorder and leading to death. Every
form of vice so wildly. noxiously iuxur-
liant that men familiar with every slum
in the country are amazed at what Is
open and unconditional here. Resorts per-
mitted to act as notorious meeting places
for crooks, confidence and bunko men and
all the shady crew that ply their trades
by sufIeranee. All this under some I'M
Outstanding. whatever 1t may be, that
prevents the police force from uttering
the word that would clean every den and
clear the polluted air In day. All this
with the public well satisfied where tho
connection exists between the criminal
element and the police authorities.
I This Is the truth, these the facts of past
and present The Post-IntellIgeneer has
no quarrel with any man connected with
the city government as an individual. II
possesses ana will exercise freely ana
without prejudice the right TO criticise
official misconduct wherever !, comes to
Hight. 1t declares that the present mock
cry Of municipal government is not what
the people Of Seattle expected aud had a