The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-26
The Business Mems Fight.

Inc BUSINESS mon FIRnt.
The contest now on In King county
for control Of the coming county con-
vention is. above all else, fight in
which the business men Of this city
have a heavy stake. 1t will not do for
them to think that they can discharge
their political duty when election day
arrives. Under our law. the important
work b done at the primaries. 1t is
there that the real battle Is fought. 1t
is there that influences favorable or
hostile to the business interests of King
county will prevail.
The lines are clearly drawn. On one
side Il representative business man Of
Seattle whose fitness and whose char
acter none win impeach. He has seen
distinguished public service. He Is
man who. II chosen governor, will ad-
minister dts AFFAIRS according to busi-
ness principles and without fear or IA
vor He Ia not under obligation to any
man. He Ii not tied to any interest or
bound by any promise except TO serve
faithfully his party and his state. II It
is not the duty OF business men to turn
out and throw the strength OF their
votes and their influence for such .
man, what right have they to quarrel
with the unsatisfactory quality OF poll
tics or the men whom II puts into places
Of powerf
On the other side is man who. what
ever his personal qualities. 10 admitted
iy only q representative Of the same In
terest for which he has served as .
stalking horse before. He stands not
for himself. but for senatorial candi-
dacy: something that our people have
rightly declared should be eliminated
from this contest A little over four
months ago he was elected mayor, upon
the implied promise that he would serve
hts term. Possibly he desires to do 90.
But he has been selected to stand as q
candidate for governor by direction OF
ern Washington for seat in the United
States senate.
His campaign is under the auspices
of the worst lot OF grafters that ever
fastened themselves upon any commu-
nifty We DO not mean to say that there
are not good men and true Republicans
among his friends in this city and coun-
~. We do say that these are mere de-
mded followers who have no voice and
no influence beyond contributing their
time and their money to his cause The
directing managers of his campaign
have their orders and owe their allegi-
ance 20 head center outside Of King
county end on the other side of the
mountains. They are a cold biooded lot
OF political Hsssians. working for pay
and pickings King county is q foreign
country to them. They are TO deliver It's
vote. 10 divide or neutrallxe II. to put II
TO any eontumely that may serve the
senatorial aspirations of MIR. Ankeny.
They have associated with themselves
all the low elements and all the disrepu-
table forces in this city. They have not
shrunk from coercion and the ievying OF
tribute. They are making their nght on
the main issue b. the use OF the most
oorruptIns and dangerous force IN poiit-
ioai life, They lay taxes on vice. they
lay hands on the w-hreaker not for
punishment but for booty, they con-
splre with all that Is against public de-
eeney and public order. Unprincipied.
constituencies. believing that public
opinion can be turned snd conquered BY
a lavish use % cash. they are equally
unashamed in their collections and dis
hursements OF the wages OF sin. Their
sole concern Is to deliver the goods
which will entisle them to further en-
ploymsnt And King county Is the spou
that they are after now.
These are facts for every business
man. for every Republican 20 lay TO
heart. II is not at the polls next No
vemeer. but at the primaries next Mon
day night that their nrst duty is 10 be
done. What do they suppose will be this
fate OF King county's interests IL they