The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-05

TO Friends Of Good Government.


To Friends of Good Government.
The vote OF every friend Of good gov
eminent and every advocate OF reform
In municipal affairs should be cast at
the election tomorrow for the Republic
can ticket. Notwithstanding the SLAM
ders on the good name OF the city.
widely spread without any regard to
the injurious effects which they will
have upon the welfare of the commun-
ity by the gang OF political bandits who
are endeavoring to capture the public
Offices for their own uses. Seattle has
for six years past had as good q NUM-
cipal government as any city in the
country. II has reached a point in the
conduct OF its local AFFAIRS which in
other cities the friends OF municipal re-
form are striving earnestly to attain. at
present with small apparent prospect
OF success. Under the Republican gov
eminent of Seattle. civil service rules
have been made to apply TO all OF the
ofiices In the city. save those which are
elective, The civil service commission
ers appointed under the new charter by
q Republican mayor, were business men
OF the highest personal character. not
actively identified with politics The
ccmsrission has striven. from its first
meeting. 10 carry out the letter and
spirit OF the merit System. and the man
ner In which II has honestly been APP
piled TO all departments OF the city gov
eminent has made Seattle In this re-
speet a model for all Of the municipal
fiss OF the country AZ a result, men 81
every shade OF political opinion have
held and are holding Office In the city
government. and their political opinions
are regarded with absolute Indifference.
A. far a. the city government is con-
cerned. not solitary faint of the
spells system rests on any OF It's de.
psrtments
The so-eallcd Democratic candidate
for mayer enjoying one OF the most
lucrative positions In the city govern
ment, Is Popuiist and under the
shelter OF the civil service rules, which
he knows are honestly aud fairly en-
forced. engages In campaign Of Sian
der and vituperation against the men
who. II they were Of the calIber OF the
ward politicians who named him for
the mayoralty, would have thrown him
out of his position long ago. OF the
police force, very large share. and
probably the majority OF the members.
including those holding the highest and
most responsible positions. are popu-
lists or Democrats. and yet every one
OF thcse men obtained his position and
the protection Of the civu service rules
under Republican administration. They
are not compelled. even for polgcy's
sake. 10 disguise their opinions but
openly and publicly proclaim them with
absolute certainty that In 80 Doing they
are In no way ieopardlring their prss-
emit position or initiating agaius, their
chances for future promotion, accord
Ing 10 their ability.
In Tacoma. where the cNii service
charter provisions went into effect at
substantially the same time as they did
in Seattle. a fusionist city government
was elected 10 put the system into
operation. They promptly made farce
Of the matter. had those candidates %
their political friends. whom they de-
sired 10 reward. coached on the aues-
tlons upon which they were 70 be exam
ined. marked papers with the sole idea
Of excluding every Republican from
Office. and inaugurated and KEEP, In force
the spoils system in Its most offensive
form, despite the plain letter of the
charter. They simply illustrated that
civil service rules are farce and
sham unless the administration OF the
law Is In the hands of men who hon
estly intend TO carry out its provisions.
As-e result the people OF Tacoma. IN