The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-27
Mr.. Ronaid's Defense.

Mr.. Ronald is one of the men who
should beg to De saved from their friends.
1t was no kindness to him to bring
him ont as a candidate for congress
In the present campaign. When he retired
from office as mayor OF Seattle. bearing
with him the odium of having been the
head OF the worst and most corrupt adj
ministration which had ever disgraced a
city in the state of Washington. his many
shortcomings were passed over In silence.
II was not dreamed that he could ever be
politically rehabilitated. or that he would
ever again have the effrontery to come
forward as candidate for public office.
II was not believed that he had been dis
honest. according to his own standard OF
honesty and honor, but IT was felt that
that standard was entirely too low to per-
NIT OF his ever being called upon to per-
form any public duty. He was down. and
his bitterest political enemies had no de-
sire to hit him. Such futile steps az he
took in the vain attempt to rehabiiitate
himself in public estimation. he was per-
mitted to make without criticism and
without comment.
He now brings forward. or his friends
DO II for him, the record of those steps.
to show complete vindication of his ac-
tions in having financial dealings with
Krug. the defaulting city treasurer in his
administration. Let us see what his en-
tire defense is. and what was the whole
transaction. as disclosed by his defense.
He was mayor of the city; Krug was
treasurer. He borrowed 81 800 from Krug.
AS he gave mortgage, the transaction
would necessarily become public. Hence
Ronald's note was made out to one l.. d.
Ross, an impecunioua ward politician.
a member of the kid Committee"
who had likewise borrowed heavily from
Krug Of funds which II is not denied be-
longed to the city. Krug ran away Ron
AIDS note was found in his safe. together
with other memoranda. covering the vari-
Gus loans Krug had made OF city money
to other city officials and political friends.
from among the other securities and is
indorsed over to a third party. Ronald
goes into court. and obtains a decision
that the particular money which Krug
had loaned him was from Krug's private
funds. Consequently Krug's friend, TO
whom the note was Endorsed. gets the
money. instead OF the city: and Krug's
net deficit Is swelled by the amount OF
si.s09. and the city Is a loser TO jus, that
amount.
This il the record which Mr.. Ronaid's
friends claim Is complete vindicasion
Of hts entire course In borrowing money
from the city treasurer, under cover Of
a third party. and in getting that money
back into the hands OF the same treasurer
after he had been proved to be de-
faui,er. As to the decision Of the court
that the money received was OF the pri-
vate funds OF KruE. and not Of the public
funds, which Krug was lending freely
at the same time. the court passed upon
the evidence before It. No one save Rrug
knew whether this particular n.5Do was
his own or whether 4 was city money.
Krsg says IL was his own. On uncon-
tradicted testimony. the note being IN the
hands Of a supposedly innocent third
PARTY. the court naturally gave Il TO HIN.
The question still remains. how Kras,
who mixed his own snd the city money
up unfortunately. and loaned freely Of
all the funds In his hands, was able to
Keep track 81 ihi. particular sum as be-
ing fgom his own funds
Bus this ts entirely to one side. Ronald
should have known that Krus was lend.
ing freely Of the city money. !, was on
KruEs reputation as lender that he ap.
preached him for loan The fac, that Il
Was necessary 20 make the transaction
unasr cover of another name showed tina,
Il was considered By both parties
shady AFFAIR. which Il was well 20 keep
from publie knowleaee. Ronais exhibited
a gross disregard for the ordinary de-
cencses and obligations Of his ofncisl 20.
szion when ne solicited and obtained
loan from the custodian 81 the eats funds
TAat he sscoccdea In mulctlnE the ely
af n.se which morally belonged 10 u.
in his attempt "a psotee, hts own reps
,aiion. Is not tho best feature o. thls
peculiar Transaction.
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