The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-04
SEATTLE. SUNDAY, MARCH =.
The Last Reform Campaign.

The Last Reform Campaign.
The older residents OF Seattle have
not forgotten a municipal campaign in
this city which resembled in Its main
features the one now on hand. Indeed.
II they are taxpayers, they have had
ample reason to remember 1t, and to
this day lament lts results. They recog-
MICE m familiar all the arguments now
advanced, the whole plan OF campaign.
and even the influences behind the pres
ent opposition 10 the Republican city
government; and remembering. they are
not likely to fall again into the error
which they committed at that time
When ]. T. Ronald was nomina ted for
mayor OF Seattle eight years ago It was
under precisely similar combination
to that which is now undertaking to
control the city government. A crowd
Of young politicians. the afterwards no.
torious kid Committee" succeeded in
enrolling all the factions OF opposition
TO the Republican party in support Of
a combination ticket. There was the
same collection Of dIsgruntled poll
ticians, Populists. Democrats. gamblers
and ministers OF the gospel. and the
same raiiying cry OF Reform" The
wickedness OF the city was then cx-
plotted In precisely the same terms as
u In today: the speeches made against
the Republican administration are pre-
cisely the same now as were used then:
there was the same exaggerat.on as 70
the prevalence Of crime; the same out
cry over the failure to enforce the laws.
the same kind OF gang OF smooth
ward politicians behind the movement.
which they were directing for their own
pront. There r. not the same crowd 10.
day as then. however, for the period of
usefulness In Seattle Of the former gang
expired with the downfall OF the Ronald
administration. and after successfully
looting the city, the notorious kid
COMMITTEES" and their principal support
ers found II advisable 10 seek new fields
Of labor.
Then. as now the ticket was headed
hs a man Of good personal character,
and II could be said truthfuily OF Mr.
Ronald that he was sincere In his pro-
fesslons OF reform. honestly believed
that he could succeed In absolutely sup
pressing the vice % the city. and was
personally incorruptihle. Vet his adj
ministratlon was absolutely the worst
which ever disSraced the city. Not a
single bureau OF the city governmeat
escaped unsmlrched. all were tainted
with rank Incompetence. or downright
resoality. The city treasury was looted
and the money loaned out among the
politicians who were behind the scheme.
Including several members OF the city
government aud the hid committee, and
when Ronald went eat ~ Office he left
behind him a barren treasury and the
worst record Tor Incompetence and mai
administration which ever followed =
defeated administration into retirement
Ia this state. The credit OF the city was
at the lowest eeh In Its history. the De.
rartments 81 the city were In confusion.
All required reorganization from tho
ground up. and the litigation which fol-
lowed the sttemp, of the city To recover
some portion OF les dissinated resources
has only recently been concluded
The attempt TO reform the city. IRON,
the moral standpoint was an equally
disastrous experiment The practice Of
keeping the vice Of the city in one
particular quarter. where Il could Ia
under close surveillance, had been Wig
orously denounced. so the tirst attemp,
OF the Ronald administration was
directed TO purifying that quarter OF the
city: with the natural result Of smear
ing" the evil all over the residence por-
ton instead OF combining Il 10 one par.
ticular spot. The failure OF the Ronald
administration In dealing with the par