The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-03
NOT A PARTY ISSUE.

Seattle. Feb %, 1900.
To the Editor: / address this commu-
nication to you with the hope that II viii
lead TO a thorough justification in your
editorial columns of the attitude of the
Republican party on the consolidated fran
chise question. am a Republican and
firm believer in Republican traditions.
shall vote for the reelection of Presi-
dent Mckinley next fall and / want to
vote for the reelection of the present city
administration If l can convince myself
that i ought TO do so. I regard the con-
solidated franchise question as the para
mount issue in the present campaign. l
hoped that the Republican platform would
contain a clear statement of the partys
attitude toward that question. But the
declaration of principles adopted by the
convention contained no mention of the
proposed franchise. | judged from that
silence that the ordinance granting the
franchise was 80 far on its way as to pre-
elude the possibility OF its again coming
before the council, ana therefore IL could
not be considered an issue. expected
that the Post-Intelligencer. In view of the
declaration OF the opposition platform in
this particular, would explain the reason
that the Republicans had ignored the ques-
ton. l followed your editorial columns
closely, but failed to find any attempt at
a justification OF the omission. l attend
ed the rally Monday evening, believing
that. as you stated I'm announcing the
meeting. he questions involved In the
campaign would be thoroughly canvassed.
and | should learn the exact attitude to-
ward the franchise Of the candidates for
whom am expected to vote. But during
the whole course OF the evening the mat
ter was mentioned only once, when one of
the speakers said that the city was not at
present In position TO buy the street
railways. l could hardly regard that as a
complete answer TO the contention of the
opposition that the city was being robbed
by the granting to corporation OF privi-
leses worth millions OF dollars without
adequate protection OF the peoples inter-
ests. IL this matter was not an Issue by
reason of the fact that the present status
OF the ordinance rendered II impossible for
II to again come before the council for
consideration. that fact would certainly
have been stated in rebuttal OF the fusion
declaration against the measure. The fact
that the speakers did not mention the
matter at all leads inevitably TO the con-
cusfon that the franchise ordinance IL
stiil an issue. and that the candidates OF
my party are for some reason anxious to
evade II. / hope that I am wrong and
that what seems to me, and to scores Of
other Republicans with whom / have talk
ed like deliberate attempt to smuge;e
through, under cover OF darkness n meas
ure of private greed involving gross In
Justice and injury TO the welfare OF the
citizens OF Seattle. may prove easily ex-
plicable upon grounds of honesty and fair
ness But IL those In control OF the party
policy think that they can make Republic
an responsibility and party feaity the We
hicle of a corporations dishonest schemes
they are nightly deceived. For the sake
OF allaying public distrust az to the hon
esty OF the Republican purpose in this
matter. earnestly request you 10 publish
this letter. together with as complete n
presentation OF the question IA circum-
stances demand. I realize that YOU have
no authority to pledge the Republican
nominees to any particular policy. but IL.
with the means of information which you
possess. YOU cannot explain this silence Of
platform and candidates then the oppo-
sition. by clearly defining its attitude to-
ward tho ordinance, has placed the RE-
publican party under a suspicion which
win drive away from II hundreds Of votes,
and mine win he among the number
J. c. HIGGINS.