The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-04-10
|, SAYS
BALLINGER
SAYS NE HAS HAD ENOUGH
GLORY IN ONE TERM as
MAYOR or SEATTLE

Mieor Ballinger Friday officially
annuenced 90 Dr. !. IA. oEagle. aa-
alHtant secretary OF the republican
state Hecntrl committee. that he
would not accept the denomination
FOR mayor under any confederation.
The announcement was not "A sur
prise A. his friends. who have known
of h# feelings In the matter for
monthH, The mayors nomination
at The last election WBH not Of his
own seeking lie took IL At q rueri=
flee ~ the required attention 10 a
lucrative law practice.
lie took the office practically un-
pledged to any particular interest
He Announced that he would pursue
a conservative policy. He has
atoadfaatly adhered 10 that purpose.
but the task hhui eatned MIN enough
worry 10 turn mans hair gray lie
FLASHED with the rotten eiemoat IA
tho eousell from too beginning
Shoo bn uarted 20 ei~. open gam
bling toia tsouneot tried TO prevent
him Rom incrsVdog tbs police
force. hut Wis., fruss rated D. the
popular support given the mayor.
There hfoi been running fight 10
progress between the chief eaocutlvo
and the council ever since. A. times
there have been afmlHiicH. but never
we're relations bctwcon tho mayor
and a majority OF the council any
thing but lukewarm. Tho mayor got
Ia tho habit OF Yoioing illegal ordi-
nancea. special privilege bills and
other measures aimed 10 pay polite
al debts OF certain members OF the
council and the latter did not like
Il a little bit lie even had the to
merlty 10 veto the Fort iawton
franchise. when the council had de-
elded 10 use u "a the first step to-
ward giving the Seattle Electric
company n permanent franchise
lie found that his friends among
the business men. who ciamored 80
long and loud for a cleaner admin
lstratlon Of the police department.
and the suppression OF gambling.
were the first citizens 20 aqueal
when be started out 10 do that very
thing
The mayor has tried 10 follow a
fair, 4 middle. conservative"
course. and has gotten only kicks
for hla trouble
he Was opposed 20 licensing vice
and crime 10 obtain city revenue
When be suggested a means for OBJ
tanning a legitimate income for the
city through the collection OF inter
Get on the city deposits. he once
moro ran up against the city off,
eiala. campaign managers and hih
friends. the bankers Again II WAS
only tho undouhted fairness OF his
position and the favorable public
attitude that sustained him.
Hut the most shocking thing 20
the mayor has been his effort 20
keep the I'd down on the tendefioin.
lie succeeded IN Euppreshing gam
bling. In It's most yirulent and hraE-
en- forms At least. but when he tried
to rouovRte other conditions IN the
restricted district he ran up against
the real thing To escape proaecu-
ton and tho payment OF licenses
the hundreds Of social parasites be-
low the line flew nofthWard They
have been there ever since. although
the mayor and chief have made
spamnodlc erusadcs to drive them
bark.
The mayor has also made mis-
takes. such az his proposal 20 estab-
ush a beer garden at Madison park.
laying himself open TO public cen
s.fea ana h. has aUrHHFHaH that q IN
things considered. private life II
much more pleasant. II not 10 much
honored.