The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1906-09-13
Results of the Election

The seattle Electric company aied by other pune sefN
Ice corporations PM up fierce fight At the polls yesterday
md crushed down the proposition to establish city owned
s,rcet railway system
Corporation interests were sody lined up together Ia
shis contest. backed by three newspaper organs.
Money was spent without stint aud extraordinary efforts
were put forth TO obtain votes.
Employees OF the electric company and several other cor
poraons we're made 10 understand quite plainly that votes IN
favor of the municipal system would be only dspeasng
bur decidedly risky Many Of The knew they would be
closely questioned how they voted and would either
have to lie ont Of OF tell the truth and take the consequence
But there incidentally large number OF votes east
aeanst the project BY citizens who really believed that mu-
nepal system while right IN theory, would not work wen
In practise They in some eases msed by unrnihul
statements published in corporation serving daes aud WIRE
thus given wrong impression 10 the condition ol the e
finances and It's credit
Others again who were misinioumed bat who hon
ssy doubted the wisdom OF municipal ownership OF street
railways voted perpeuate the Seattle Electric company
monopoly in this city.
The fa must not be overlooked that nearly 6ooo voters
expressed themselves favor OF the municipal street railway
scheme These voters comprising very large minority had
evidently convinced that the best interests Of Seattle
demanded city ownership Of transportation lines
Especially strong the in the suburbs in favor of
his proposition showed clearly that the people in these
localities greatly dissatisfied with the insufficient sev
ice given by the Seattle Electric company
Hardly more than oue-hal OF the registered voters Of
Seattle appeared the polls Yesterday lrlsc HtNsN"
o the majority those voting the decision OF minority
OF the whole body Had the siayathomes voted
IL impossible say whether not the result would have
been different.
The Star sincerely regrets the failure Of Seattle 10 take
advantage the opportunity construct and operate un
cal street railways breaking the CALLING monopoly Of
abe Seattle Electric company and bringing II 70 point where
1t would be compelled give proper service in order to hold
Its patronage.
For present the railway question Is settled The
suburbaniies viii continue bad service The city strap
hangers will st swing from the feathers while the company
runs hall the ears ,ha, should and makes big profits
Meddlng city politics viii continue. The bad smells vii
remaiu.
But the day is distant when this question Of mt
ncpa ownership o. the railways viii come up again
In Seattle we'll all the land, the people
growing restless under the despo sre OF corporations
and are looking about for 81 relief While there Is
still mdiy towards public ownership. ewing the finan
ea and administrative responsibilities involved the feeling
steadily growing that there wiI be other way ultimately
OF getting rid OF the ,hrottg hand Of corporation control
that Is Tightening its grasp upon the public.
But while the railway plan rejected By
joy Of the yesterday. they did emphacaly endorse
the proposition issue bonds for the extension and improve
Of the Cedar river system The maudn editorials
of Second sheet against City Engineer Thomson and
the the water system answered by five to
in favor Of the city engineer plans and estimates
The Star also records with keen appreciation the vote in
favor Of building the Lake Washington canal This
erorus undertaking. and the Mr. Moore gets busy
with his shovel and begins throw dirt the better the people
will be pleased The job is worth the 10000 which he
wants and will get