The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-11-21
nUI JILL rrUITI
A YAKIMA DIVINE
SAYS ADMINISTRATION WORST YET
Asks Taxpayers to Raise Their Voices
in the Interests of Order and
Dcccncy.

d. HenIy preached seau last
SUNDAY t. his moruiu- augiegatlou
on munieipl HG aNns for mis-
text. "Ren3er Ent8 Caesar the
Things .Whiea ara cae and TN
to God ae fhiu4 WHICH are
Gods.
BY was OF Introduction he spoke
of certain results Of iasI weeks SER
mon, which took the form Of con-
gratuiations. criticism and letters
Of Endorsement, Of which he made
forceful comments which seemed to
be greatly appreciated.
Another unexpected result" said
he, was an interview with one Of
our present councilmen who is de-
clared candidate for the office Of
mayor
The name of the gentleman was
not mentioned, bur his errand was TO
make the old plea that both church
and saloon should keep out of the
campaign. He was particularly anX-
ious that the church should let po-
litical matters alone until after cleo
ton. and he declared that he had told
the men at the brewery that if the
saloon men worked against him in
this election he would close them up
on Sunday as a penalty for their in
reference. In reply to direcr
question he declared that if he were
elected and if the saloon element did
actively oppose him. and if he took
the oath of office. that he would do
so with "the usual reservation in re-
gard TO the enforcement of law" He
1il n a n pnfOrrp the jaWS
with reference to the saloons, al
though as sop to the church ele-
ment, he was in favor of closing up
the gambling places in this city.
mo wonder there is graft in all
the cities of this country and corrup-
tion and disregard of evil to such an
extent that the thing has become
recognized as a menace to American
institutions, when men who are
honest in their private affairs will
assume this attitude toward the laws
and their own solemn oath of office
when they come up for election to
public office.
THE widespread decentralization
that results is a blow at the very
root of American manhood and
character.
lone of our local papers published
yesterday outlines of the probable
issue of the city campaign. Two
tickets, it seems, are TO be presented.
a business mems ticket and a mu-
nicipal ownership ticket.
1.-THE names of several reputable
men We're suggested as nominees on
these tickets. The article closes
with this paragraph:
" The church element appears to
be saving wood just now and saying
nothing. Rumor has 1t, however,
that if the other two parties are to
place candidates in the field who are
satisfactory to the church people that
the latter element will hold a con-
vention and nominate ticket of its
own. The nominees on it. if elected,
would stand unequivocally pledged
to strict enforcement of state and
municipal laws
There is but one inference that
can be drawn from this article, and
it is an inference which exactly fits
the facts. The nominees on the
business mems ticket and municipal
ownership ticket do not propose to
stand pledged to the enforcement of
any Raw, state or municipal, that
does not happen to please them.
1T may be good policy for those
who have their own axes TO grind to
label the element in this city who are
determined to see the laws enforced
the church element. They make ap-
peal to prejudice that is commonly
supposed to be fatal to the interests
of any candidate thus labeled.
~ l. tto
imputation tia. they believe in the
enforcement Of laws. The question
is, can the community at large stand
the imputation that the only Ameri-
can citizen who will insist upon the
enforcement of laws are church peo-
pile That the only element who
will stand up for the interests of
the home. the school, the boys and
girls, the young men and women. the
business interests and the fair fame
of the town, as against the saloons,
the gambling dens, the opium dens
and pool rooms. the designation
houses and the bawdy houses of this
city, is the Church Element
If so, let me say it with all can
dor, force. and earnestness that the
Church Element. if it IS the only
law abiding and law representing
element, ought TO have the right and
privilege 10 run this town.
1T is absurd TO say that THE issue
before the people OF this city, is
municipal ownership. II was on this
so-called issue that the present city
council was elected last fall Won
der how many of the voters of this
city would be willing to entrust to
these men. after the record they have
made, the task of building and oper-
ating a system of municipal water
and light.
The real issue, and 1t has come to
be recognized as an issue in every
city of this country. is TO put men
into office who viii respect their oath
of office, who do not propose to take
the oath of office with reservations,
mental or otherwise, who will be
true, straightforward, business-like,
fsanahlp and who will devote their