The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1907-06-26

ited tribute on the isw breaking
elements That debAueh involved
the mayor 20 the point where he
vas forced TO resign and Mayor
Han. hia machine chosen successor.
sought to improve conditions some
shat fus political purposes psnd
InF the approaching election. That
spurt Of municipal dsceney failed
II is purpose. houevsr. for IN the
municipal election. % 1889 the dis
credited republican machine vas
defeated aud = 7 Ronald elected
mayor on the democratic ticket
Mayor RouEid appointed Andrew
Jackson chief Of police and under
took 10 clean up the town. In which
cffor, he succeeded nsssufabiy
but the dsfaleatlon Of City Treasur
er Adolph KruE. also a democrat
ana other political circumstances
80 initiated against the admsnis
sratlon that In the election % 1855
pyrun Phelps became mayor AZ the
successful republican candidate
Maynr Phelps restored Badly
Rogers As chief Of police and the
town continued as numinally a
closed town but with certain forms
Of gambling and other lnNisstnesf
permitted through political pull. n
For or graft.
when the Phelps Administration
came "a an end such vas the state
~ the public mind that Il was nee
essay for the republicans 10 prom
lse improved moral conditions
making the reconciliation 81 Nr
pheina impossible WarfinH fac
lions fought for the control 81 tho
city convention. one supporting
Angus W. Young for mayor the
other supporting Alonfo lIuli Thc
contest ended IN a compromise on
the nomination % Frank p Black
The democratic convention vas
,obbsd into nominating Or J Eu.
gene Iaraon and NJ Black vas
elected BY a vote % 2.sQa 10 2.fss.
During the campaign the repub
lican city central committee had
made certain deals" With privilege
sseklnE interests IN which they
we're promised administration n.
vors IN return for campaign con
tributiona and support at the polls
and when these deals we're revealed
10 MRyoreieet Black he refused 20
be a party to them. even TO tho
point of declining 20 qualify for the
office 20 which he had been elect
ed lie took up with the city eoun.
Ell the selection Of his successor
and prevailed upon them TO select
W. u. Wood.
Recognising no campaign pledges
nv poiitleal obligations 10 the con.
,rarv Mayor Wood Instituted an ad.
ministratlon OF law enforcement
and decency. The great municipal
problem during that period was the
eonatrurtiou Of the Cedar river
waicr system and with character
is,ie energy and indunr1 Mayor
wood devoted himself to the task
~ uutanniing tho municipality
from the opposition Of the big
business" plundorbund to that
project
Tho manic Of 1896 had complete.
~ noored Mr.. Wood financially
leaving him with heavy obligations
and Slim assets 10 the extent that
FOR a while he had no financial re-
sources above his salary Of 1900
year aa mayor Ia the spring OF
1897 there came that first rift In
the financial clouds which envcl
opod the community with the re-
ported discovery Of gold In the Yu.
Fon country and Mr. Wood. In the
hope Of reeouping his fortunes and
becoming able 90 redeem his out.
standing obligations organized an
expedition to Alaska. Before leny-
ing he rendered the council his res
ignauon but was prevailed upon 90
accept q 60 days leave Of absence
instead in the hope that he would
return within that time. lie was
absent many months. however,
during which period the office was
by the council declared vacant and
after a council deadlock Of several
weeks the office was on November
10 rendered TO ana accepted by
Thomas J Humea.
Personally honest and possessing
high degree OF moral courage
Mayor Humea was nevertheless pre-
vailed upon ~ insistent business
interests 10 throw the town wide
open and lneite 10 Seattle a popula-
ton OF gamblers. surething men,
bunco artists. common and others
OF their Tx on tho theory that these
men would take away from return
ing Alaskans OF a certain class
their easily acquired gold, dlstrib
utinR at least n portion through
the channels Of trade aud commerce