The Washington times., 1907-04-06
New Land Commissioner
"CLeaned Up Seattle
Richard A. Ballinger Will
Now Reform Land
Service.
Begins by Establishing
Board of Law
Reviewers.

The General Land Office, long regard
ed as the seat of more bad administra-
ton than any other bureau in the Gov
ernment, involving. as It did, the ire
mendous interest OF the public domain,
has discovered why Richard a. Balm
ger, OF Seattle, was made commissioner
with complete power to reform TIE land
service.
MIR. Balinger VAS mayor Of Seattle
when doodle was driven out of that
PROSPEROUS but formerly very corrupt
town. He is not pTetentious man.
He has a square jaw, however, and a
very steady brown eye, and is good
lawyer. He was college mate OF Seere-
tary OF the Interior Garfield, and the
original impression was that the APP
pointment was merely a personal one.
The impression was partly correct, but
the real reason for Mr.. Ballinger's APP
pointment was that he had succeeded
IN introducing business methods and en-
forcing reform in what was once re-
garded as the most corrupt city on the
coast.
Former Mayor Of Seattle.
Mr.. .BaIhnger was brought here to do
for the Land ONCE what he did Tor
Seattle. He was elected mayor or
Seattle in March. 1903. and served two
terms. The mayor before him, and
some Of the aldermen and other ON
cials, were indicted. The town was
known on every route around the world
as the widest-open either east OF west
Of Suez. It was the last chance Tor
soiourners on the way TO Alaska, the
first chance" for those on the way
home. It may be doubted whether IN
fl7e bonanza DAYS OF the Golden West
brazenly, so .nagnifcently. as Seattle IN
the years from the opening OF the
Alaska gold region till the beginning OF
the Baliinger administrator EN s 80.
thing that goes with gambling was just
as open and Just as splendidly done;
They played stud" for N,OJ0 chips ana
millions were lost and won No city on
the Continent was trying 50 oespeIal e7
~ TO digest an overplus OF unexpected
prosperity It's boom was beyond com
pareI, and It's morals were. too Ihfough
It's gates passed the tide Of argonauts
drawn 20 the Frozen North oy the ,s.-
OF geld: to It's Golfers flowed the golden
stream whose source they found De
vond the Arctic circle. Seattle was the
reddest spot on the map, the hottest
town in creation
First Note of Protest.
Meek and mild was the first note OF
protest raised against the vide-open
code and practice Of the place. But II
swelled to storm Of protest. The bet
ter element OF the Republican party
sought a man strong enough 10 reform
the town. and Lawyer Ballinger was
chosen. He was elected. not as re-
former. but as the unpledged. free
hande candidate OF his party. Instead
of promising reform he produced II.
The town was forthwith cleaned up
The fight was long and desperately
waged. The opposition had money and
influence. and huge interests at stake.
But the mayor never fiinched, he car
ried all before him, and at the end OF
two years turned the town over TO MS
/ successor clean. decent and self-goY-
erning. He had put It on a business
basis OF administration The people
knew. what its departments were doing.
Business methods had been applied
/ everywhere
Every Individual Accountable.