The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-10

NOBODY RESPON SIBLE.

Were there no complaints, no pro.
tests? Indeed there were. But there
seemed to be no use in protesting. No
body seemed responsible. One coun-
Gilman referred the taxpayer to anoth-
er and he blamed it all on II committee:
board of public works, and that body
on the council. The extravaganza and
inelliciency were wasting hundreds of
thousands of dollars of public money
and yet there seemed no relief.
In those days it was an unusual week
that did not find some municipal scan
dial aired in the press, and the name
of Des Moines became by word in the
state. It's people lloundered helplessly
| in their mire of trouble with no one to
point way out until an attorney
CHANGED to suggest that the city gov
eminent ought to he entrusted to Il re-
sponsible few instead of an irresponsi-
bic many. Then came Il returned
visitor from Galveston, Texas, with the
suggestion that Galveston had done
much to solve municipal problems. and
then in November, 1909, public spirit
ed attorney and capitalist, James G..
Berryhll made IA trip of investigation
to Galveston, and returned to address
mass meeting 10 its favor. One address
followed another,the press endorsed the
idea, and in January, 1898, a commit
tee of attorneys prepared bill and
offered it to the legislature, only to be
refused its adoption. There was dis.
enlargement, but determined few
kept up their interests, Harvey Ing
ham. editor of the Register and Leader
decided upon Il definite policy OF publi-
city for the proposed commission gov
eminent, and in season and OUT he ham
mered away at it. The other news
papers Joined in, and so did prominent
men. When the legislature met in
January, 1907, it was approached by a
determined sentiment for the enact
ment of bill giving relief. This
litdSulc MdS Val vi avn Wy tii'
backed by committee of 300.
Charges of attempted bribery against
public service corporations made by
reform member of the city council, and
the refusal of grand jury to :ndict
upon what was considered good evl-
dence stirred the people still more
deeply, and finally the legislature
Welded aud enacted the Des MOines
Plan law.
y BITTER FIGHT.
Then began fight for its adoption
that was more bitter than any light
d, S Moines or Iowa had ever witnessed
b fore. The politicians lined up again
it solidly: they appealed to the labor
unions. who weresuspiciOus, by mis-
representations, got the support OF then
leaders. although the rank and file did
not follow: they used the power of the
city hall gang, and they were abetted
by the corporations, which poured
money like water into the campaign.
For weeks the fight was w9ged, huf-
dreds of speeches were ellvcred, com
munity meetings were held, and there
was not Il man, woman or child IN All
the city who did not have more or less
comprehension o! it ALL
Though the opposition fought to the
very last minute it was overwhelm
ingly defeated and in June, 1907, the
city of Des Moines, by its vote for re-
form, announced that 1t had at last
shaken the hold Of corporation, mis-
management and lncfliciency on mnni-
cipal affair, and that it would start
new with an entire pew deal.
The result was generally accepted
and the winners prepared for the mex
fight-the election of the right officials
and the practical and successful opera
tons of the plan. How they have sue
ceeded we shall see later.