The Detroit times., 1912-03-15
HOW PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
INVOKED RECALL AND
SAVED THEMSELVES
Fotefs Turn DOWN. --eeaaikss=a#d
Alev Theory, Which Meant
Wide Open Town
WOMEN AID IN VICTORY
Rebuke Administration of Hiram
c. Gill, Elected Mayor
Two Years Ago

SEATTLE. Wash, March 10. Seat
lie has again turned down the cakes
aud ale" theory OF running big city.
BY cakes and ale" Is meant wide
open city, Haunting tenderloin and
feyerish actiyity--a union or vice
and business.
Exactly two years ago this city
elected Hiram c. Gill as mayor be
cause he told them there would be
plenty OF cake, ale and personal hb-
erty.''
Just one year ago The people grcW
very weary OF so much cake ana so
much ale. They signed in great num-
bers little paper which was styled
a recall petition. At the recall cleo
ton this same Hiram G. Gill was re-
called 10 private life and George w.
billing was elected instead on plat
form which eliminated both cake aid
ale.
Twelve months passed. The time
came for the regular city election and
who should come before the people
as candidate for mayor again but iii
k Gill. He told the people that bust
ness was dull. II needed briskins up
again and that he was the man who
could give all the wheels OF industry
extra twirls and make day Of night
once more.
1T has always been my opinion"
quoth Gill, that my election would
Indicate In the east that Seattle has
resumed its normal condition and that
II would restore confidence in the
city" Part OF the town gave ear to
HI and In every city up and down
the coast the news was spread that
another attempt would be made 70
"open up Seattle. Friends of "Gil-
Ism" fiocked to the city and an ex-
4 pertly planned political organization
was got together and armed with all
the golden sinews of war.
Along came the primaries and with
four candidates In the field Hi" Gill
received. d 10000 lead over his near
est opporient, George f, Cottrill. Gill
and Cotterill were nominated and The
two weeks race for election was In
full swing.
II was a short, sharp fight. When
Gill was mayor he allowed restricted
district to open in which one single
brothel netted It's owners $4,000
month and IN which one single gam
bling club earned 100000 in its %
days OF existence. But this time Gill
admitted he had made mistake anu
he said he didn't plan to establish an
other lsiistrict" Otherwise the same
old breezy arguments were used as
when he declared: II want the bands
10 MAY in the parks. want the peo-
ple to sit on the grass in the PARKS
and enjoy II. What Seattle needs Is
"a mayor who will get police CHIEF
who will handle the vice element, ana
I'm the bird"
Cotterill. city and state leader
az progressiyes. stood for municipal
decency on a platform OF "A true CITY
OF the people where humanity rules
and commerce serves.
II was hard fight TO make In tne
true interests OF these people. Coz
terfll was lighting for the future nap
piness and prosperity OF Seattle. no
had to struggle under the hanolcap
OF hard business times. handicap
which led thousands and thousands Oh
men and women voters 70 believe mat
an open town with "Gillism' ruling
would make business good.
II was a desperate fight TO open
the eyes OF the people to. the reai
truth. Every hour OF the short cam
paign the battle went en- On Inc
one. side were the big special inter
eats and the gambling and vice gangs
captaining and financing the Gill hsht
On the other the Seattle Star.
scripps newspaper. the majority oil
the progressive citizens, the major
ity of women and all the churchos.
The day after the primaries odGs
we're Is to on Gil. The day before
election IL was conceded the result
would be very close.
The election March 4 was neck
and neck race. The count took ali
nirht. In the morning II was known
that gill was beaten by over ooG
votes.
The power OF an honest, independ-
emit newspaper In such a crisis was
recognized by Mayorelect George +.
Cotterill when he said:
THE Seattle Star has been our
tower OF strength throughout the
primary and the final campaign, again
displaying It's fidelity as champion
and protector OF the peoples interests
against all special privilege aggres-
sors and every vicious influence. a
oommunity is safe with such an indie
pendent and courageous peoples