The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-02-18
why collins?

fairness.
Why should Josiah Collins be elected TO the
council? Why should Collins WANT to be a
councilman? What is the excuse?
Let us consider Josiah Collins honestly, with
out prejudice Let us get away, it were to
a quiet corner, where think clearly and
honestly.
Josiah Collins has lived in Seattle since 1883
a matter of 81 years. If there is any excuse
for Collins election to the council certainly the
length of his residence ought to make il very
easy for him his boosters to point it out.
What is the excuse? What has Josiah Col
Inns done for the happiness Of the average
person in Seattle?
His friends say he is public spirited citizen.
Why? What has he ever done to earn this
praise? What have been the public spirited
acts that recommend Collins?
Up to four years ago, Josiah Collins fame
extended only to the society columns. he was,
and is, ideal master of ceremonies. He
knows all the rules of etiquette and lead
a cotillion with the best of them. From that
standpoint he has been very public spirited
His membership in the Rainier club, in the Golf
and Country club, the Junior Chaperon Dane
ing club, the Union club Of Tacoma. and other
exclusive clubs, has fitted him with a most
cellent training for social duties.
II was, therefore, entirely proper for the
Chamber of Commerce to appoint Josiah Col
lins chairman of the entertainment commit
tee various occasions.
Ii was also fitting that Josiah Collins should
have been chairman of the Committee on Cere-
mony Music and Entertainment Of the A-Y.-P.
exposition. In fact, it most fortunate, for
when President Taft visited the fair, no less a
person than Josiah Collins ACTED AS THE
PRESIDENTS CADDY ON THE GOLF LINKS
AT THE COUNTRY CLUB
Wealthy, Collins had retired from active law
practice for many years, and quite free for
social activities As toastmaster at banquets,
master of ceremony at dances and entertain
ments and bridge teas and tango teas, Josiah Col
Inns has no superior in Seattle.
1t only this sort of activity that engaged
the time and thought of Josiah Collins until,
in 1910, he was elected to the state senate.
The Star takes it that man in public office
should reflect, to degree at least the wishes
and sentiments of the public. What has been
Collins record in the senate? The Star will let
you Judge for yourself.
Josiah Collins was one Of three SEN
ators who voted against the mothers
pension law
Collins voted for the amendments
that would have defeated the wom-
ans eight-hour law.
He voted against the red-light
abatement law.
He voted against the workmens
compensation act.
He made the motion in the 1911
session to kill the bill to abolish
hanging.
He voted against the minimum
wage law for women.
He introduced bill to allow aliens,
who are not, and refuse to become,
American citizens, to own land in this
state.
He voted for all amendments that
would have killed off the initiative,
referendum and recall, but on the fl
nal vote he recorded himself in favor
of those measures.
He voted for the logged-off land
bill, but when the Chamber of Com
merce came out against it in the King
county election, COLLINS SAID HE
VOTED FOR 1T WITHOUT FULLY
REALIZING WHAT HE DID, AND
HE MADE SPEECHES AGAINST
1T.
Last year Collins was one of the
members of the charter commission,
which recommended the Hinky Dink
charter for adoption by the people,
and which the voters promptly and
decisively refused to adopt.
This, in brief, is Collins record