The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-01-24
GRIFFITHS
RAPS HIS
2 RIVALS

Entering tho Open Forum
platform OF The Star In the
contest for mayor. Austin T..
oriffiths submits . red.hot con.
tribution today In which he
ss7d!.s-ha.s MAsar Gil, whess
chief OF police he was. and o.
liver r. Erickson, with whom
he was associated In the eovn.
Gil. without kid gloves
Nis letter follows:
Editor Tho Star: ! have read
the letters OF Mayor GIL and Mr..
Erickson In the open Forum OF The
Star. In which each pricks tho 9th.
er'A bubble.
These political huoknters are
both offering gold bricks for votes.
Tho mayors little brick IN low
taxes. The otner giittering at.
traction IL n program of cheap"
utilities
How long will II take the mayor
to lower sases at the rate he has
reduced them In the last two years7
The greater the valuation and the
higher the rate. the more tag we
gay. This year we have the high.
est valuation. the highest rate and
the most city tas 10 pay IN the his.
tory OF Seattle.
The year before our doughty
mayor used his battle AZ 10 smash
down taxes. our valuation VAS
sbou, $4,000 900. and our tax rate
under is mills
This year after the mayors won.
derfui siashing and smashing per.
Torrance. our valuation has risen
10 se3i 100000. aud our tar rate
touches tn. sky.
The mayor can do better az whis-
Ting than figuring
WHEN | WAS A BOY. WAS
TOLD IF COULD NOT SAY
ANYTHING GOOD or A MAN. TO
SAY HE ~ A GOOD WHISTLER
LET Us so PRAISE THE
MAYOR.
Mr.. Erickson's false alarms and
promises OF cheap light and rides
will not deceive the levei.headed.
They know that public ownership
in our city II safe.
A community that recently voted
20 mnnieipaiire our water front and
later to establish a belt line. will
not. as citizens OF Seattle. take
fright at Mr.. Erickson's searecrow,
put up because he would like 10 be
mayor.
| know tho people Of the city.
They will not 70 backward as 10
their settled policies. they viii not
go counter 10 the worldwide ad-
vance toward common ownership
and use Of realty necessary public
utilities even tho biunderp have
been made here that would send
men in private life into business OBJ
livion. They know. however. that
ws cannot sc, something for moth
Ing. nor all ~c want all at once.
or what use for Mr. Erickson to
talk OF cheap iisht and power. at
or nj near cost. when he purporcly.
after full warning. costing 5000.
gambied over one and one-haif mill.
Ion dollars OF other peoples money,
upon the Cedar river dam that
won, hold water'
The porosity OF the north bank
cannot be scaled by MFR. Eriokson's
vcrbosity In explanation. A sieve
IL n fact which even Mr.. Erickson
IL compelled TO recognise. whether
privately or publicly owned.
But when several OF his assoc lstes
In the council urged what 10 now
being done, sitter nearly three years
o. delay. and sster the money has
been spent. Mr.. Erickson soiennIy
informs us we were making an at
tack upon municipal ownership"
Not lack OF will. but lack OF mon.
ey on the part OF tho people. with
want OF confidence In the business
ability Of many divine right" lead
crs. retards municipal ownership In
our city.
We have 10 much money under
tho Law allowed us. and. like n frn-
gal housewife. we must make II go
round
However. Mr.. Erickson knows
that a. councilman and a. chair.
man OF the utilities committee. he
can do more for his issue" than ~
he were a dozen mayors In one.
This city r. like n vessel cross.
ing the bar into a bay with rocks
on the side and mud flats ahead
the city needs a pilot for mayor who
knows the soundlngs and all the
channels.