The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-28
LIVE QUESTIONS
By EDWIN .. BROWN

What's the matter with Seattle
and the State 81 Washington
promised 20 write on this subject
some time ago. but had to postpone
u until now.
Control Of political power and tho
use Of public office BY sinister en-.
pioiierH and Rrnftnrn have brough,
the people Of our city. county and
state face TO face with a serious situ.
alton. and expounding the gospel OF
class hatred Is no longer the fnonop-
oily Of tho street corner soap boxer.
A few upNiart politicians and
wouid.he political BOSSES In Seattle
and King County have fed on the
taxpayers and graf, until they are
self satisfied that the taxpayers of
our city and county are their legiu.
mate prey.
King County has now had near
two years open season for crime
Murder has come TO he No common.
plsor in klnK County that no special
record iH kept in any public office
whereby the people may he in.
formed. n IL said that King County
has had forty-nine murders since
January I. 1919. Those who sur.
rendered were captured. A few were
convicted who pleaded guilty. but
these were without political infiu.
encc or money. Many murdercra
who are convicted walk out Of our
Jail and go their way.
Whisky and dope have becn tho
direct cause Of large percentage %
these murders and while We learn
that there are ten thouiand whisky
and beer manufacturers IN our state.
and twenty-five hundred In King
County. II IN announced hy our pub
Tic prosecutor national and county
that tho law viii not he enforced
TO suppress the illici, brewery and
stiii. Men killed In gambling houses.
called clubs. men and women Killed
over whisky. prostitution and dope.
yet public authority refuses TO act.
because Of the liquor and drug traf.
fic the people are burdencd with the
expense Of prosecuting an army OF
criminals. made by whisky and dope.
The people Of Seattle have been
betrayed by big business. and no one
has tho courage TO stay the hand OF
the profitecr.
Seattle was first robbed. then
slandered. but the day Of reckoning
Is close NJ hand. Many OF our first
citizens have Joined In the mad race
for dollars and allowed the good
name OF our city 10 be sacrificed, by
fool. Seattle has been burglarlzed.
and while her people were deeply
conscious OF their patriotic duty. they
were made the victims of fraud, insult
and injury from a conspiracy con.
eeivcd by darklantern financicrs
who have dug "A hole into which they
will fall.
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
must have a new constitution. and
call statesmen 10 fill the places now
held by politicians. We have land
enough for an empire. and water
enough 20 make IL the golden harvest
Of the globe. only two lone states.
men have appeared in twenty years
who cast politics aside long enough
TO speak for the people. and they
were Governor John X. Rogers and
the late Governor Ernest II. Lister.
These men were fearless, and the
impetus they gave to our progress
and the Irrigation of our rich lands
Will yet transform n vast desert into
productive fields that will feed an
empire.
The state OF Washington has more
than 100000 acres OF the finest
land in the world and twenty times.
Yes. forty times. enough water TO
irrlgatc II and make homes for those
who are willing TO work.
Every town. city. county and our
state ought 10 have its official hui.
lctin printed weekly and sold at cost
80 that the people may have the
facts plainly stated concerning their
public affairs.
A new era is dawnine Old theories
must give way TO new needs OF civ.
ilization. The progressive mind
would bring advancement. the reac.
tionary mind would vacillatc. equiv.
ocaie and procrastnatc, while the
mind would arrest progress
for selfish gain SO after all. our
state liz all right. only II needs fixing
by public officials who are states.
men EDWIN J. BROWN.