The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-03-30
Letters to the
Editor
WHY rHE vRENzIED

Editor The star; A. understand
and remember them. tho prcsn and
the public OF Seattle knew. such Of
them az were interested. that the
street car lines which they cout~m.
plated purchasing were not q good
investment They knew that tho &c.
tuai net earnings on the car lines
alone. A. Operated by tho stone a
Webster organisation, were not such
an 10 tempt any investor. They
knew. ana had s~~n ample proof.
that tho stone q Webster crganisa
ton was unable 10 operats the lines
on n basis satisfactory to the public
poxcept at a loss.
Knowing these facts. then. the
public. represented by It's elected Of
fieiaJs. of whom Mr.. Caldwell was
one. and r.aasured Of its vision by
the daily papers. entered into newoti.
alton. with tho stone a Webster In
tsr~sta for the purchas~ Of tho Sc.
afsi- car lines. The essential Ind.
dents os these negotiations wvrc. !
believe. an offer by stone q Web.
stsr 20 s~ii the lines for something
like tis.soo. 900. which was not ar
eept~d By the city. oountsr offer
BY the city 10 purchase the lines for
tis. 600 900. which was accepted by
stone a Webster and ratified by the
people. Tho purchase OF the lines
was loudly Acclaimed m The soiu.
ton Of seatue'a car service.
Nov. however. . far different
STORY IL told All these facts. which
~e read about At that time. werr
then and now are ACTUALLY true
The street car llr<1 are not a paying
investment. antws have had to Ray
tho tnxsn and street upke~p en-
p<ns~s Of the car linz. And %
some Of IN have axiie,y about far~d.
hiotfed from our minds the casual
and optimistic way IN which ve ooos
discounted these facts, and have
turncd cur righteous wrath upon
tho~e who have the courage 10 fuifiiI
their obligations. however difficult
they may b. and upon Stone q Web
STIR for letting us buy the Inca
The exact purpore OF the frepx3cd
lamentations 70 not. on tho surface.
apparent II my pesghsor offers 10
sell me . u-~<s automobile for 81. eco.
and AFTER Investigation I offer 20 buy
for $500. DO I have any legal redress
n my neirhbor accepts my offer and
I later md that thu automobile war
not worth tho purchase price' In
other words. does IN. law inquire In
to the adequacy OF consideration
where Tia pr~srnc. In undoubs~df
n relief from tho agreement Ia d.
sired. why not confer with the Stone
a Webster officials over the best
method Of settling the mattsr7 n
such n settlement IL impossible, why
not stand by tn. guns. cooperate In
level headed manner. decide on
the best possible plan Of operation.
and carry on-r why not Admit
that We made a poor bargain. dis
play little common sense. and make
tho BEST OF our bsrgainY Above all.
why not cease the disgusting flow Of
ipsinuations which decide nothing.
help no one and Injuries us sll7
| II Seattle In TO live as tho impor.
tant center OF the Northwest. would
II not be well To make Of II q place
where decent men may hold office
without having every difference OF
opinion on their part met by r-crirni.
nation and abuse from those with
whom they differf
by way OF explanation. I may say
thai the most ever received from
stcne A Webster was a transfer. and
paid for that. NJ. r. PUGH.