The Political Spoils System in 1892 Seattle

The real nature of the recent Democratic 'reform' campaign is now apparent. It was a mere raid on the offices, and the raiders are still raiding. Charter provisions, legal rights, and all things that stand between Democratic aspirants and the immediate possession of the offices are to be swept away, and places are to be found for the party workers at any cost. Mayor Ronald has now assailed the board of public works. He has summoned the Republican members, Major Rinehart and G. H. Heilbron, to appear before him and show cause why they should not be removed from office. The charges which he prefers are so trivial that even the learned mayor must have smiled when he formulated them. The principal charges against Mr. Heilbron are that he joined with his colleagues in reporting on the condition of work which he had not personally inspected, and that a small amount of the insurance on city buildings was placed through the agency of the Washington Territory Investment Company, in which Mr. Heilbron is nominally a stockholder. This the mayor ponderously calls 'malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance in office.' No charges are made against Jesse Cochran, the Democratic member of the board, for it must be distinctly understood that only Republicans lack virtue in the eyes of Mayor Ronald.