The Price of Political Patronage
A prominent Seattle Democrat finds his wallet on the line after his protégé, a municipal court clerk, vanishes with nearly a thousand dollars in public funds.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The glory of being a political boss sometimes costs a good deal. The possession of power entails responsibilities, and the head of a party has to suffer for the misdeeds of his creatures. The eminent private citizen and Democratic voter, John Collins, is now engaged in striking a balance between the political assets and financial liabilities of a municipal court clerkship which he controlled for a year. He placed his faith in Joseph E. Gallaher for the position and backed up his faith by becoming surety in the sum of $2,500, along with P. H. Smith, for Mr. Gallaher’s faithfulness. He is now called upon by the city to make good a shortage in his protégé’s account with the city of $900.20. Gallaher was clerk of the municipal court for just a year, and during that time, according to a complaint filed in the superior court yesterday by the city of Seattle, he received for fines, penalties, fees, and bail money the sum of $30,013.15. The complaint says he did not keep a full, accurate, and detailed account of the moneys received; he did not pay into the city treasury all the moneys received by him during the day previous. He paid into the city only $12,117.40 and refunded to persons entitled thereto bail money to the amount of $12,461.40. After paying to his successor in office only $440, the balance, amounting to $900.20, has never been accounted for.
“The glory of being a political boss sometimes costs a good deal. The possession of power entails responsibilities, and the head of a party has to suffer for the misdeeds of his creatures.”
This 1891 case highlights the era's 'spoils system,' where party bosses controlled minor civic appointments like court clerks. Today's Seattle voters often look back at the 'machine politics' of the 19th century as a relic, yet debates over civic accountability, campaign finance, and who really runs City Hall remain central to local politics.
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