The Moral Crusade for Seattle's Streets
Proponents of the 'Law and Order' ticket gather to demand the closure of 'lava bed' dives and gambling dens in an impassioned local election rally.
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.
About two hundred ladies and gentlemen met in the building adjoining Bell's Hotel, in North Seattle, last evening to listen to the discussion of matters of vital interest. Prof. K. S. Ingraham was chosen chairman. Judge Jacobs, candidate for City Attorney, addressed the crowd. He commended the Law and Order people for the fairness with which candidates had been selected, noting this was the first convention to give women a voice. He argued that the enforcement of law in the 'lava beds'—the district of disreputable houses—would not harm the city’s business. 'I think the city can afford to get along without dives where loggers and strangers are enticed to squander their hard earnings in drink and debauchery,' he said. He recalled the destruction of the infamous 'mad house' conducted by John Pennell, arguing that its removal had actually helped Seattle grow. W. H. White also spoke, attacking the 'Business Men's Club' and their candidate, John Leary, suggesting the interests of working men were being insulted by the local press. The meeting concluded with a call to arms for the upcoming election, framing the vote as a choice between law, order, and morality versus corruption and gambling.
“If our business men thrive on such business as that, for God's sake let her rip.”
This 1884 election drama reflects the classic 'Law and Order' vs. 'Business' divide that has haunted Seattle civic politics for over a century. The tension between the 'lava beds' (an old vice district) and the desire for a 'clean' city mirrors ongoing modern debates about police, zoning, and how to handle urban decay and public space.
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