The Tallest Man in the Charter Committee
A political power struggle at City Hall concludes with the appointment of a local pile driver to the Charter Revision Committee, largely because of his stature.
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 charter revision committee was finally constituted last night, including Thomas F. Drew as chairman. Several prominent citizens declined to serve, and the vacancies were filled by the election of Attorney W. T. Scott and Joseph Kerr, who is engaged in the pile driving business. Mr. Kerr owes his nomination to Bardo Jellich, who asked the committee to elect him. When asked what his special qualifications were, Jellich exclaimed: 'Don't you know Kerr? Why, he is the tallest man in the city.' A power play followed where Mayor Ronald, who expected to be chairman, was 'turned down' by his supporters in favor of Drew. The committee is tasked with drafting a new city charter by the end of November.
“Don't you know Kerr? Why, he is the tallest man in the city.”
This reflects the performative and often opaque nature of late 19th-century municipal politics, where appointments were as much about social standing and 'clout' as policy. It remains a classic example of the 'local politics as theater' dynamic that has historically characterized Seattle City Hall.
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