Seattle's German Community Calls for Reform
A new non-partisan organization aims to challenge 'existing evils' in city hall ahead of the upcoming election.
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 German voters of the city propose to take a prominent part in the coming city election, and at a non-partisan meeting held in Turner Hall Saturday night a temporary organization was effected. A committee of seven representative Germans was appointed to draft plans for a permanent organization to fight against existing evils and support candidates of absolute honesty and ability. The new club will meet for permanent organization on January 5, 1894. The meeting was held pursuant to a call published in the Seattle Demokrat. Its editor, Paul Wernhagen, explained that the Germans have at present no representation in the direction of the affairs of the city. Great mistakes have been made and glaring evils had gained a foothold, all of which it was time to remedy.
“The Germans have at present no representation in the direction of the affairs of the city... great mistakes have been made and glaring evils had gained a foothold.”
This reflects the long tradition of immigrant communities in Seattle forming clubs to advocate for political representation and municipal reform. The 'glaring evils' of the 1890s city council often revolved around corruption and the distribution of public franchises, a constant theme in Seattle's political history.
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