After the Great Seattle Fire, a Plea for Order

In the work of rebuilding Seattle there will be need of perfect harmony and public spirit. The elements of municipal vitality should and must pull earnestly together. All who will give the matter a moment's thought must realize how important this is, and how it is absolutely essential to economy of force and to the best application of means to proper ends. There is perhaps no class in the community which in this great emergency can do so much toward maintaining harmony as the lawyers. They are everybody's advisors, and if they choose can do much to promote or allay those differences which come up between citizens. With these truths in mind, we hope the practicing lawyers of Seattle will come together to talk over their relations to the business community at this trying and critical time. It is very selfish, to say the least, for property holders and others to protest against the relief of the militia from the service which it is now performing, and it is a notable fact that this protest comes most from those who do nothing for the support of the militia. They seem entirely willing that the members of the National Guard should suffer personal loss and hardship through neglect of their private interests, and be forced to do service which could and should be done by paid policemen.