The Political Battle for Seattle's Streets

Last Saturday night, the Yesler Opera House was packed with those drawn by the announcement that a ‘Law and Order’ meeting would be held. The audience was large, including many ladies. At half-past eight, D. T. Denny, chairman of the Law and Order Committee, called the meeting to order. Mr. L. E. Armitage spoke to the crowd, defending the current administration against accusations that their policies were responsible for hard times. He argued that the current administration was being unfairly targeted for its enforcement of 'Sunday laws' and for attempting to run the city with efficiency. Armitage stated, 'We believe that there are no human rights or liberty except as limited by law; those are our fundamental principles.' He lauded the current Mayor, John Leary, for his commitment to keeping the streets clean and orderly, noting that since the Law and Order party came into power, the streets were cleared from Belltown to Wilson & Pease's wharf, and that city finances had improved. He contrasted this with the previous administration, which he claimed had left the city in debt. Armitage concluded by urging the citizens to vote for the entire Law and Order ticket to ensure continued reform.