Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-05-04
The Democratic Convention.
REPORT OF ONE WHO WAS THERE.

REPORT OF ONE WHO WAS THERE.
The Wcstside delegates to the Dem.
ocratic Convention, held at North
Yakima. left Tacoma on the Northern
Pacific Railroad on the morning Of the
18th inst, and reached their destina
ton at 5 O'Clock in the afternoon. The
ride over the mountains was a delight
full experience to those of the jolly
crowd who had been fortunate enough
to make this his first trip. There GER
tainly is nothing grander i'll the way
of mountain scenery, or more awful in
railroad engineering in the world to-
day. To the human mind, there
seems nothing impossible to the writer
after this ride. 1t seems almost like
the train was taken into huge eleva-
tor, carried to the mountain-top and
lowered on the other side. One has
no personal fear-everything that
money can buy and brain devise has
been done to make the Switch-back
absolutely safe. Just the same when
the train reaches Martins, on the
East side. 1t brings to mind the say
ing of the good old lady, who, after
crossing very high aqueduct on an
Eastern railroad, added to Il fellow
passengers remark of, once more on
terra frnaa, thank goodness" Eyes
less terror, and more firma," she said
under her breath. Down the winding
passage of the Yakima River the road
bed takes its way, and although con-
stantly ON the swing right and left, the
train makes good time. The West
siders began to feel the heat of the af-
ternoon sun. 1t was fearful hot and
dusty, and at Cle-ellum shop which
sold mineral water with hops in it, re-
ceived most liberal patronage by the
thirsty delegates.
Upon reaching Yakima, it was found
that the delegates from the East side
had preceded us and were on hand in
full force. Prominent among them
were Messrs. Fellows, Brown, Parks,
and w. d. Knight of the Chronicle, from
Spokane Falls; Chase and Martin, of
Walla Walla Mays OF Pomeroy, Omen
toned prominently, by the way, az a
candidate for Delegate to Congress) ;
Cation and Eccleson OF Sprague; Ed
itor Slater of the Stevens County Min
er, very fine looking young gentle
man who had word or two to say in
the Convention.
From the West side was the old wal
horse, C. d. Emery Of King; NJ. Kauf.
man of Pierce; Robt. Frost of Thurs
ton; VIM. Humphrey, Of Cowlitz
Mr.. Whittlesey Of Jefferson, and nu-
merous others of the chosen few.
The Convention was called together
in the Odd Fellows new hall, ut 8
O'Clock, on the morning Of the 18th,
and got down to business at once
Lincoln county was ON hand fora fight
with two delegates on the floor, strug-
Cling for a seat-a Mr.. Wickam and
Hon. Tom Cation. The Committee on
Credentials gave the seat to Mr.. Wick
am, but the Convention, upon hear
ing old honest Toms version of the
case gave both delegate half vote,
and the two, sat down together like
lambs, and in true Democratic FASH
ion, accepted the situation.
Resolutions endorsing the Admins.
tration and instructing the Delegates
elected to represent the Democracy ut
the St. Louis Convention for Cleve-
land, also endorsing the Territorial
Administration OF Governor Eugene
Semple were carried, amid the great
est enthusiasm. The fight Of the day
was upon the resolution requesting
the Territorial Committee to name
Ellensburg as the place for holding
the nominating convention. A mem
ber of the East side thought this
question was clearly within the prov.
ince of the Committee, and no affai
of the Convention; others were inter
ested in some place other than Ellens'
burg. However, it was carried by a
small majority, but had no bearing on
the selection by the Committee, as the
sequel shows. The election of the two
delegates was matter of but few mo-
ments. The East side brought forth
their man, in the person of J. J.
Browne, OF Spokane Falls, y particu-
larly good candidate, who has always
proved himself good Democrat, both
by words and acts in the past, and
this little act of kindness on the part
of the Convention is but slight ap.
probation of his valuable party ser
vices. The Westside struggle lay be-
tween ]. T. Ronald of Seattle, and Stew
art Rice of Tacoma, both good men,
Mr.. Ronald was early in the race, and
had requested by letter a great many
of the Delegates to support him, but
Rice's friends were active, and asked
that If Ronald was not elected ON the
first ballot, to throw their strength for
Rice. On the second ballot, Rice got
clear majority of five, the first being
Ronald, IL; Rice, IL. There is no
question but what Mr.. Rice's election
will be eminently satisfactory to the
majority Of Democrats on this side, al
though the Tacoma Ne,cs charges that
both Brown and Rice are railroad SYM
pathizers. 1t il bard at this time to
see how this fact, il true, is going to
cut any figure in the National Con-
vention, and it seems hardly reasona-
ble to apprehend they might have any
direful influence upon u Presidential
candidate.
The Spokane and Ellensburg Dele
cations came to the Convention with
= candidate and q strong desire for the
nominating convention. They were
both informed that honors would have
to be divided, 10 Spokane gracefully
retired from the field in favor of El-
lensburg for the next convention.
However, Spokane carried off both
plumes. The Convention was given
here as compromise measure, and in
order that the committee could arrive
at some decision. Ellensburg was
fought hard by three members of the
committee who wanted Walla Walla
to have the Convention. The West
side men, however, believed it to be
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