The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-27
OREeon B0ssfs IT WAR.
A Fractional Fight that Threatens
Republican Supremacy.
ysu~s Lssss. ~ Portland. TryisE
20 rash Senator simon Ell shs
Thrs.~-rh~ Usrertsin Ksd.

involving the political patronage o.
Portland and the Republican machine
Of the enflrs state of Oregon, Il rso1
going on between two Republican fac
tons in this city--one headed By state
Senator Jeeeph Simon. who has Iong
been the high eockaaorurn OF the
party IN this ssAtc, and the ether By
lanes Lotsn. president OF the board q
FIRE commissioner. xfo sspisss 20 the
lofty piasse occupied b. the rsssonbt-
able Law partner Of Senator Dolpb.
The whole affair simpsy amounts to
an apen ruptnre between the friends
and supporters Ct Senators Mitchell
and Dospb. tboagh the senator's them.
selves are very friendly ard have
taken no part In the insernectns war
now raging. The local papers have
maintained M onsinons silence rsla-
tive to this political eruption. and only
q few besides these on the inside have
any knosisdge OF il. Both factions
are determined 20 wln. and unless
there II reconciliation ~ The warring
elements the distribution OF federal
Offices rs Oregon Is likely 20 be sefs.
0ualy himdeyed, 20 say nothing OF tbf
party counting defeat st the l0rfheons.
ing city election and ~ the general
election ifs June. Isssl-
i'm Inrss's aMEsrfow-
The diseord had its origin. I think,
In the ambition OF Lotan 20 be the
Tom Pfatt Of Oregon politics. urigin.
ally. simon and I.otan were the two
big men Of the Republican ring OF
Portland and side by eide they fought
that the party might ie victorious al
the poffs During eamEaIgn times
they held meetings and discussed
plans of procedure aud when the
smoke uf battle had been waited away
on the winds. wheB fearless tsit uf-
successful Democracy lay bleeding on
the untepted iield. they met again and
talked about how easy IL is 10 do a
thing when person knows only how,
This immunity -there-is-strength
policy was pursued ia the days when
Portland was net go surely Republican.
when a handful of discordant fellows
IN the south wards with the aid OF the
oserw heIming Democratic majority In
Couch precinct might overthrow or ~
least make things extremely uncom-
Portable for the weak and struggling
Republican oligarchy that has since,
by constant sucking OF the public teat
developed into sn enormous political
octopus. encirclipg with lts manifold
arms all Portland, and | may sayetiae
whole state.
TaF WORLD WENT VERY WELL TiEKs.
Now everything has changed. De
nocraey, beaten back from the RAM
parts every time il has dared 10 face
them, the last time worse than ever, is
now but a luminous example OF what
was, or what might have been II other
things were not as they are. but a
shadow Of It's former self, and with the
party in the usdeFhand in national
politics il promises to be a very stu
corpse until some unlocked for agita-
iioa sways the public mind and it1-
pels the iHpulslye, never steady voter
81 cast his ballot 70 conform with tho
state Of his temper 81 the time i1e Is
called upon ia exercise his great Amer
lean pferogasive.
In years gone by Oregon was very
qusnEly the Democrats elected their
Legislatures. governors. ard occasion
ally United States senator. firsi
Portland WAS wfested from them, then
Naisslolnah county. aud for several
years they have not stood a ghost al
& show IN the contests that have taken
place. Last year The Republican.
achieved the zauiih OF their power.
Never vas the party moro thoroughly
organized ioF fray. aud never was
yisfoFy more complete.
Tha change IN the state was brought
alsous mainty by Immigration. I'm
Portland the Democrats have lost
control OF their ola stronghold. North
Portland. long the home Of the labor
inc men Within a few years that
portion af ti8e eity has been bulls ur
with magnificent residences Owned by
wealthy merchants. while the iaboring
man has moved 60 otlger parts.
THE ost6is er THE Kagrflos.
That completes the story OF political
fluctuations III Oregon and Portland
and row | advert to the original
topic. Tire dissension in the ranks
has been brewing for nearly three
years. since June, issfi. when Simon.
then chairman II the Republican state
central eaasmlttee, made an omen and
snceessfal war on John Il. Waldo, the
nominee Of his party for Justice at the
Supreme court
Though MIR. Simon. as private cit
ixsn, would undoubtedly have been
Justified ia taxing the course he did. /,
having been said that Judge Waldo
whsss -4adertug . decision some time
previous, IN = case wherein Jew was
plaintiff. remarked that there was
generally 30 justice i'm q Jews cause,
yet he has heen openly eensaresi for
using the machinery OF has office q De.
ieai the candidate ~ his party. and
There has been much opposition ia
him.
Pubile sentiment In his case NAV ha
rather tasfif well guaeed from the re-
tufns ot the last june election. Mr..
stnfnfl sought 81 lse elected 90 the state
Sonsie - r yIss1isatson Of his action.
He rau several hundred votes behind
hts ticket afid II the Republicans who
scratched him had concentrated their
vittes On any ore Democrat il Is quite
probable that be ouid haye been de-
lrsted. Then be SOUGHT ia he elesta,I
president Of the senate as = fgrthrr
ylndieaiion and gnt away with that
plniae ~ geaa style New shey say
he wants e. he elected 10 the United
States senate As another yindication.
Whether ia this last instance there
VIII be FepiIislon 81 the fable OF tie
dog biting % the shadow OF It's owri
bone tSnAiiss Tor time and the legisla.
iaFe 81 1907 to determine.
fRE fseHr nEgps.
The 6rst indication OF a row in
camp WAS ia she Republican primaries
Just teEorc the csty election las wear.
The eight sas "a determine who
should ha councilman fFpm the Ssconl
safd aud Tire iaian men We're victor.
seiis, T61s sore heatea nn to all an
T<sFAnsss, The party. uniting for the
FSetest ton az Senator iAoiph. During
shr lssstslSsive ses-toe there Was a
Efrat deal cf emitting Snd Sinee thea
tie hfesch has a~eR gradually hes
surely widening aSlli Il has aNSnnsa.f
The proportions ~ q vaa aiae ebasfe III
snkuosa depth. the prospective erAvf
- the sletesssa host. Both factions
were en- hand and the preliminary
rattle @ss fought IA the balls nf he
state cspltsi. @si ths SIMON men car.
Vel CT 81 ;be henass.
TIE issstan nsva. eoasilant al SO.
cory, went to raleiu. loaded Nth airy
vsstis.ss HhlCta she ufsexJsexged defeat
siasssises into SnsstheTxeas I.asAn
essts the president ST The Gre beard
4 was conceded THAI he had ssonfsng III
taas department. If the CITY. Hat he
Mas saei satisfied with 80 little. He
wanted - SCI bold 81 ire lsal.ee de.
pSftnssns. and Il = ssSd that BE hal
sireSsiF planned ta reorrsBiss tae