The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-19
HELPING THEIR MEN.
Democrats Hold a Ratification
Meeting.
OPPOSED TO THE CHARTER.
Ronald, White, Thompson, Collins and
Other Leading Lights Eulogise
Their Candidates.

The Democrats OF Seattle held ratification
meeting at the Armory last evening, at which
severaI hundred were present twas addressed
by a number of the leading Democratic local
speakers. The longest speech of the evening
was made by w. II. white. who hsrangued the
crowd for two hours. and the shortest was made
by John Collins, candidate for mayor. who did
not occupy more than two minutes by the
watch.
L. C. Gilman, in opening the meeting, said
that the coming election was very important
one. 1--WE have met here tonight he said, Ito
ratify the action OF the city convention in NOM
mating the city ticket" In introducing j. T.
Ronald as the first speaker, he characterized
him as the Achilles of Seattle.
Mr.. Ronald said he was glad to see 20 many of
the working people. In FACT" he said, ~
never saw q political campaign in which
the workingmen took part that they
did not win. He said that his party had placed
well-known men before the people. and he was
proud OF them, and hoped they would be
elected" He also read the different sections of
the two city platforms, and gave considerable
time to the eight-hour subject. Continuing he
said: THE Republican party is IN favor OF the
adoption of ths new charter The Democratic
party is not Il puts too much power
in the hands Of the mayor. 1t is
undemocratic. All Of the many offices which
the charter gives the mayor the power Of filling
have been given out about fifteen times. But
honest John Collins will be the best mayor.
''some OF you may have heard that was q
candidate for the nomination OF mayor Well,
maybe l was; but ii / was. ] was
beaten by q better man. aud that
man is honest. plain John Collins.
/ remember. how on the night of June 6, last
year. when the city was in ashes, and went
Down to near where the Occidental stood and
John Collins stood there looking at the ruins.
that he said bravely that we must go to work
again to rebuild, and gentlemen. when the sun
rises on election day il will set upon John Col
Inns as mayor of the city Of Seattle"
viii H. Thompson, in the course OF his re-
marks, said that the Republican party was in
sincere. and that II was afraid to come out def
niteIy upon airy subject. George Washington, -
he said, was once taken to task for voting for q
man whom he had once said bitter things
about Washington replied that he was voting
fol measure and not man." He considered
that the proper thing to do in this case. "The
Republican party" he ssid." was q menace to
labor aud to liberty. and should be destroyed"
K. G. Stfudwick, Democratic candidate for
corporation counsel. said that he could not
agree with those who thought partisan politics
should be kept out of city affairs. The party,
he thought, was the same whether in city, state
or national affairs.
W. II. White made very lengthy speech, in
feelings he would not have been there For
years." he said, my voice has been heard In
every campaign, until today ! am tired
OF 1t, and sometimes think the
people are tired OF me- He paid
a high eulogy to John Collins, and thought
with Mr.. Thompson that the Republican party
should be destroyed, or the United States would
become an empire. He attacked Postmaster
General Wanamaker, aud said that the Repub-
lican party would never have liberated the
negro if it could have stopped the war and
saved the Union. 1t was to stop secession and
not 10 free the slaves that the war
was fought, and the Republicans did now desire
the credit for il. The blacks were freed because
of u military necessity and not because the Re-
publican party wanted 1t that way.
John Collins said that he did not come there
to make a speech-that he couldn't-but that he
stood upon the Democratic platform and II he
should be elected he would, as he mad done be-
fore, carry out the wishes Of the people
double quartette of the members OF the
German Democratic CLUB and the First Regi-
ment band furnished music. and the rafifica-
ton closed with three cheers for the Demo
cratic candidates.