The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-05
Tacoma Men Heartily Sick Of
the 0costa Claimant.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS BOLT.
10 Elect the Adyenturer Would
Tempt Other Political Wrecks.
As Members OF the Legislature rass
Through Tacoma the ocosta Boom-
crs Learn With Grief That one Bal-
lot wiz Re-Eleet Squire.

TACOMA, Jan. Especial THE Calk
ins boomers are very blue this evening.
All day long members of the legislature
have been arriving and the great number
of Squire men has startled Calkips' friends.
1t is reported this evening that Calkins
may be dropped and another Pierce county
man substituted. This comes from a good
source, and is the result of the recent out
break among wcll-known and influential
Pierce Republicans. While all are willing
to work very hard for Tacoma and Pierce
county, many have begun to realize that
Calkins can not be elected, and they want
TO bring out another Pierce man before it
is too late. One of the most prominent
Republicans in the state is an ex-sheriT OF
Pierce. He has left the Calkins agcrega-
tion and boldly announces this evening
that the travelling man from Indiana cam
not be elected If given cards and spades.
"I'm for Pierce county," said tho OK -oiiioial
this evening, 'but after careful survey OF tho
ground find VIC cannot win with caikins. To
viii snow the county under. Now there is no
use to disguise this, and our duty is 10 put up n
good Pierce man right away. We can't afford 10
lose any time. ii we depose Calkins and name
a good man our chances win be great deal bct-
ter IL our men persist in trying TO make tho
race with the Indiana man, my support, and tho
support OF all my friends, viii be withdrawn.
even in the Pierce county delegation thcfp
are four or five men who would not vote tor
Calkins IL he were the last man in this wide
state, ii he were not nominally from Tacoma.
These representatives are ready to scatter at any
moment They arc young men, judicious and
honorable and recognize the blundcr the older
members have committed They know that
If Calkins should win he would have to consult
with the railroad corporations before he could
vote. They realize that his hands would be tied
so firmly that he could be Of little benefit to the
state, much less to the Republican party.
"These representatives wonder why Calkina
cannot build up law practice II he Is such m
able man. If he possessed the ability accredited
10 him he would not be Obliged to reach out for
an Office every time enc was in sight,
The ex-sheriH has any number of friends,
not only in Pierce county, but over all the
state, and his keen thrust given the Cal
kins cause has caused q deal Of worrying
and speculation as to who will be CaIkins'
successor in the race in case horses are
snapped.
Another blow has been gwen the 0costa
boom by the public announcement of the
secretary of the last Republican conyen-
tion, who declares that no combination
of circumstances could possibly elect Cali
kins. The secretary has lived In Tacomn
number of years, and few Pierce county
stalwarts are better known than he. The
unbiased advices that he has received from
over all the state elect Senator Squire on
the first ballot. Calkins men have been
using all manner of means to enlist the
secretary into their salvation army. but he
is firmly against the present candidate
from Pierce. These facts have caused
havoc. Little opposition was anticipated
in the county, much less from Calkins'
home, and conservative Republicans are
wondering whether 1t is best TO so on with
Calkins or not.
Reports from outside counties are very
unfavorabie. An eminent ex-meuber OF
the legislature, sometimes called the Sage
of the Sound, said tonight that q very
strong argument against Calkins is that il
he were to carry off the prizel every
broken-down politician in Indiana would
be out here before spring, chasing other
pIums This, coming from one who actu-
ally controls a number Of votes, certainly
emphasizes the fact that the Calkins boom
is on the toboggan slide.