Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-01-23
afashln9ton S tandara
OLYMPIA. Wi>Ss.
TRIBAL ,ihAiNG. JAN. %. 1921.
A Disgraceful Scene.


messed il ~. i r.iiical history OF this
CT any other state. 1t occurred at
The OLYMPIA, which las hitherto been
regarded IL quiet and reputable no.
tel. conducted on first class principles
and worthy OF the patronage OF orderly
and law-ahi,iing people.
In order to fully understand the eX-
traordinary proceedings which almost
resulted in tragic termination on
that evening, it must toe borne IN
mind that the hotel has been the (
Headquarters oi the rival candidates
for Senator, Calkins and Squire; that
ever since the Legislature, met both .
factions have been running gin mills
in the hotel, as a means ol creating
and sustaining enthusiasm for their
respective favoritcs; that at all times
some OF the leaders and many OF their
followers were carrying apretty strong
head of steam, and this TACT cOnsti-
tutcs about the only excuse for the
scene of disorder which ensued on the
eve of the final action for elccting Il
Senator, if indeed drunkenness is an
excuse for any act which degrades
manhood and brings the dignity of Of
fetal l,uai,iun into contempt.
1t seems that Squire's "managers,"
as they have leen called, early in the
evening had secured the names of 56
Republicans to call for caucus, to
he held at the Capitol that night, and
f. S. Meany, a Representative from
King county, had been deputed to
read it in the hotel lobby, probably to
give notice to the Caikins men that a
majority had been secured for Squircs,
whereby further opposition would be
useless. About eight o'clock, that
gentleman mounted the stairway lead
ing from the rotunda to the second
floor, and began reading the call for
caucus. No interference was met with
until he, very indiscreetly, announced
that the document was signed by the
requisite number of members for ma
jority on joint ballot. Then the fun
began. Men threw their hats into the
air and shouted until they were hoarse
for Squire AS Meany was about to
retire demand WAS made by scores
of voices to read the names. This he
attempted to do, but his voice was
drowned by tumult of yells from the
disgruntled Calkins men. AS each
name was shouted by the now excited
reader, it was met with a torrent of
screams which completely overpowered
his voice. A person standing at his
elbow could not have heard a single
name for the preponderance of wind
from many throats which went forth
simultaneously and apparently with
one accord. The reader unwittingly
aided this precision by violent gesticu-
lation, bringing his clenched hand
down when each name was pro-
nounced, thus giving the exact time
for counterblast from the excited OPP
ponents. And thus it went on, until |
the list was completed, the excitement
each moment growing more intense.
As the serio-comic drama proceeded,
men jumped upon the tables, counters
and chairs, and for time pandemon-
ium reigned. Suddenly rush was
made for Meany, and several of Cal
kins' prominent strikers climbed up
the steps and grabbed for the paper in
his hand. He was pressed against the
railing, and for brief period it was
thought that he would be thrown
headlong to the floor below. Friends
rushed to his aid and it came to hand
to-hand contest for possession of the
cherished bit of paper. DoOlittle, ex-
Code Commissioner, and Nelson Ben
nett, Judge Calkins' manager" were
the first on the landing. Doolittle
shouted to Bennett who was in the lead,
"Grab the paper and tear it," but
Meany finally obtained a position with
his back to the wall. He was reinforced
by Col. Haines and Moritz Koch, OF
Seattle, Representative Ragsdale, Con-
tractor Roberts and C. B. Dillingham;
OF Spokane Falls. Haines seized.
Doolittle and threw him aside, and
Representative Ragsdale pulled Nelson
Benefits whiskers until he released
his hold on Meanv. Dillingham;
jabbed his elbow into Benefits
stomach. BY this time hundreds of
men were crowding towards the scene
of the conflict, and it looked as il
nothing could possibly prevent a riot.
By an almost superhuman effort
Colonel Haines freed Mcany from his
assailants, and, the coast being clear,
he fled up stairs to Senator Squire's
headquarters. He was weak and tot
tering. His clothes were disarranged,
prespcration was running from every
pore, and when he reached the room
he fell on q bed exhausted. Then
Sheriff McGraw, of Seattle, waved his
arms like q jumping-jack and proposed
cheers for Squire. They were given
with a will. Then Nelson Bennett,
with face beaming like the orb
of day at sunset yelled for cheers for
Calkins, and an immense volume of
sound and fury again surged through
the spacious rotunda. Then followed
alternate cheers for the two candi-
dates, neither of the leaders desert
ing their position on the stairs.
The violence of the storm of passion
gradually subsidized, and finally the pro-
ceedings assumed, if possible a still
more grotesquc form. Bennett and
Doolittle stood on the stairs and shout
ed till they were hoarse. when Thomp-
son of Walla Walla, joined the duet
and began making speech-just
slIch a speech as only Thomson can