The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-20


mighty hubbub and very evident dis
position on the part of the Calkins crowd
TO drown Meany's voice in jeers, howis.
misses, groans and cheers. He had not
read three names before the noise had in
creased to an uproar that made il impos-
slble to hear. Meany persisted, and rais-
ing his long right arm toward heaven.
emphasized each name with an unmis-
taxable shake of his clenched first. When
he had finished about one-third. Nell
son Bennett, Tom Ewing, Nick
Owing, w. H. Doolittle and several
others, all Calkins strikers, started for the
staircase. There was great howl on the
part of the crowd as they forced their way
up, and Mr.. McGraw, Colonel Haines.
Lauren Ingels, Moritz Koch and several
others took their stand about Mr.. Meanv
to resist the assault and prevent the cap
ture of the paper, which was the evident
object of the Tacoma assailants. Bennett
made grab for Meany's arm, and was
hurled back. Then Ewing, DoolIttle and
others showed in, and Mr.. Meany showed
the paper under his coat and started on up
the stairs, being accompanied by Haines,
McGraw and others, who threw the attack
ing party right and left. Mr.. Meany hung
to the paper, Notwithstanding desperate
attempts to wrest it from him, and escaped
into one Of the rooms on the second floor
The attacking party then took possession
ofthe staircase. Nelson Bennett opened
his great mouth and waved his big hat
and called for cheer for Calkins, which
was given. Then Mr.. McGraw showed his
way to the railing and called for cheer
for Squire, and a mighty response arose
from the crowd. The rival crowds then
gave cheer upon cheer. each for his favor
ite, and Frederick h. Lane, editor of
Democratic Tacoma paper, jumped up on
a table and yelled for Tom Carroll, being
Joined by the Democratic contingent. The
gang on the staircase continued to shake
their fists and wave their hats at the
crowd and called for cheer after cheer,
which were given continuously and with
volume of noise that shook the very build
ing.
The hubbub continued in all about tf-
teen minutes, and subsidized only when the
crowd was thoroughly tired out. During
the melee someone was thrown from the
middle landing backward nearly to the
bottom of the staircase but was not hurt.
Several persons narrowly escaped being
thrown from the stairs into the crowd.
It is remarkable that i'm n scene of such
angry contention no one was injured.
While the melee was at its height Sena
tor George T. Thompson of Walla Walla
forced himself to the railing of the stair
case and began to wave his hat and call
for cheers for Squire. Thompson's big,
ood-humored face and the good-natured
way in which he took the efforts of the
Calkins strikers to suppress him had
great effect in calming the excitement and
in restoring general good feeling among
the partisans in the struggle and the spec
tators. Thompson tried to make a speech,
bnt his voice could not be heard three feet
distant. He persisted until comparative
quiet was restored, and then he retired.
w. III. Doolittle, who was one of the
leaders in the assault, conceived that it
would be a very humorous idea to hire a
colored band outside to come in and play
"Down Went McGinty" in front of the
staircase. The playing of the tune started
the hubbub in the crowd again, but it
quickly subsidized. During the playing
Doolittie opened his mouth and gesticu-
lated like maniac, but no one knows
what he said. Just after the excitement
PosT-ISTEILIGENcER representative heard
two expressions from well known demo-
Gratis, who may be supposed to have been
iu1pdItidi spectators Ok Tic eCcnty IcldtiNa
TO the conduct of Nelson Bennett. who in
spired and led the attack. They are
Stephen Judson and George Hazard, of
Pierce county. Judson said:
81 have always said that Nelson Bennett is
boor, and is only fit to boss and drive Cinnamon
Tonight has very well verified my opinion of
him"
George Hazard said:
"If you put Nelson Benefits insolence on ex-
hibition at the coming Worlds fair 1t viii at
tract more attention than any other one thing"
o. ID. Butterfeld, s. G. Thornton and
Moritz Koch were among those who forced
their way Into the midst of the conflict
and helped repulse the Calkins faction.
The assault of the Calkins party is in
strict keeping with the tactics they have
pursued during the entire campaign. Men
like Nelson Bennett, Tom Ewing, Nick
Owings and w. III. Doolittle know no
methods that do not involve intimidation,
bulldozing and coercion. They have at
tempted to force w. III. Calkins down the
throats of the people of Washington, and
they have stopped at no measure likely TO
accomplish that end. The utter failure of
their tactics shows that the members of
the legislature understand and resent their
attempt.
At O'Clock the Republican members
began to leave the hotel and go in the
direction of the capitol. The Squire men
and Calkins men joined the movement,
all determined that some conclusion
should be reached. The Squire men were
exultant, feeling that they had an over
whelming majority and the Calkins men,
bers feared TO stay out, dreading the effect
of the caucus on the Republican vote
d L -. IL
legislature was present. The caucus. upon
the assembling of the members of the leg
isIature, was called to order by Speaker
Shaw Megler of Wahkiakum was elected
chairman and Hunsaker of klickitat was
elected secretary. By request of the chair
man Meany of King read the call for the
caucus, together with the list of names Of
the fifty-seven Republican members who
signed the call for the caucus, one name
having been added since the scene in the
hotel.
Upon motion ofSenator Owings, roll OF
Republican members of the legislature
was called, and ffty-two members an
swered, the Pierce county men and one or
two others refusing TO answer. A number
of members opposed to the caucus asded
that it be adjourned because all had not
had opportunity 10 sign the call. This
was answered by members who declared
that they in person had presented the call
TO those gentlemen for their signatures,
and they had refused. Thereupon num-
Der of pronounced Calkins members asked
to be excused, including the following:
Ovriy, and