The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-30
SNIVELY A DECEIVER.
How He Hoodwinked Lewis and
the Seattle Delegates.
ALWAYS AGAINST THE CANAL.
While Rfeteading 10 Favor Lewfs, He
Was . Candidate for Governor
From the Very Start

OLYxPrA, Aug. M.-fSpecial Correspond
ence. hin tho retrospect view of the
Democratic state convention, the King
county delegates, particularly If their VOWS
receive the Endorsement of their conduct
ut the polIs-deserve respect and modi.
cum Of admiration. When il came to the
final issue a. between their domestic inter
ests and the Northern ifc-Democratie
combination opposed to them relentiessly.
they solemniy declared that their
superior 10 the principles of parties
and politics. They built this platform for
themselves, jointly and separately, as
against the Pierce county platform con-
demning the ship canal and its advocates
In congress, and soiemnly declared in the
presence of the convention and its electri-
fed auditors that they would do and die
upon 1t. They said in so many words
that they could not and would not sup
port political organization capable Of ac-
cepting the resolution which the conven-
ton they addressed thereupon adopted.
This was a stroke of wisdom and bravery,
as a declaration of individual principle
strongly approved by many such
able Democrats as NJ. II. Goldman, B. L.
Sharpstein and B. b. Giasscock, who
positively declined to accept nominations
after the Pierce county condemnation
scheme had been ingrafted on the party
platform.
Beginning with a record of cowardice
and pusillanimity. the King county dele
CATION issued from the convention with a
verdict of courage and valor. 1t remains
to be seen whether that verdct-and
every intelligent Democrat in the state
not influenced by local prejudice or the
railroad ring is a member of the jury
is justified. Corroborative proof is re-
served to the ballots of November.
Whatever the forensic talents of James
Hamilton Lewis. it is plain that his Ca
pacity as political tactician has been
overcstimated. Had he committed his
convention campaign to some mouth
other than that of Junius Rochester the
fate of events might have been different.
Mr.. Rochester's declaration against the
ship canal in the Pierce county conven-
ton, as an accredited representative of
Mr.. Lewis. was accepted as an avowal on
the part of the latter that he
would not contend for the canal
rs against the hope of his own nominal
ton. Here the downfall of King began.
and at every movement, until the eleventh.
hour but heroic rebellion of the delegation
under the leadership of l.. G. Gilman and
]. I. Ronald, she continued to sink into
what must have otherwise proved perma-
nent political degradation. True, Mr..
Lewis rs good as repudiated his first chief
lieutenant in the delegation, but he re-
manned firm to the last in fealty TO his
state manager. II. J. Snively. the upshot
OF which loyalty was that Snively was
nominated for governor on platform he
would not accept as chairman of the reso-
lutions committee, and on which Lewis
himself wo uld not stand.
To lay the situation bare in all candor,
Mr.. Lewis was either duped or woefully
shortsighted. Snively was a candidate
for the gubernatorial nomination from the
outset, and he has been an enemy to the
canal ever since the Revicsc, as the mouth
piece Of the Oregonidn in Eastern WASH
ington, raised the Issue on federal appro-
priations In the state. The majority of
the Spokane delegation was in sympathy
with Snively's secret hostility to the canal.
and stood ready to carry out his pro-
gramme. The same was true of other
East Washington delegations. Spokane.
protesting to have originated the resolu-
tion on appropriations Lewis Is said to
have prepared as compromise, or strad-
die, Snively, - chairman of the resolu-
tions commitrae, stood committed to it,
1t was Incorporated in the majority or
platform report of the committee which
Sniveiy pretended to defend on the floor
of the convention. With the Lewis and
King county organization, combined with
Spokane. Wednesday night, that straddIe,
on which Mr.. Lewis was willing to stand,
was practically won and then defeated by
none other than Sniveiy.
Tue two resolutions thrown out by the
.e,@pittee under the harmonizing advice
of sniSxly was that of Pierce specifically
onpose,A TO the canal, and that of King
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS it. Why did not
King. if Lewis Iesired anything stronger
than the Spokane RESOLUTION, organize on
minority report in tne coinmitteef mat
is precisely what the tierce men did on an
anti-canal plank, with the committee vote
standing M To IL o,ainst them. Plainly
Sniveiy was playing tF hiInseif the cards
of his dearest friend. and protege, Mr..
Lewis. as the sequel viii snow.
Wednesday night the Pierce anti-canal
minority plank was f,,irly and squarely
beaten. Steve JuJson Nof Tacoma, settled
down To the parliamentary amusement oil
obs;ructing further proceedings SO as TO
leave the platform operi Tor reofSan'za-
ton Of the Pierce county slate on an anti
cana, proposition. Three obstructive ap-
peals from the decisions oil the chair were
sustained by the conyention by gradually
hut rerslstentIv Increasing maJorities.
Pierce was under abe chairman, catch
ing the shirt of the convention. swept the
legs from beneath the astute Juoson on
another anneal leaving him stranded.
The chair was nerved TO exc
eute the w.si of the majority The
chamn;nn of that majority was Mr..
s,,velv >yhat did he do7 Mr.. Lane. Of
Pierce after Judson had been crushed.
moved for adjournment. and with she
majority o. the convention st his back,
n the platform reported by himself as
good ~ adopted, Snivelv informed the
chair that the friends OF the approprta-
tions clause were perfectly willing that the
platform Should go over till next day.
Did SniveN deser, Lewis colors or did he
notG This record should be sufficient
answer 20 the question. To further
illustrate the supiueneSs Of Lewis
leaders In the Hing county deleca.
ton and his own blind confidence, they
openly expressed the belief that the adj
iournment was 20 the advantage Of Lewis
candidacy.
Bar let Us follow the s;nuous sasscltv OF
Mr.. Saively. and the investigation VIII
prove no d.SparaGement Of lis abilities A.
a politician. When TIE convention came
81 order Thursday Judge Nash. Of Spo
kane. sn anti-csual man and al ardent