The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-13

Third precinct.
The total number of delegates is 1885, of
which number 103 are from the county and
eighty-th from the city.
This convention was called merely to
elect twenty-five delegates to the state
convention to be held at Olympia August
"a. The same set of delegates, chosen at
the primaries, was, however, to hold
through, and meet later for the nominal
ton of a county ticket. The plan was to
have the second gathering called by the
executive committee of the county central
committee. :
The nominal reason for having two
county conventions was to define the fight
for and against James Hamilton Lewis for
governor. The first convention was to lay
aside all wrangling and trading for county
offices, and devote itself wholly to the
congenial task of approving Mr.. Lewis
slate for the Olympia convention. Then
with this great labor accomplished. the
delegates could go home and spend the
next few weeks in getting up their COM
binations on the local offices.
But now this beautiful design is to be
shattered. The country delegates fatty
declare that they have already come here
to select the delegates to the Democratic
state convention at Vancouver; they are
here to choose men for the Olympia con-
vention, and they do not intend to come
again in order to nominate for county Of
fees. In other words, the country dele
gates will not stand the expense and
trouble of so many trips. but insist on fin
ishing all the work today.
Yesterday afternoon many of the dele
gates from out of town arrived and made
business unusually lively at the Occiden-
tai, Arlington and Diller hotels. Several
caucuses for the various districts were
held, ana the opinion was almost unani-
nous for making the nominations today.
In the evening an attempt was
made to have general caucus
of the city and the country
at the county headquarters in the Occi-
dental block. Though the executive COM
mittee, which had met little earlier, was
in favor of postponing the nominations.
the caucus was Overwhelmingly opposed
to delay. Almost the only votes for post
ponement were those of John Collins,
chairman of the county committee: ]. p.
Gleason, his secretary, and the dstin-
guished philanthropist and reformer of
the First ward. John w. Considine
These three choice spirits solemnly laid
their hands upon their hearts and said
that their only object was to secure a bet
ter ticket. They pointed to the fact that
the convention of today was merely called
to choose delegates to Olympia: and they
urged the argument that the question Of
county candidates had not yet been con-
eidered with care and delibcration.
1t is painful 10 observe, however, that
the country delegates are looking with
much suspicion on these pretexts. Many
assert that the little ring, composed of
John Collins, j. L. Gleason, John w. Con-
sidine, and their lieuterants, IS trying
to control the nominations. The outside
delegates will not come in large numbers
to another convention; and so Mr.. Collins
and Mr.. Gleason. by securing proxies, can
easily make up slate.
There is suspicion abroad that James
Hamilton Lewis is a silent partner in the
Collins-Gieason-Co nsidine ring. and that
he too would like to see delay. If not,
why did he arrange for il in the first place ?
But the astute and aspiring Mr.. Lewis
assumes an air of injured innocence when
accused of belonging TO any clique; and
he protests with tears in his eyes that he
knows OF no slate and has never heard OF
one.
But the fact remains that the country
delegates who have majority of twenty
over those of the city will insist on max.
ing the nominations today.
Who will be the lucky men 1t is hard to
say. There are from three To ten candi-
dates for every office; for the sun of
Democratic success in the municipal cam
paign has bred them like swarm of
gnats. Many of the country delegates who
came last night heard for the first time
the names OF some of the aspirants.
Attempts have been made to form COM
binations of the city delegates, but the lat
ter have been inclined to hold back until
they made the acquaintance of their
brethren from the country. Accordingly
there was much running around and
frantic electioneering--wh will grow
more frantic this morning. But the time
is short for laying pipes, and so there is
scarcely an office in which the vote can be
foretold with the least degree Of accuracy.
There was an effort to bring against
JAMES Hamilton Lewis the argument that
with John II. McGraw as his antagonist
he could not even hope to carry King
county, aud as the Democrats wanted him
merely for the purpose of getting votes in
King, some other candidate would now be
more available. But Mr.. Lewis holds the
convention in the grip of his kid gloved
hard of iron. l.. ID. Ross and several
others may vigorously protest against in
ssrfscting the Olympia delegation for
Lewis, but the kid committee will have to
swallow its medicine.
For sheriff NJ. Mcreigh, James NJ. Quill
ter, Jesse F. Cochran and James Monogue
are in the race. with McTeigh and Quilter
apparently in the lead. Yesterday, how.
ever. Jesse +. Cochran gained some
strength and last night there was good
deal of talk Of bringing out Andrew Jack.