The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-27

j. III. Morgan, of kittitas.
FOB COMMISSIONER OF STATE LANDS,
+. 5. Lewis, of CiaIlam.
FOR STATE PRINTER,
Z. H. Borden, of Spokane.
The Anti Canal Plank.
We strongly condemn the course of Senators
Alien and Squire in advocating appropriations
for the Lake Washington ship canal, TO the ex-
clusion of needed appropriations for the neces-
sary improvement of our rivers and harbors.
OLYMPIA. Aug. 26. Especial. THE Demo-
cratic state convention has finished its
labors, and the result-complete defeat
and humiliation for King county-is sum-
married. in the ticket and resolution
above.
The county went into the convention
to do two things, secure resolution ask
ing for federal appropriation for the Lake
Washington ship canal andnominateJa James
Hamilton Lewis for governor. Pierce
county, the inveierate enemy of King car
ried the convention; the resolution con-
demned the canal instead of approving it;
and Henry j. Sniveiy, Of Yakima, was
named for governor.
The rout of the King county Democracy
was due in large part to those who were
faithless both to their party and to the
community in which they live.
The canal itself originally
had no enemies of consequence
except Junius Rochester and Percy W.
Rochester. From the beginning they did
their best to injure its cause Junius
Rochester, though chairman of the county
delegation. publicly declared, first in Ia
coma and on Monday night at Olympia.
that the Democrats of King county did
not care for an Endorsement of the canal.
The regular delegation, though containing
one or two members opposing the canal,
was a unit for James Hamilton Lewis for
governor.
But Mr. Lewis had several toes in his
+ own home-D. III. Gilman, w. II. White,
G.. d. Emery. Percy W. Rochester, L. D.
Ross, l.. B. Hart. Eugene Semple and
John Y. Ostrander. Some of them be-
lieved Mr.. Lewis would not make good
| governor, some believed he would be q
weak candidate, while others had per-
| sonal grievances against him. They
| united in the plan of going to Olympia to
| oppose Mr.. Lewis, and. speaking broadly.
| they hung like milestone about the neck
| of the regular delegation.
They had a slate prepared. and an effort
| was 10 be made at the proper moment to
| stampede the convention for it. Henry
| Drum. of Tacoma, was to be taken up for
| governor, and thus Thomas Carroll was to
| be shut out OF the congressional nomina-
/ ton. King county was to be placated
| for the loss of Lewis by having Eugene
| Semple--who had friends IN the Columbia
| river counties-chosen in place of Carroll.
/ c. H. Warner, of Whitman. or NJ. NJ. God
man. of Columbia. would be the other
| nominee for governor. The scheme was to
beat Lewis with this combination, though
| Percy W. Rochester preferred DIR. n. g..
Blalock, of Walia Walla. for governor.
From the first day those acquainted
| with the situation saw that in the direct
| issue the defeat of Lewis was almost i'm
| possible. He had the unwayering support
! of the twenty-seyen votes OF Spokane
who, though with no candidate of her own
for whom King county's support was asked
chung to King with perfect fidelity. To
the votes of Spokane and those of King
were added, five from Adams, six from
| CIallam, five from Douglas. three from
Franklin, four from Island, nine from JEFF
ferson, eleven from kittitas. six from Kit
SAP. eleven from Lincoln, five from
Okanogan, four from San Juan, ten from
Snohomish, seven from Stevens, ten from
Wha.com and seven from Yakima-abou,
leo, or six short of a clear majority. There
were chances of getting eight or ten scat
tering votes from other counties. Then
too, Pierce county was friendly toward
Lewis: was making no combinations
| against him, and was hesitating about OF
fering support only because the ques
ton of the canal plank va:
doubtful With affairs in thi:
shape. two Of the candidates for governor
DR.. Blalock and Colonel Shaw. agreed tx
go into triple alliance with Pierce 70 de
feat a plank favoring the canal. They
| were to help Pierce on the plank
and IN return Pierce was 10 iii
vide her vote between Blalock anC
Shaw on the first ballot Whicheye
had the most votes then was on the sec
ond ballot 10 get the whole support of tn
alliance The plan was well laid. TO
Pierce county, now aided by citizens o
. | Seattle. ready to rebuke the city S enter
prise and ready 10 ruin their county or
, | ganization in order ~ kill James Hamil
> | ton Lewis. had persuaded severa
{ | Eastern Washington counties friendly Z
Lewis that a denunciation of the cana
would win Republican votes in PleEc
, county ard be good political stroke.
King county soon found that the cor
, vsntion could under no circumstances b
: induced to indorse the canal, and taa
with the triple alliance TO face plank c
generalftie. coula hardly be carriet
Accordingly King county resolved I
) make its battle ON the following miseFabl
D., compromise. far less favorable 10 the ean'
than the Pierce county resolution whic
. the Republicans had scorntully releeie
. two weeks before:
: We .syer and recommend such Just and ~
Z eral Appfo2riations foF coast protection an
! general improvements a shAii be Tor sne Cen