The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-23
CAN'T DOWN COLLINS.
Effort to Depose Democratic
Boss Ends in Deadlock.
HIS HEEtERS WILL NOT DESERT.
twenty-five Ballots Taken without
Result-Talbot has . Majority But
Not Two.thirds Vote.

A disorderly crowd Of the unwashed
styling themselves the Democratic CEN
trail committee, who were called together
yesterday afternoon to elect a chairman,
after wrangling for over twelve hours. had
still accomplished nothing at o'clock
this morning. 1t was a determined
effort from the start to down John
Collins and resulted in nothing but q dead
lock.
J. T. Blackstone, whose hard lot it was
to be chosen temporary chairman. had
anything but a pleasant task. He was
armed with a ruler which he nsed
as gavel, and beat one end of it into
smithereens in avain attempt to keep order.
The floor of the hall was generally
crowded with wire-workers who were not
members Of the committee and had no
business there, but were there just the
same and doing effective work. There
were seventy-four votes represented
and by the very remarkable bylaws Of the
organization a two-thirds Of these were
necessary to elect. 1t was this that led to
the long deadlock, as several times one
candidate had majority of votes.
The afternoon was occupied in the work
Of organization and hearing the report of
the credential committee. At about 6 p.
m. the balloting tor chairman began. 1t
was fight all through against
John Collins, but that gentle
man himself was there in fighting
trim, with . heavy support of heelers.
Prominent among those arrayed against
him were J. H. Allen. DR.. F. II. Harrill
and S. 8. Carlisle, while John Considine.
M ~ op Inv orio nf
First ward politics gave them battle.
At the outset the only two candidates
brought into prominence were John Col
Inns and B. G. Bennett, and between them
honors were even for several ballots, the
vote OF each varying up and down between
30 and 40. w. II. Talbot appeared as
dark horse, his vote running from
half-a-dozen to twice that number. T. A.
Garrett hung On for several ballots with
one or two votes and then dropped COM
pletely out.
The evening was enlivened and made
entertaining by an occasional exchange of
Democratic pleasantries and Democratic
exhibitions of goodwill between the
parties. On one occasion G. w. Ashford
interrupted the balloting to inquire Of the
chair if any man who said that
he had not voted for Grover
Cleveland in 1888 and would not vote for
him this year had any right to hold his
seat as q member of the committee. I'M
mediately there rose shout: who is
he7 Name him! name himl"
at is Joseph GAVIN" exclaimed Ash
ford.
That's lie, Mr.. Chairman" screamed
Gavin. "That's lie, whether Bennett or
anybody else said said so!''
By dint Of beating his frayed out ruler
tor several moments and shouting at the
top of his voice for order. the chairman
partially succeeded in queiling the clamor
and the balioting went on.
Attic fifteenth ballot Talbot began to
loom up strongly, Benefits vote falling
off correspondingly. At the nineteenth
ballot there was rush from Bennett
to Talbot, who polled forty-one votes.
Then the tide began to turn back, and the
vote outside of Collins support to be split
up between Bennett and Talbot. But
still Collins henchmen held steady and
gave no sign of giving way.
At 1:15 a. m. a recess of fifteen minutes
was voted. The delegates stayed out
for at least three-quarters of an
hour. and some very earnest eau
cussing was done. This resulted
in the withdrawal of Bennett after the
committee had been called to order again.
His support went to Talbot
in body, but Collins forces
remained firm and the twenty-second bal
lot resulted. Collins 81, Talbot 40. The
twenty-third ballot saw q small break in
Collins support. Talbot getting 43 to his 81.
At 8 o'clock On the twenty-fourth ballot
the vote stood: Talbot 40, Collins 81.
The anti-Collins men are out
drumming up one or two absent
committeeman; but their organization
appears to be badly managed, while John
Collins men are standing as firm as a
rock. The meeting adjourned at 3:05 a. m.