The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-03
SPLIT IN THE RANKS.
Peoples Party Fighting for
Visionary Spells.
TWO CONVENTIONS CALLED.
Knox and His Organ Jump the Traces
Cries of Treachery-The Party's
"Growing" Strength.

Though the statement may not be cred
tied generally, it is a fact nevertheless that
the local organization of the Peoples party
has finally acquired sufficient vitality to
cause a split-a big split-in its ranks.
The scramble for power-for authority
could be restrained no longer, and the in
evitable has happened.
The faithful-whoever that may mean
claim that NJ. Z. Knox. one of the prime
movers and editor OF the Peoples Cali, and
Eugene Miller, chairman of the district
organization, have overridden the au-
thority of the central club and on their
own responsibility called city con-
vention for January S TO nominate
city ticket. The central club had
issued a call for a mass convention
to be held on January to consider the
situation, appoint central committee and
prepare for an active campaign, organizing
clubs all through the city and then when
an organization was built up hold 8 con-
vention for the nomination of city ticket.
1t is claimed that this proposition did not
meet with the approval of the high chiefs
and at the meeting of the Central Club
Thursday night Knox resigned the chair
manship and, gong out backed by the
mighty influence of a newspaper, the party
organ, of which he is editor-in-chief, and
also by the chairman of the district organ
izatlon, he has assumed the position of
dictator and called n convention OF his
own. After Knox handed in his resigna-
ton and his scheme was made apparent
he was roundly denounced.
A meeting of eight or ten of Knox's fol-
lowers was held in his Office last evening,
and when a Posi- INTELLIGENCE reporter
inquired of Mr.. Knox the object of the
meeting, he replied that it was for the
purpose of organizing stock company
and incorporating for the management of
the Peoples Cali
How about this split in the Peoples
party?'' queried the reporter. Mr.. Knox
replied:
Why, there is no split. Everything Is per-
fectly harmonious. That was simply Demo-
cratic lie started TO injure us. We expect the
Republicans to start similar lies; but we are
gaining members at the rate OF over 100 per day,
just the same. There has been nothing to di-
vide on. The convention called for January is
to nominate a city ticket and that is all
there is to it, The convention has been regu-
larry called, and there is no call Tor a conven-
ton on the 9TH, as far as | know.
The mass convention on the eth is
called for o'clock in the evening at the
Knights of Labor hall. but the hour and
place of meeting of the nominating con-
vention called for the Sth has not yet been
announced. The faithful rather incline to
the belief that 1t is the intention to keep
the matter secret, so that only the chosen
can have an opportunity of participating
in the nomination Of themselves for the
several offices.
The large accessions to the ranks, to
which Mr.. Knox referred as averaging
lover 100 per day." now compose four
ward clubs of from twenty-five to fifty
members each, and central club of about
100 members, most of whom are members
of the ward clubs.