The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-05
THE TREACDERY OF sNIvELY.
Will King County Democrats Vote 70
the Man who Betrayed Themf
Thu Olvpnfso

Will King County Democrats Vote for
the Man Who Betrayed Themf
The Olymp!an.
After his defeat in the state convention James
Hamilton Lewis came upon the stage and feel
inggy paid tribute to the good faith and un.
swerving loyalty to his cause of II. J. Snively.
who had Just expressed his acknowledgment
Tor the honor of nomination for governor at the
hands Of his fellow citizens.
In the regretful address of Colonel Lewis was
not one sentence which reflected aught but i'm
plicis trust in MIR. snively, nor one sentiment
that doubted his unselish devotion. But the
cold logic of fact the proceedings OF the conven-
ton that resulted in the failure OF Lewis, the
defeat OF the canal resolution and the elevation
OF the lawyer from North Yakima eonstrains the
unparalleled critic to doubt the sincerity Of
Mr. Snively's devotion to the cause of Colonel
Lewis, and presents to the numerous followers
OF that remarkable gentleman . most disagree
able phase of that memorable contest.
1t is known that Lewis had a majority OF the
delegates at that convention. 1t was known by
Mr.. snively, as il was by every other delegate,
that az Q straight question OF personal strength
Lewis would have been nominated on the first
ballot The opponents of the seaside candi-
date could only hope to defeat him by building
platform upon which his loyalty to his own
people and his self-respect would deny him q
seized by the opponents Of Lewis to compass his
downfall In no other way could he have been
defeated. This fact was as clear and plain as
any proposition possible.
What part IN securing that plank was played
by the secret gubernatorial candidate, Mr..
Snively, of North Yakima? and how do his &C.
tions harmonize with his expressions OF fealty
to his friend from King county? Let the record
answer, aud let the Democrats from King
county answer for themselves whether they arc
prepared to indorse Mr. Sniveiy, and vote for .
man who moro than any other single member OF
that convention contributed to the defeat Of
their idol.
After the minority or anti-canal plank had
been turned down by the King county delega-
ton and their friends, after upon two test votes
they found themselves safely in the majority,
what was the duty OF the friends of Colonel
Lewis? To take up and insert in the platform a
plank concerning the canal upon which he
could stand7 Without doubt 1t was late at
night when the ant-canal resolution
was defeated. If Mr.. sniveiy had been
a friend of Colonel Lewis, If he
had sincerely wished for his nomination, what
should he have done? At that critical and
supreme moment in the history of the conven-
ton and in the fate of Colonel Lewis but one
course remained open to his friends. They
should have forced the acceptance of compro-
mise canal plank satisfactory to the King
to do It, The two preceding ballots made
known to them that they were safe in
proceeding. With the compromise plank in
serted aud the platform adopted before adjourn
ment the friends of Colonel Lewis could have
gone to bed feeling satisfied that they had ac-
complished the chief object OF their presence
the acceptance of q declaration Of principle re-
garding the Lake Washington canal on which
their candidate could stand, aud a platform i'm
measurably stronger than the text finally
adopted.
twas that critical moment when a single
motion would have given Lewis the nomina-
ton by the acceptance of platform satisfactory
to his delegation, that his friend from North
Yakima moved what? An adjournment
Lewis was defeated.
Whom the convention reassembled Thursday
morning new combination had been formed.
King county had lost control of the convention,
and the resolution that made 1t impossible for
any man from King county to accept place on
the ticket without yielding every spark of self.
respect was Endorsed.
1t would be a stretch of credulity for which
these knowing later days requires entirely too
much, to believe or imagine that II. J. Snively
did not know the certain effect Of his motion
for adjournment. With the fall of the chair
mans gavel on Wednesday night went down
the last hope OF Colonel Lewis just as certainly
as when the presiding officer announced on the
AFTERNOON following the UNANIMOUS nomination
of Fl. J. Snively for the once of governor.
The O9ympian wishes to call the attention OF
King county Democrats to this chapter in the
proceedings OF the conventions; and wants to
ask them Ii they are prepared to give their votes
for governor to a man who 10 not only willing
to stand on a platform which discriminates
against the development of their resources, of
their homes and of their county, but who was
willing TO secure that nomination by the delib-
crate sacrifice OF his friend and their fellow
cir