The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-25

The Democratic battle cry in Washing
ton this year will be "Down with King
countyV' The state convention at Olym-
pia, SO far as IT has progressed, has been
characterized by q studied effort to
insult and assail King county, and the
only point Of difference between the King
county Democrats and their opponents in
the convention seems to have been as to
how far the insult should go.
The Lake Washington canal is politi-
cal issue because few personal enemies
Of Senator Allen have made it so. Be-
cause Senator Allen regarded King
county as a portion Of the state of
Washington and believed it to be
his duty 10 represent its interests in CON-
mon with those of the other counties in
the state, he was assailed by those who are
constantly making manifest their enmity
to this city and county. The people of King
county rallied to the support of Mr.. Allen,
and the result was that delegation was
sent to the Republican state convention
instructed to favor q resolution ap-
proving tho course of Senator
Allen in supporting the Lake Wash
ington canal. This delegation man.
fully carried out its instructions and the
Republican party of the state placed itself
on record as favoring all the improvements
which would be of benefit to the state and
its people. the Lake Washington canal in
cluded.
The Democrats Of King county sent to
their state convention . delegation
similarly instructed. This delegation
disobeyed its instructions. 1t made
cowardly surrender before the battle had
begun. It agreed to . so-called compromise,
which, A. every member of tho delegation
knew. would be distorted by Seattle's enc
project. Having surrendered thus far, the
delegation from King county should not
have been surprised when a disposition
was manifested to 60 further and de-
nounce In set terms . project which for
forty years has been dear to the hearts of
the people Of King county.
A fight wss precipitated in the oonven-
ton. Pierce county Democrats and their
allies, not content with the surrender of
King. insisted upon further insulting u
county and humiliating its representatives.
Thereupon the King county delegation
did what no King county delegation had
ever before done in state conventional
abjec,ly begged for mercy. Instead of
making courageous fight for the
principle at stake its orators
pleaded that the convention should
not further show its contempt for them
and its hatred for their county. Their
appeal was barely needed, and the conven.
ton refused by only few votes to pass
II resolution which was nothing
less than a denunciation OF King county
and its people. Ii the King county dele
CATION had fought mantully for something
1t might at least have retired with
honor. II chose TO beg, and 1t
got nothing. The resolution adopted
will be regarded by every enemy of King
county as denunciation of the cherished
project Of its people. and every member Of
the King county delegation knows this.
They begged for tattered rag, when they
should have fought like men around their
standard.
The spirit which animates the conven-
tion is apparent 1t is.a spirit Of hostility
to Seattle aud King county. The voters
of King county will give their answer in
November. Time was when the people of
King county stood together rs ono man
for their rights and their interests. and, if
the observation-disclosures judges Alright, the
old spirit is not dead