, 1892-08-25
FUDDLED!
Democrats Struck Dumb BY
King County.
THEY WANT A CANAL PLANK
OR NOTHING.
The Y0OmanTy are Against
The Seattle Ditch
THE CONVENTION GETTING
SICK OF DELAY.
BIalOck, Drum, Shaw, Lewis and
SnlyeIy Talked of for Governor.
The Platform of the
Party.

The general subject of conversation and
three-cornered debate upon the street
corners this morning, and up till the time
for opening the convention, was the par
liamentary battle waged over the canal
question of the session last night. It was
one of the most hotly contested matters
of platform policy and political expedienoy
that ever occurred in the state Of Wash
ington. Briefly told Pierce county demo
Gratis won the fight and then lost it by the
turning of the Skagit delegation. For
five hours the struggle lasted, growing
more intense with each succeeding out
break until the slightest deviation from
strict precedent in either ruling or pre-
cedure was the signal for violent demon
stration.
81 understood you had some trouble last
night" said Thurston county republican,
addressing ThurstOn county democrat.
"Pshaw," replied the latter, "I'm dis
gusted, I'd rather vote the prohibition
ticket"
Owing to the confusion and excitement
of the night session there seemed to be a
slight misunderstanding among delegates,
as well as outsiders, as to the exact condi-
tions of affairs Some thought the ma
iority report had been adopted by virtue
Of the last Of the amendment. Briefly
stated the entire situation at noon was
summed up in this way. The committee
on resolutions and platform had submitted
majority report and minority report,
given in full below. A motion was made
TO make the minority report a part of the
majority report, and the motion carried by
a majority of five. Skagit moved recon-
sideration Of the vote by which the min
ority report and the majority reports were
made one. This motion carried and the
two reports we're again separated. The
vote was again taken and the question to
make the minority report one, and the
motion was lost, the only question re-
naming for the consideration of the con-
yention being the adoption, amendment or
rejection of the majority report.
This was the condition of affairs when
the convention met and adjourned for the
purpose of restoring harmony.
King, Spokane, Pierce and the South
western association Immediately went into
individual caucuses, A committee ofthese
was appointed from King, Spokane and
the association for the purpose Of confer
ence.
Conferences were held, but it seemed al
most impossible to agree upon a clause in
the resolutions relating to internal inn
provements.
The utmost excitement prevailed among
the delegates up to the time of the after
noon session, and harmony on the canal is
sue seemed out of the question.
1t was evident that the matter would
have to be fought to finish on the floor Of
the convention hall.
Despite the concentration Of interest
upon the canal question, the nomination
of state officers had not been forgotten.
1t was quietly given out that combina.
ton had been formed to nominate DR.. N.
G. Blalock for governor, Henry Drum for
lieutenant governor, and James Hamilton
Lewis for congress.
Shortly before 2 o'clock Lewis stated
that despite the large majority Of votes
controlled by him he was willing to with.
draw from the race for the nomination foI
the governorship, if it developed that his
aspirations stood in the way Of the adop-
ton of a resolution favoring the canal. In
that case he would give way to any mar
who would stand on the canal issue. He
announced that he would not accept the
nomination for congress.
at all depends upon the platform" re
piled Lewis when questioned concerning
| the nomination of the state officers.