The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-17

THE SENATORIAL ELECTION.

Th6 ALESA1OSs
John 3. Allen will be nominated for re-
election 70 the United States senate this
morning by majority of his party in
caucus assembled. The caucus is regu-
larly called; will be uprightly conducted,
and there is no sound public reason why
the choice of the party caucus should not
today be ratified by the full party vote in
the legislature. While we hope that the
Republican opposition to Senator Allen
will resi- ect the viii OF the Republican ma
iority at the last moment, We do not ex-
pecs it. The personal, spiteful, sectional
opposition to the reelection Of Senator
Alien is the tail-end of the storm that
swep. the state during the guberna-
torial canvass. The opposition TO the
election of Gov. McGraw had really
nothing TO stand upon worthy Of
public consideration. There was no pre-
tense that Gov. McGraw was unfairly
nominated; no pretense that ne was in
competent, uneducated or unworthy.
There was no pretense tina. his public or
private morals in business, society or poll
tics were corrupt, or that there was any
thing in his past record that justified his
reputation at the polls. Nevertheless
the election Of Gov. McGraw was as bit
terry opposed by a certain Republican
faction and he was as violently denounced
as If he had been a most disreputabie
political BLACKBOARD, a venal and con-
temptible blatherskite and a. tool Of the
worst influences in the state. Neverthe-
less Mr.. McGraw. after hard and desper-
ately contested campaign, was elected.
The opposition to his election rested their
hostility upon no tenable principle or pre-
cept Of sound political action.
/. was the effort of an INSCRIPTIONS Re-
publican faction to defeat the will Of the
party at the polls; because these faction
lists were not able TO control the action of
the Republican state convention they re-
solved to defeat its candidate; that is,
since they could not rule the party they
would ruin il, or In other words, when
the Tycoon Of Tacoma could not be party
dictator he turned traitor and tried to
compass ITS defeat. He failed, but the
venomous energy of his efforts made a
contest that engendered much bad blood
and left the party in q mood calculated to
breed further disturbance and insub-
ordination within its political camp.
OF course it is not true that Judge
Turner or the bulk Of his support
srs from his section of the state were dis
loyal 10 the state ticket; on the contrary,
Spokane gave the whole ticket hearty
support, nevertheless II is true that the
opposition to the reelection Of Senator
Alien does include some Republicans
whose only motive in seeking his defeat is
one of purely personal spite, and a desire
to shoot him to death, because he is sup
ported by Seattle. That is, tho same per-
sonal campaign which was waged against
Gov McGraw is to be renewed against
Senator Alien; he is 10 be damned and de-
feated not because he is unworthy; has
failed in his duty; has proved inconpe-
tent, is immoral, ignorant. or impure, but
because he is unfortunate enough To enjoy
the political confidence and obtain the
solid political support of Seattle.
In other words, the objection to Sem
ator Alien has really no just foundation of
personal unworthiness or incompetency
or infiGeiity in the exercise OF his trust;
Ii rests on nothing but an insane, i'm
polite sectionalism. whose indulgence has
already wrought the party severe injury
and whose continuance means complete
party Decentralization, born ont of dis
trust 1t is high time the Republicans of
the legislature set an example of obliterat-
ing. not rerpetuating, the many imelan-
choy and painful memories of the recent
state campaign. II IS time We returned to
the methods Of peace, order, loyalty and
lawful proceedings within the party, and
abandoned the practice OF mob law: for
that is about what it is when after ma
FORTY Of the party has nominated him the
minority al once try to lynch the candi-
date.
This mob law within this party must
stop some day, If We expect to maintain
the party in sound working life; and the
sooner II stops the better. Why not stop
1t now7 Stop 1t at once; stop II today. by
all the Republicans in the legislature re-
solving TO cast their ballots for John Il.
Allen for senator. Ii it was a blunder TO
organize a Republican bolt against tie
s,ate ticket il would be a far greater
blunder TO organize bolt" against the
choice of the party majority for United
States senator.
II the minority by refusing 10 accept the
candidate of the majority force a deadlock
they will be primarily responsible for the
situation and ali il implies and may bring
forth. and if the Republicans OF the state
of Washington should not ultimately get
such a senator as they look for the re-
sponsibility viii rest, not with those who
respected the majority rule, and the call
of the party, but with ;hose Who refused
10 abide by the majority rule and treated
she Will OF the party with contempt.