The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-21
SEATTLE. SATURDAY. JAN. Fl.
USJUsTIFIABLE DELAY.

possible that Mr. Alien might nave Deen
elected yesterday had not the ragged rem
nant Of the Turner Republican minority
icined with the Democrats and Populists
20 oerpetuate the deadlock by carrying a
resolution TO take but two ballots a day.
This action Of the Turner ragged Gemnant
will only serve TO increase the popular dis
gust at the persistent waste of time of the
legislature when it should be engaged in
preparing needed legislation. A small
minority Of Republicans stand out against
the will Of the majority. blocking the leg
is!ature and making hasty and ill-consid-
cred legislation probable because Of this
unjusiifable delay al the cost of the public
welfare.
Moved by a sense Of the injustice and
outrage of further delay, Senator Edens,
Of skagit, yeste rday set most commend
able example OF civic patriotism by an
nouncing that with nearly two-thirds of
the Republican senators and representa-
tives in favor of the election OF Allen he
did not feel justified. in Difference to the
demands Of public business, TO vote any
longer with the minority, and that he
would, therefore. cast his vote for Allen.
His patriotic example in the twenty-first
ballot Was followed by Kelly, of Pierce,
and in the twenty-second ballot by Sena-
tor Sergeant, of Pierce. and Shade, of
Pierce. Allen thus gained four votes on
the two ballots. Three of them were sin
cere Turner men, who periodically re-
fused to longer resist the majority rule 20
the obstruction of public business. Sena-
tor Sergeant, who had hitherto voted for
Wilson, was prompted 10 vote for Allen
from the sense Of patriotic conviction that
ii was bis duty 10 bow 20 the rule of the
majority and submit to the pressure Of
public opinion. which has grown justly
impstien; Of and disgus.ed with the utterly
unjustifsbie deadlock.
The people justly hold the ragged Tur-
ner remnant responsible for the deadlock.
Twenty-Five ballots have been taken, leav-
ing Allen stronger than when the contest
began. despite the loss Of two OF his orig
insi supporters. L fair test OF the compar-
alive strength of Allen and Turner has
been made; the Allen men, who represent
the wishes OF the great majority Of the
Republican party In the state, speaking by
the voices ard votes Of nearly two-thirds
O. the Republicans Of the legislature, can
not he expected TO abandon their candidate
in obedience 10 the sullen, unpatriotic OBJ
structiveness of q flibustering faction.
Senator Allen was unanimously nominated
By the party caucus regularly called and
fairly conducted. The faction that is
seeking 10 defeat the reelection of Senator
Allen vas disloyai to the party in the state
election, bolted the ticket and strove to
defeat 1t, and are now trying To defeat
Senator Allen on the sole ground that he
refused 10 repudiaJe the Republican plat
form and candidate at the last state cleo
ton.
SO far ns the method ofset1ing the claims
of candidates by party caucus is concerned.
IL is in accordance with all the recen.
presidents in other states and is com
mended by the national senatorial COM
mlttee Of the party. Indeed. this caucus
method has become necessary TO prevent
the election OF candidates who do not rem
resent the choice OF the party. In 1857
when Henry l.. Dawes. Of Massachusetts,
was chosen for the senatorial term which
IS now about 10 expire, the two houses Of
che legislature did not agree in their sena-
gate action ans met for Joint ballot. Mr..
Dawes received u minority Of Rerub-
licsn yOtes but before the result
was announced, Mr.. Dawes law part-
ner. Democrat, cast his vote for his
Republican friend and the Democratic nil
noritv. which had cast 3 complimentary
vote for Democrat, was turned over en-
masse - Mr.. Dawes. In this way Mr.. Dawes
was chosen senator. although not the
choice of majority Of the Republicans,
and It vas TO avoid a repetition of such n
state 81 affairs that the s,ste convention of
the Massachusetts, Republicans last fall
adopted a resolution calling FOR caucus
which should nominate e Republican can
didaie for senator "vIhout seeking the
advice of, or combinations with. any other
political party or parties In accordance
with this positive instruction sixtr-njne
Republican legislators asked for q caucus;
lG4 Of the 1875 Republican legislators at
tended the gathering, ana Mr.. Lodge was
duly nominated for senator by an over
whelming majority OF the votes cast.
The Republican majority that met in
caucus and nominated senator Allen tor
reelection was an honest majority, reeu-
larry elected. The proceedings Of the
caucus were conducted openly and fairly.
70 this institution of the caucus itself no
simon pure Republican or Democratic
paper objects; It is denounced only by the
Mugwump press. which Is incensed in
New England because Mr.. Lodge was
SPACIOUS enough 10 employ legitimate
methods and machinery in politics 10 pre-
vent the choice of Republican majority
being defeated by the tusioifot Republcan
Iuarp,ots with the Democracy to force tie
eviction of Republican minority candi-
date. The Republicans of Masss-
causetts have insisted uron the re-
soEs 10 lie party caucus, because