The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-10
HORr,HOTCAMPAIGN
How the Republicans Won the
Battle in the State.
Meteslf, the Maa ~ Osssnssefeus Polfss-
cal Purity, in . Bad Bex-Whas-
eezn's Epossed Kgga


man. and secretary OF the Republican
state central committee. came over from
the state capstai yesterday and last even
ing xss guess az the Rainier club. Since
the smoke Of battle has cleared away and
the reid shows substantial Republican
victory. Mr.. Cowen Is enjoying q fex hours
respite from the cares Of his position. and
last evening. in company With bis friends
Ersstus Bra.nerd and George B. Kissinger.
smoked good cigars and discussed how IL
All haprsned 50 happily. Conserving the
fusion scheme Of the Democrats and Pop
uiists and the carefully laid plans of the
leaders of both these parties. he SAID:
THE Democrats started planning for
this campaign about year ago, and ten
months ago, while going the rounds In the
eastern part Of the state on land affairs,
luckily happened to become aware OF the
proposition they we're working on and,
which results have sho sn, they attempted
to carry out. They we're very DESTROYS OF
capturing the Legislature In order that
they might elect . senator. The Wallace
faction Of the Democracy. backed By the
fourth-rats postna stsrs. all Of whom.
however. were men Of very good standing,
and In the larger cities aided by the
inspectors and other employees OF the
government In the customs service. pre-
sented o strong pha.anx. Is Was the
scheme 10 fuse with tho Popciists on this
basis: % the legislative ticket Popu-
list. where his Democratic opponent
seemed the stronger man, W ould be induced
10 Withdraw either by substantial reward
or promises, and in . like manner the
Democrat on the regular Democratic
ticket, when the Popuiist opponent
vas stronger, would lie induced TO
withdraw In favor OF the fopuiist
fs~t ~ h. IF
combination it was proposed and agreed
that on the first two ballots for United
States senator the Popuiist members of the
fusion legislature would support Popu-
list candidate, and on the subsequent bal
lots they would support q Democratic
candidate. The fusion combination did
not work as successfully as was expected,
although the Democrats spent great deal
Of money, q larger sum being expended
than at any previous election in the his
tory of the party in TINS state. That they
did not capture many Offices in the eastern
part of she state - possibly due to the
hard work of the Republican committees.
Early in the campaign we secured red
Republicans of Populistie leanings in the
doubtful agricultural and lumber coun-
ties, aud, not waiting to &C. through
any of the minor local committees.
communicated directly with the back
siidsrs and braced them up. Ali that
many Of them needed was little word of
announcement, and We gave il them,
bringing many of them back into camp.
The campaign proper was only of about
four weeks uuratlon. and in that time We
conducted o clean light. but worked under
q great disadvantage, having dangerous
combination with lots Of money to con-
tend with. The result. however, shows
that the fusionists became disorganixsd
nd nd IA
Republicans will have a majority In the
next legislature of twenty-five, figuring on
q basis OF al in excess Of half of the MEM
bsrs.
"In Whatcom county. where the plans
Of the fusionists did not miscarry, IN
idea of the strength OF the combination
can be had. In that county. which is
strongly Republican. the Demo- Pops Sc
cured three out of the possible five men,
bers of the legislature. Up there two
Popuiists withdrew from the ticket, Civ
ing way to two Democrats. and on the
Democratic ticket two Democrats with
drew and two Pcpulisis were Endorsed,
thus allowing the Democrats and Popu-
lists to combine their total strength
against the Republicans, forming an array
that could not be entirely overcome. anu
when the deal was over 10 was found that
they had captured three out Of the five
legislators.
There promises TO be . lively tilt in the
contest for senator from the First district,
comprising Stevens county and the north
ern tier OF precincts in Spokane county.
Fields, the Popuiisf, has defeated 7. l..
Savage. the regular Republican nominee,
bat the latter proposes To contest his cleo
ton on the ground that IL Was illegal. In
the regular Populist county convention In
Stevens county matters were allowed TO
drag along until they were in such mud
die that they could not legally hold their
Joint convention TO select senator. dele
gates not having been provided Tor an the
Spokane precincts. bnt ~ the wind-up OF
the convention a resolution was passed
recommending Fields as the choice of
Stevens county until such time "a the joint
convention could be held. J. II. MetcaIt.
who was chairman OF the convention aud
who will be remembered the member
OF the Legislature of 1881 who got up
and created a sensation by producing a lot
of money and declaring he had been
offered 10 as bride for his vote for Calkins,
made oath TO n document declaring that
Fields was tho regular choice of the Joint
convention duly assembled. The county
auditor. having no other choice in the
matter, placed Fields name on the regular
ticket and his election followed. As a
matter of act. Fields was never NOM
mated, and Meteslf mas laid himself Liable
10 prosecution tor issuing false certificate
Of his nomination. Ii | am not mistaken,
the penalty is imprisonment in tho peni.
tentisry A. ali events there promises to
be some fun, and possibly Fields election
will not only be contested. but Metcalf will
be prosecuted
"A good word should be said in CON-
mendation Of tho Republican county
Newspapers, whose necessities were never
so great and whose requests for financial
assistance never 50 fss or considerats.
They stood almost soiidly for the state
and county tickets and devoted almost
their entire space 90 expoundine Repub-
licsn principle and exposing the errors of
policy, venaiity and bad faith Of the Dem
ocragic administration"
IT,. cara and hreila frnsfs 49,