The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-28

The -Democratic party OF King county
has never been so badly broken up as it is
at the present time. When Cleveland was
elected two years ago all was bright, and
King county Democrats promised them
selves tha, at the next election this county.
too, would take it's place among the few
Democratic counties of the state. But the
first cloud on the horizon of harmony ap-
peared when Hugh Wallace and ]. c.
Saunders began to overlook W. Ill. Talbot,
John Collins and other Democratic leaders
in the division of spoils. A great bitter
ness was then and there engendered, which
time has only intensified.
Then came the terrible financial panic
of 1898. and the consequent depression and
suffering which followed in its wake.
Whether justly or unjustiy. the party in
power is always blamed for business de-
pressions; in this case. however, the lead
ing Democratic papers of the country.
directly and indirectly, admitted that
Grover Cleveland and the Democratic
senate and house of representatives were
responsible for the unparalleled depres-
sion in business circles and the intense
suffering of the wage-worker. The Demo-
cratic congress met, wrangied for long
weary weeks and adjourned without
affording any relief to the business
interests of thu country. Is recon-
vened again in about five weeks,
and sat in continuous session texcept
during the holidays) for over nine months,
and at the expiration of that time 1t ad-
journed after having knitted the great in
dustries of the country particularly those
of the state of Washingtonl and with such
an unbearspie odor of trusts and COM
bines ciinging 20 it that Grover Cleveland,
Democratic president felt compelled TO
stigmatize a coordinate branch of the
government which was also Democratic,
by the contemptuous epithet that its work
meant party perfidy and dishonor."
This last was body blow TO the Demo-
Gratis OF King county. Their newspaper
and their stump speakers might have
made some kind of an apologetic, defen-
sive argument in favor of q tariff bill
which struck at the chief industries Of
this state: but when their own president
put the seal of his condemnation on that
tariff bill, when he asked how
the Democratic party could 20 be-
fore the people and ask for their
support; when he scornfully refused to
sign that bill: when he asserted that the
party which would pass such bill was
"a party of perndy and dishonor'-then
il was that the last spark Of hope WAS
eliminated from the heart OF King county
Democracy.
Nevertheless the disheartened Demo
Gratis saw one roy of consolation gleam-
ing through the great black clouds OF
despair. Ii they themselves could not win
victory they might at least, by coalition
d. A.T. -.
ans. With that object in view the 7eie-
qraph, John Collins. John Considine, John
Y. Ostrander, John Fairfield, John Hart,
John Kelly, John Condon and all the
other Johns and Democrats Of the Collins
Con.idine stripe set up howl for fusion
with the Popnlists.
The Democratic convention met and a
strsight-out fight at once ensusd between
the John Collins fusionists and the anti
fusionIsts over the election Of q temporary
Chairman. After a bitter struggle the
anti-fusionists son by slender msjority.
Ii was patent that ths sentiment Of the
great masses OF the Democrats was against
fusion, and IL was only by the greatest
scheming and manipulation that the fa-
sionists could make as good a showing for
fusion as they did.
An adjournment, however, lost the anti
fusionisis the fruit. Of their victory. Dur
ing the recess money Was pleutiiaiiy dis
tributed ~where IL would do the most
good. = and when the convention re-
assem- oIed the legitimate majority which
the anti-fusionists had vas wiped out
The fist fights and examinations and re-
ordinations which followed ia the con
ventlou are matters OF notoristy. But tie
JOAN Collins type Of Democracy deter
mined 10 unit. John Considine 20 Harry
White and see what the fruits Of the union
sould BE-
NeanwhIle matters eisew here we're con-
sulriug 20 the discontinue Of King county
Democracy. The Democratic state cen
tral committee had met AZ Tacoma to
apportion the dsle-ates 30 the state con
vention King county was allowed forty
I've votes in the convention and Pierce
county forty-fonr, notwithstanding the
tacI that kiag county had cast .3t,o nassre
soses tor Cleveland than had fIerce In
tie vernAeaiar Of the street King eoanty
s.got II in the neck Pierce coanty ~as
allowed six votes more tkan she should
have had. and King county ssx less.
Notwithstanding the decree Of the state
central committee, the King coanty Demo
esass e.eessd their Fighttui number Of
delegates l5ij, and carried tie paipably