The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-04
A P0PULIST WRANGLE
City Central Committee Almost
Hopelessly Split.
LEADERS EXCHANGE THE LIE.
Factions Divide About an Aspiring
candidate for Mayor-Effort to
Corner Committeeman.

The lie has been passed in a secret
gathering Of the Populist party, and in
consequence the city central committee
has been disrupted BY a wrangle extend
ing over several weeks, in which the fac
tfons have announced themselves either
as Jordan Or anti-Jordan. For the past
two months the war was waged. and at
present the members Of the committee
seem hopeiessiy al variance. There has
been this result, however that a sitting
out process has been going on. in which
the Jordan men appear 10 have obtained
an advantage. for the committee, COM
posed OF f0rty-five members. one for each
precinct in the city. is said 10 stand %
10 10 in favor cf the aspirant for the
office OF mayor.
Had a Populist convention been held
two months ago j. Eugene Jordan. II re-
ports he true. would have been nominated
for mayor He had the support OF the
Peoples CAN. ID Labor Gazette, and the
organ Of the SfngIe-Taxers. But meet
ing Of the central committee was held one
night, and a discussion arose over "a plan
of reorganization. Two committees sub
mitted reports differing but little in rec
concentrations. but a crisis was precip-
itated by c. II. Schutt. who charged that
Jordan had never given anything toward
organizing the party. but on the other
hand had bent his efforts insidiously to-
ward Reorganization. TINS brought Jor-
dan 10 ms feet, and he IS said 10 have
quickly retOrted:
You are liar"
Inasmuch as Schutt belonged to COM
mittee OF which :. NJ. Allen, publisher
of the Call. was a member. the latter
gentleman took up the gauntlet thrown
down by Jordan. charging that he had
lmpugned the motives OF a supporter of
the best plan proposed for reorganization
Nothing was accomplished at the meet
ing, but the next issue of the CAN con-
aimed an editorial denouncing Jordan's
tactics, saying in no uncertain language
that he had adopted improper methods
of seeking the nomination for mayor, and
declaring finally that the paper would
no longer support his candidacy.
" was then that the Jordan men went
quietly TO work, not only to down their
opponents, but to capture the entire cen
trail committee. AS there We're fifteen
vacancies on the committee, they were
quickly filled with Jordan men. and a
number of other vacancies were created
by recalling the old members and elect
ing new ones in their places. The opera
ton resulted in what has become known
as the stuffed committee" in the forma-
ton OF which the leading spirit has been
assisted by W. J.. Larkn. Joe Young. +.
W. Way and John Wallace. Schutt and
AlleA were aided in their opposition by
NJ NJ Holmes
The next move is reported TO have been
a scathing denunciation of the Popuhst
organ by means OF the so-called stuffed
committee" and a fruitless endeavor to
read its editor out Of the party: hut each
issue since that time has been character
ICED by an attack on what are termed
the 'Old-party methods OF Jordan and
his haugers-on." used in the attempt 10
oust the pioneer Populists from the lead
ership. IL has been charged by the Jor-
dan men that the Call is under the in
huence OF Republicans. and that Ii takes
its advice from politicians who are secret
ly advocating a citizens ticket TO be
sprung at the next campaign II IS fur
Their charged that Allen and his support
ers have been paid by some combination
10 set IN play forces that viii disrupt
the Peoples party and destroy its chances
OF success. They also have asserted that
the Cali would long ago have been dead
but for timely aid from Jordan. Alien
denies all the above charges, and in re-
ply 20 the last says the only money he
every received from Jordan was s29 in
payment for 800 copies Of the paper con-
tanning some of Jordan's communications
The present condition OF affairs Seems
20 be that both sides favor compromise.
but that each is SO uncOmpTomising in
its advances that no settlement viii he
reached. Jordan is said 10 have announc-
ed that he viii spuJ the can from stem
- stern while the other side is ralyinE
20 the support OF that paper In the
meantime the central committee Is under
the chairnmuship Of Jacob Davidson. and
"A new organization committee has been
appointed. consisting Of Addison Smith.
J. l. Jordon and man named Adair.