The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-23
ONLY ONE RECOURSE.
No Democratic Ticket on the
Official Ballot.
1T MUST B. JORDAN OR BLACK.
And tbs Respectable Democrats Are
Going TO support the Latier-Can-
not stomach Jordan.
1T MUST b JORDAN OR BLACK.

II was learned yesterday that the Demo
cratic city central committee. after con-
sultstion with the candidates. had re-
solved not TO put any Democratic ticket
on the official ballot. but that the nominees
OF the Democratic convention should in
stead be placed on the Populist-Jordanite
ticket. Under the existing law. the names
OF the candidates cannot appear in more
than one place on the Official ballot hence,
il a Democratic ticket appeared on the off,
cial ballot. Il could only contain the names
OF the regular Democratic nominees. with
blank places for the Populist nominees.
and for the same reason the Populist off,
cal ticket would also have blank places
corresponding TO the Democratic nominal
tons. Hence the decision TO have but one
ticket.
An attempt was made to interview Judge
Lichtenberg, the leading nominee on the
Democrat tic ticket as 10 how he felt in
regard 10 the proposed action Of the COM
mittee, but the Judge, although seen in his
Office. was not TO be interviewed. He was
too busy"
Among the straight-out Democrats the
proposed action of the committee was re-
ceved with bitter indignation, accompanied
in some instances, however. with express
sions OF relief. The reasons for the latter
feeling can be best explained in the Ian
guage of a prominent Democrat, men,
Der OF the late convention: LAS member
Of that convention. l felt bound to support
the nominations regularly made by IL, al
though / did not feel bound by any at
tempt of the convention TO commit me 10
the support of nominees of an alien and
hostile party. The present action OF the
committee. acquiesced in by the candidates,
relieves me from any obligation to support
any portion of the fusion ticket. The COM
mittee SAYS that there will be no Demo-
cratic ticket. The candidates, in effect,
have declined the Democratic nominations
and accepted those rendered them by the
Populist committee. They wish TO pose in
this campaign as Populist nominees. They
can do SO. of course. if they choose. but no
Democrat. whether a member of the con-
vent.on or not, is now under no party
obligation 10 vote for them. As between
Jordan. Populism and Republicanism, I
prefer the latter. and shall vote for every
man on the Republican ticket, from top 10
bottom"
This is precisely the attitude of nearly
every Democrat who has a standing and
reputation in the party, and in private
conversation they are outspoken in regard
to the matter, and do not pretend to dis
guise their feelings and intentions. The
Democrats of real character and standing
who are willing to swallow the Endorsement
of Jordan who have so far announced
themselves can be counted on the fingers
TO spare.
When the Democratic convention closed
the outspoken denunciation of its actions
by the best class of Democrats was looked
upon by many as mere ebullition of tenn
porary bitterness, the outgrowth Of chagrfn
at the high-handed manner with which
they had been treated In the convention
by the Jordan heelers. That feeling. how
ever, has gained strength and volume every
hour since, and IL required but the action
of the central committee yesterday, in re-
gard to the official ballots. TO eXtnguish
the last spark of hope or fear that any OF
the real Democratic leaders OF the past
would lend even perfunctory support TO
Jordan or the fusion ticket.
More than twenty Of the men whose posi-
ton in the counsels of the Democratic
party has always been that OF leaders.
who have acted with that party in every
election heretofore. even when not in SYM
patty with some of the nominations made.
have stated TO Post-Intelligencer reporters
that they would not vote for the fusion
ticket and nearly every one has added that
he would vote for the Republican nominees.
Among Democrats not so high in the coun-
sells of the party, but who still are recog-
nlzed as stalwart party men, the same feel
ing finds expression in unlooked-for chan
nels.
The general conclusion seems TO be,
among all the well-posted Democrats, that
Jordan would have gained more votes from
the Democratic ranks If the late convention
had not been held at all: many more II the
convention had adjourned without formal
Endorsement of Jordan. and still more II
the fragmentary Democratic ticket had
been placed on the official ballot. As 1t Is.
with no recognized Democratic ticket in
the FIELD, there is no party fealty 10 appeal
to. and each voter is left 10 follow his own
personal preferences in the selection or
candidates Tor whom 10 vote.