The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-17

While there are considerable number
Of che genuine PopuliHts who look for
Ward to tho forthcoming meeting Of ne
legislature IN anticipation Of there Eselus,
n large amount OF so-caiied reform leg
sslati0n passed. Il is nevertheless gBnass-
takably true that much rnors interest IA
being taken IN fusionist political circles
over the question as 20 who ss 10 succeed
watson c. Squire in the United states
senate. than there f. over any possible.
probable or contingent law-mAkIng which
may be done during the session Not
withstanding all OF the efforts 10 keep
Il smothered. the senatorial question per
sistenfiy hobs up 10 the front. ard Tho
probability NOW ls that much more OF the
ume of the next Legislators will be de-
voted TO the settlement Of that question
than the fusion leaders are willing 70 ad-
nit
IL In the old tretfble-an embarrassment
of riches IN candidates, complicated by
the further fact that neither faction Of
the three has complete majority IN the
legislature. while all three have candidates
for the position. Looking At the fusion
~ q temporary cxped4ent, designed solely
for the purposes OF one campaign. there
would be no great difficulty in settling the
matter. at least the question would Re
settled entirely IN the caucus OF the
etraigbf-out. original Popuil~ts.
The Democrats and Free Silver Repup-
licans have each Representative on the
congressional delegation. Thus. the other
party 30 tho compact ought 10 DC ena-
tied 10 the third place. ThlsNk tbs way
that the Populiets put II.
The Free Silver Republicans strongly
protest against any such harrow and con-
trscted view OF the a. They insist
not not mere tsnporajE alliance. and. &C.
cordlng 10 their respective preferences.
claim that senaY Squire and George
Turner are as goN Popaiists as anyons-
The Dem.eras trS not heard bfiaslng
s ssssss s to aon. q the
Democrat tic SENATORIAL asplrants has any
real hope Of kuccess. Their names are
simply used IL the faint hope that IL a
deadlock occurs between the Popalists
and Free Silver Republicans. Democrat
may be- selected as compromise eaadi-
date
A side iasue OF the Tight may be found
sn the difficulty 10 unite even Oas fac
ton upon any particular candidate. The
popuIist candidates are as thick as black
berries In July. and include nearly every
man OF any prominence Ia the party.
Selecting haphaxard, IL may be said that
Richard Winsor. of Seattle and Mayor
Belt. Of Spokane. arc the leading candi-
dates. 10 must be remembered however,
that while these gentlemen rank As lead
Ing Popuilsts. they by no means have
their following well In hand In the Ell
lensburg convention Mr.. Winsor could
hardly command a majority vote for any
proposition no advocated. The same con-
vsntlon not only turned down Mayor Belt
Cor the gubernatoriai nomination. but
rubbed II IN on him by also refusing him
The consolation purse OF q nomination for
al
may. however. have more success in
manipulating the small legislative body
than they obtained with the large and
unwioldy state convention.
There is possible contingency which
may throw the aenatorshlp into the hands
or the Popuiists. and render Il entirely
unnecessary for them 10 ask any assist
Rnce from their allies. AS tho legislature
stands, the Popuiists are ono short OF a
majority on joint ballot. Two contests
have been Initiated. however. one by
John Hargrave of Cowlitz county. tho
Populist candidate for Representatives
who. according TO the official count. tied
with l.. II. sims in the last election: tho
other by l.. f. RAIDER. P0pulist against
". II. Seymour. Republican. from kits8p
county. The Populists have clear ma
Jority In tho lower house. without count
Ing their allies should they seat RAIDER
and Hargraye. they VIII also have a clear
majority on Joint ballot. and can elect
any ronullst upon whom they can agree
TO The senate.
With all Of these odds In favor OF their
being a straisht-out popalst elected to
the senate. Il would appear 10 the casual
observer that it would be hopeless TO ex-
pect 10 see "a free silver Republican elect
80 "a that position. But queer think
sometimes happen IN politics. II II un-
Aeretood that both Senator Squire and
George Turner viii open headquarters AZ
Olympia when the Legislature meets and
Try for the prize. IL Is must be recognized
that each OF these gentlemen has some
qualifications for the position which will
appeal strongly 10 some populsst ieglsln-
tors and 30 far toward setting 90 tho
prejudice which mighS ind expression
against 80 handsomely rswanling such
recent converts and II IL understood that
those "quallilca ITEMS" will bs strongly ln
evidence during the session of the lexis-
nature.
The one hope for tree silver Republie-
an 10 secure the election. and this means
either Squire or Turner. aside from these
qualifications viii lie In TIA alffi-
Guilty, approaching impossibilly % tae
strsight-out Popuilsgs uniting apon auy
one man within their own ranks This
difficulty viii be carefully encouraged
and enlarged by the devices wen known
70 practical politicians.
The only eopciasfon 30 he arrived az is
that tho coming session 81 the legislature
will be decidedly Interesting one. aud
that the senatorial contest VII b ths
most interesting featBfc 81 tae session.
y 40 a fxsaH esessz