The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-03
SIDE LIGHTS on POLITICS.


The general condition Of the Republican
party In this state IL lsahie TO be seriously
Affected ey local contests IN various SEC
tons Some Of these disputes have excited
not little bitterness and. while al admit
of comparatively easy settlement. and are.
thersfore OF Themselves OF slight general
importance. the fact b that from such dis
trroinG rfrslries facssonal elements OF .
very serious character are liable 70 be in
trodacsd into the general councils Of the
party II the Jefferson county Republicans
choose 60 manage their party interests 20
o. TO introduce corr fusion into their coun-
CHA party discipline should require them
TO Themselves adjust their conflicting
plans. 50 that they can present q united
front to the enemy. Such q dispute rem
der IL more difficult to conserve the larger
purposes and interests OF the party. and.
also. prevent such warning sections from
securing the recognition the party at large
Is willing to extend Not infreQue1tly the
tkrasting Of disputes for settlement on the
party In general cannot easily be avoided.
but they are rarely thus disposed OF with
out agyravating the unsatisfactory condi-
tons that gave rise TO the contests. Then.
too. such disputes are infectious. partly be-
cause the contending factions always seek
consolation and support elsewhere in order
10 baiwark themselves by alliances with
disturbing elesnents in other sections Of
the state. and the true interests and Dur.
poses of the party are In no small measure
lost sight Of The neglect to enforce whole
some discipline simply places . premium
On factionai rows.
Even q superficial examination Of these
local contests discioses the earmarks OF
bad management In the past. when. had
proper discipline been rigidiy enforced. the
men who. regardless of precedent the
Just claims of the party at large. seem de-
termaaed to cause trouble, and that. too.
for purely personal reasons. would have
understood that SUCH things cannot be
done with impunity. A spirit OF genuine
patience and toletatton of the eXoroitant
demands Of certain men In the hope of Sc
curing harmony only resulted In placing
obstacles In the way OF those who unself-
ishiy have the interests of the Republican
party AT heart. and the party now finds it
self. Ike Sisyphus of old. In an apparently
unsfsdng struggle. after years OF effort.
with past difficulties that should have been
effectusily disposed Of when they first pre-
scented themselves. Men should DO made
to understand that there are kinds Of cap
tious. fractional disputes that will not Be
tolerated, and which they can precipitats
on the party only at their peril There are
too many men who think they have life
hong lease ON the party's support. and
these are the very men who, having bsen
signally honored. make stepping stones OF
the party's generosity to cause discomfort
and UNIV wholesome rivalries. Past patch
work adjustments show the inexpeciency
OF texnporizing with men who have no
deep-sea;ed hold upon the party's good
will Every compromise with them thus
far has only postponed the Inevitable
struggle for . party organization that will
deserve the harmonious support Of Repub-
lican voters and workers.
The condition OF affairs in Spokane,
Pierce and waiia walla IL attributable to
the absence Of q vigorous policy in party
management. II Is not a gracious under.
taking 10 analyze the real causes OF trou-
bic in those counties. but those who are
even casually informed know very well
why such unsatisfactory conditions exist.
The time has come for restoring conf
dence.
There Is a great opportunity approaching
for settling these disputes. No rejecting
man has any reasonable doubt that the
Republicans will carry the country next
November. This result will be followed BY
a general change of the roster OF United
States officials II the Republicans In
Washington are split UP into various con-
tending factions the prestige of the state
viii Be affected and the difficulty Of bring
ing about an agreement will be Increased.
Disunlted. the Republicans win ind their
influence seriously qualified: united, they
not only can secure excellent men, but they
can also secure harmony In all sections,
and overcome the disorder resulting from
senseless r4valrics. to which Is largely due
the temporary losses In Spokane ana
Pierce counties
The fact H the Republicans have had too
easy a time of II keeping the state In their
control. Had there been 3 more cleveriy
managed opposition than that Of the DEM
oc-ats and Populists the party would be
stronEcr and better organized. Washing
ton Is a Republican state by an overwhein-
Ing majority. but II Is folly TO say that IN
the face OF factious turmoil In the most
popuious centers the prospects OF the party
are what they should be.
The confusion among the Republicans In
Port Townsend grows out OF a mistaken
no,ion OF what Is due the Republican party
a. large. and Of what may be Justly
claimed as q right from the party. In
brief the facts which led up TO the dual
convention and the election OF the two
sets % delegates 20 the state convention.
are substantially as follows: Whether by
the fully Informed action Of ali the mem
was directed. some Of the members OF tbs
committee being represented by proxy.
that the basis Of representation in the
county convention should be according to
the vote cast for state representatives in
1884. and not as had been the rule. accord
ing. 90 the congressional vote There are
charges that this action OF the COMMITTEES
was the result Of sharp practice. No one
denies. however. that the county commit
tee formally authorized the change. I.
was also ordered by the same cousnitte.
that there should be no delegates at large,
The rrecincts were allowed one deiegst.
Cor each twelve votes cast Tor thu STATE
representatives. and one delegate for frsr-
tions Of six or more. Precincts which cas.
less than twelve votes were allowed ora
delegate This. on the surrzc~ n issS,
worked no hardship or injustice 10 ths
country districts. eus there appear. 10 y.
sorne Justice "a the complaint made that
TIRE eTect IN Port Townsend wa, =,
strengthen the chances of Chairman Jones
ard his friends IN their effort to control
the county convention. and. AZ the sarn.
time. the new basis resulted IN weaken.nr
the strength 90 those who were known 10
be opposed 10 their securing control
As The change % the basis % representa-
tioa was cors-Ssesiiv in~stxas-i Nv .ns
Jones faction ft may naturally Re believed
that 70 was maze for some special purpose
whether the motives charged a~Asast them
are true or not Il appears 70 be a fac.
that ;he Jones following in the cos1ntr,
districts was relatively weak While IN ~,
city the change afaei materially 20 hts
strength. TIA Tits superstition Is 20;
Wholly uEsou1dei arrears from n. Ca,
that Chairman Jones rxet TIRE ca,. 81 ,hs
Z af~~-