The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-27
TOWNSEND ROW.
They Have . Dosble-H Headed
Convention There.
WON'T INSTRUCT FoR M'klpsLEY


Port Townsend. April x-Special--fhe
Republscans Of Jefferson county held
coubIe-headed county convention yesfer-
day, and the meeting was marked by one
In the politics Of this county. The double
convention was held in the city hall. which
was packed to suffocasfon with delegates
and spectators. and each convention did
business independent Of the other. the rival
chairmen standing alongside each other
putting motions. announcing committee ap-
po.nsments and listening to discussions on
being such . tumult and noise that not one
word m ten CT what the speakers were say
ing could be heard above the general din
However, business went ahead with rush.
and each body appointed its own secre-
taries and committees. and finally elected
rival delegations to the state convention at
Everett. where the local troubles viii now
be taken for adjustment
Yesterdays double convention was the re-
salt OF what is generally looked upon BY
the great majority Of the Republicans Of
this city and county as arbitrary and un-
Republican actions by the chairman and
secretary Of the county central committee
in framing the call for the primaries. It
was desired by the great majority Of the
Republicans of this city that the primaries
be held under the new primary law, and the
Lincoln Republican Club. comprising fully
two-thirds of the Republican voters Of Port
Townsend. adopted resolutions to this ef-
feet. The club also sent a guarantee to the
committee that all expenses incurred In
holding the primaries under the new law
would be paid for the committee. but the
chairman and his friends who are striving
10 retain control Of the committee. succeed
ed by the votes OF the proxies dated in 1884.
IN defeating the motion to recognise tho
new law. by tie vote OF to s.
This would not have been unsatisfactory
had fairness been guaranteed at the pri-
maries but after the adjournment Of the
committee the chairman prepared q call
instructing the committeeman to appoint
judges and clerks of the primary elections.
the undisputed purpose OF which was to
have the committeeman from the First.
Second and Fourth wards appoint judges
who would see to 1t that the proper persons
were elected as delegates from these wards.
which. because Of tricky apportionment
that had been worked through the commit
tee, would give a combined strength Of
twenty-five votes, only three short Of an
absolute control OF the convention.
There was SO much Indignation over this
arbitrary action on the part OF the chairman
that the committeeman from the Third
and Fifth wards were prevailed upon to is
sue call for the Republicans OF the city
to assemble in caucus in the various wards
and select their own judges and clerks for
the primaries and to proceed as nearly as
possible under the provisions Of the new
law. Under this arrangement two sets OF
primaries were held throughout the city q
week ago
The primaries held under the law were
the most satisfactory ever conducted In
this city. Everything was carried on in
a quiet. orderly and legal manner. and
the mos. respectable citizens attended
them and voted. None but registered Re-
publicans, or those who were willing to
swear that they will support the national
Republican ticket In November, were al
lowed to vote. this being the qualification
demanded Of both the Jones. or ring. and
anti-ring calls for primaries.
There was a strange and disgraceful
contrast to this in the primaries conduct
ed under the rings call. however. There,
Democrats. unregistered and unnatural
lied men were voted Unfortunately, alb
soiutely without question, and In the most
shameless manner. No one who presented
himself at the ring voting places Except
anti-ring Republicans) was refused the
right. or even questioned about their vote.
The result Is that the ring delegates to
the convention were elected largely by the
votes OF Illegal voters. Among the Demo-
cfdtlC SpterS If<au1eQ vas the secretary OF
the Democratic county central committee.
The anti-ring Republicans greatly OUT
numbered the ring men so far as Republi-
can votes were concerned. in every ward
OF the city. including the First. where
the ring had manipulated the apoprtion-
ment In order to give two more delegates
than the ward was really entitled to, SIM
ply because 1t was regarded as a ring
stronghold.
The hopes Of quite a number Of respecta-
BILE Republican voters that after all, for
the good name OF the party. the suspl-
cions that the ring would conduct a dis
honest primary election would prove un-
founded. were absolutely blasted by the
action OF the ring judges in the Fourth
ward, who, at the dictation OF the COM
mitteeman who had appointed them. ar
bitrarily refused to allow County Auditor
Lincoln Brooks and City Attorney Warren
Carroll two OF the most popular and prom.
inent Republicans in the county. to vote
at the ring ballot box. Not even a child
ish excuse was offered for this arbitrary
ruling. but the fear that enough antf-r;ny
Republicans TO swamp the ringsters might
follow the example Of Brooks and Carroll
made IL necessary that none OF the anti
ringsters be allowed to vote This INCL
dent proved how utterly useless II would
have been for the anti-ringsters. even
though they are overwhelmingly In the
"aoJ'ists, W 1stttsipt 10 rnrry the election
against tho ring judges. and demonstrated
the wisdom Of the ring in insuring ia
own salvation by the mode adopted bv
IT OF conducting the primaries.
Tho chairman of the committee. Ceoree
r. Jones. arbitrarily refused to tssue crs-
derttais or recognize the delegates elected
under the law. whereupon cali was signed
by majority OF the county central conn
mitteemen caliingh meeting of the com.
inittec for u O'Clock yesterday. THE
meeting Was attended by twelve of ~.
eighteen county central committean,s,,
ana ny unanimous vote Chairman Ceorva
IL Jones was ouSted from Office and War.
rem tSrroil was elected to succeed him
Jones refused to consider himself removed
ana attempted 10 call the convention N
order ~
Only Two of the delegates from the co,n-
try precincts affiliated with the nect,r '
that was called to order and presided $50
by Mr.. Jones. all the other country sers.
gates sitting and taking part in ths ras,,,s .
convention. which had been c,l,cd - - 20.
der by Chairman Warren CarroY m.
regular convsntion adopted platform
Sei'irnenains she state administration. con.
Eratnla'ing the party upon the n1,rnhs- -,
stie statesmen available for he pressdan-
tai nomination. pieiginE the Rsns,hl,s.,,.
OF Jefferson county TO the suprort ~ ,ha
platform and nominee of the 81 To,,s
convention and elected the frl,ovsn- ,4.I.
safes 70 the state convention 81 pcvs-.+,.
Hon r. A Eaiiirger, Hon 4 . ptvrs-
mer, Hen- : r. Conoys-. Col T-i,o,,,.. :.
FISHER warren Carroll A ". Bgttarsss