The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-13
A FIGHT ON THE SLY
For the Secretaryship of the
DOOlittle Club.
TAcomA's REPUBLICANS BUSY.
The Rival Candidates for the Mayor
atty and Their supporters Have
Test Vote.

Tacoma. Jan. 2-Speeial.-For week
past political gossipers have been busy
with the affairs OF the DoolittIe kepuDsic-
an Club, OF this city, with particular REFER
eglee to the seu1i-annual election OF oinceFs
held at the club quarters on = street last
Tuesday evening. Although 20 the OUTSIDE
public everything around the club was as
s..reue and placid as the Sound on a June
DAY. yet beneath the surface ferce hgnt
for the control OF the executive commit
tee and seeretaryship OF the csuo was GO
ing on.
The struggle for supremacy was between
what Is termed at the club the Canadian
element and the original founders OF the
organization. II. J. Bell was the candidate
of the former and Charles Evans, the pres
ent incumbent, was supported Tor sscre-
tary by the latter. The contest was AMI
mated while IL lasted and resulted IN a
victory for Mr. Evans, his majority being
twenty-four out Of a vote OF lss.
A great deal more than the secretaryshsp
was Involved in the controversy. II reports
ere reliable. Mr.. Bell Is a relative OF Col
g. w Fife. whose name has been ire
quently mentioned In competition with the
mayoralty. Some OF the popular colonel
friends were aggressive supporters OF MT.
Bell. and SO IL naturally became the gen
eral opinion that Mr.. Flies chances of re-
celvIng the nomination at the hands OF his
party would be greatly benefited by the
election Of Mr.. Bell to the secretaryship or
the Doolittie Club.
The club IL regarded by well-posted men
a. likely to Be most important factor in
the approaching municipal election. IL
has a working membership OF over so and
is well organized. Consequently the posi-
tion of secretary is an important and in
fuential one.
Mr. Evans friends are possessed OF con-
siderable political sagacity. and while they
made no stir about IL. they got in and rus
tied enough votes to safely elect their can
didate for another six months tenure or
his Office. The fight vas kept as quiet as
possible on both sides. each being intent
on surprising the other by polling heavy
vote. This state OF things was helped
along by the fact that there was no contest
over the presidents chair. now filed by
o. J. II. Swift. or the post OF treasurer, oc-
cupied by w. T.. Sundberg.
When the night of the election came
around Mr.. Bells friends had his name
neatly placed at the head of a printed
ticket, which also contained the names OF
some OF Co. Flies friends for election on
the executive committee. Defeat was in
store for the ticket. however. Secretary
Evans being reelected by a majority OF
twenty-four. In light vote. and the exec
utive committee was only changed i'm one
CT two cases. outwardly the supporters
of Mr.. Bell try to take their defeat in good
spirit. but there have been several mani
festations of dissatisfaction and soreness.
A feature of the fight was the manner in
which the county officers were involved I'm
the election. Sheriff Parker. Undersheriff
Pauihamus and the deputies IN the office
are credited with making a vigorous can
vass In Mr.. Bells interest, as the latter
was OF considerable assistance to the sher-
III In getting votes In the fall election OF
1894. Rumor has 1t that Sheriff Parker en-
tered the fight unwillingly and at the So
lcitation Of his chief deputy. Mr.. Paul
hamus. who is close friend OF Col Fife.
Mr.. Paulhamus' action has caused no little
comment. and at the courthouse there
have been persistent rumors for some time
shefiff's Office