The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-13
lllIIl9 Badly MUDDlED.
q DCU1eA130Ae A TO THE NEXT
TACOMA CITY ELECTION.
1ea1 PeDalisas VIII Have . De-
e1neve E9eet-If They Remain Oh
AmDaAo DusSUn Ranks VIII Break.

SPECIAL Dispatch TO the Poet-InieilI9encef.
TACOMA, Dec. R.-Locai politics has
eeguDoA eort Of an indefinite form The
eoyeEnJ noAths yet to ensue before the
spring elections lead the more prominent
- To several factions TO act and talk
y general way only. but, nevertheless.
ene Hne1 on which the contest VIII oo
fought and the chief features are already
M1Ade plain. The call for meeting Is
eeed yesterday by the local organization
Ct Silver Republicans ito discuss the ad-
Visibility Of organizing for the coming
campaign," indicate that this faction ex-
1ects 70 make itself heard from. IL not
cit. and the open move OF the strictly
staunch P0pulists. dubbed by the fusion
1ete ssOreheads," leaves no doubt OF their
1ntentSon TO fight fnsion-meaning. should
en1y succeed. three tickets in the field.
On their part the fnsionists, representing
the element Endorsing the administration
- Mayor FAwcetf, arc In the position OF
- tllustrious Mcawber, waiting for
eo0ethtng to turn up. which VIII indi-
eats definitely what they have TO oppose
enA who win make up the leaders OF this
opposftion.
Republicans, while quietly scanning the
neId. are not yet In harness. and the nomi-
- Tor mayer on the Republican ticket
- - much guess today as II was three
months ago.
The peculiar condition OF disorder con-
eoQuent upon the straight Populists pull
1nG from the ranks Of the fusion party
- the last election makes II evident that
4het wisest Of the ianermost circle are not
~ position TO state anything definite
- - candidates. There are quite num-
Der OF possibilities talked Of including a
councilman, q merchant and a lawyer,
nut even the more wild and woody do not
na&ard q guess az TO the probable candi-
Gete--shouid ticket be nominated,
The funionlstS are In q slightly different
condition. They talk of the present mayor
- the more likely candidate. and when
expressing their views speak guardedIy
on this point. A well known oId-;lme
mefchant, dealing In hardware, In also
prominently mentioned for the local chief
executive, and In the same breath the
1nformstion II volunteered that a certain
Newspaper man. largely known I'm trade
circles. Is seriously spoken OF as q likely
man to make the run.
There II plainly a.phase OF fndeeision m
{he situation so far az the fusIonts;s DEM
ocrais and Popuiists are concerned. that
leaves little doubt that one is waiting on
lne other 10 make move which will sufyt-
silently Indicate the plan OF battle so as to
justify open organization. AT present the
Indications point TO a three-cornered f,ght
With the disgruntled Populists arrayed
against their fusion brethren OF the last
election.
IN talking OF their proposed independent
oction they make no prefense of any cor
ndence TO win. but pose as martyrs willing
20 lose fight In order to save their organ
iSAtion and promulgate its tenefs and SEN
fiMeSlts. Those of the Democrats and
Populfsts who are anxious to continue the
lnsion movement. sneer AT the middle Of
fns-road' idea. They seem To feel tha, at
the proper time the diacontenfs can be
whipped back into the ranks. bu, do not
deny that damage might result should the
independent movement assume definite
proportions.
~ matters now stand there Is no doubt
that SHOULD the Popalists hold olt againx,
FUSION with the Democrats the slogan OF
the Pops viii be civii service. The fusion
administration treatment Of the merit
system. and the tendency Of the Repnb,i-
cans 10 the council to look upon IL az n
necessary evil. and to indurse II only 80 far
as the law makea II compulsory. will ali
become the groundwork for a plank in ths.
platform of the Independent Pops should
they be able 10 mass enough strength 10
act for themselves. Those who suffered
most by the slaps given 20 local civil ser
vice are the prime movers I'm the effort
to break away from the fusion organiza-
ton. and the result Is that IL now appears
they may cut quite an interesting figure
al the next municipal election In April.
iS9S