The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-09
Fusion FORCES rssoRGASgxED.
Prospect. Of n Complete Union and
Aggressive Fight Are small.

Special Dssoz.ch 10 the Fust-integisgsncer
TAcTNA Tlzne SEPARATED sy nIuskr-
Gus s1 aartarf differences. discouraged a.
the rsm1k % elections Ii other portions Of
tne cogstvy ard far as sea AZ 20 how 70 set
anouG % fo-Ea an aggressive coalition, the
factors Ard parties wfasea two years ago
r-.a sTs the fgs4onists % Pierce county
are hopeEessiy disgFgasixed. TIE defeat Of
the fusion movement az the spring city
election vas wf9ss hrSt opened the eyes Of
the mars gers 20 the disrupted condition OF
their Gem 5inatfon. and yince that time az
fairs with these people have apparently
gore from Rad 20 verse. The resals Of the
8fegcn elections has added furtaer
ssesp~r 70 the spirits Of tire more proEni-
neEi leaders. and II Il hard TO brd a prora-
y isssns partisan I'm fhe old combine who
ssakeE any preter-e Of hoping for success
here ar tho fall election.
When. some two months ago. the old tu-
sion element os the county remained silent
~ % their hopes and plans II vas believ-
81 .hey were actively at work In the dark.
bur later developments make plain that
their silence and inactivity is the outcome
81 failure 70 reach an secoura ging coali-
tscn- PopulLsts and Democrats as a whole
seen as wide apars today. IN Pierce coun-
~. as before the fusion movement. and tie
managers in both make no secret OF IL.
There seems 70 be growing feeling
and desire 70 enter the coming fight on
wholly independent lines. This ari=es from
tao causes chiefly. one the dissatisfaction
resulting from the division OF sposls after
the success OF two years ago, and the sec-
ond wish 70 test the voting strength Of
t1s two parties PopuIIsts claim many more
votes III the city and county than the Dem
ocrats coneede 70 them, and the same Is
true as 20 the Democratic vote. Each be-
heyes the other assumes too much irpor-
lance and II Is only by each putting a tick
81 In the field that the facts can be iearri-
ed. and the question definitely determined.
Talks with the more prominent and capa-
bic leaders Indicate that they entertain but
faint hopes of either combination or their
ability 10 retain control Of the county The
nearest senblance 10 getting together il In
the camp OF the present county officials
and their friends. These officers are doing
some little work preparatory 10 the fall
election. but their following Is much OF an
unknown quantity. and their prospects ad-
rniftedly far from encouraging. Internal
dissans1on Of more or less magnitude Is IN
evidence. even with this close combine. and
wires leading from the county building are
no sooner stretched than the party nsur-
gents damage them.
The claim OF both the Democrats and
PopEilets ls that the Silver Republican or
ganizatson Ii practically deceased. Both
aahera TO the belief that their parties viii
absorb the white metal Republicans. and
that the few who do not step into the
ranks Of the Pops and Democrats will re-
turn to their first love. The last city cleo
ton. at which a silver Republican candi-
date at the head OF the ticket, brought
disaster 10 the combination has served TO
leave little belief in the minds OF their
former allies in the strength OF the Silver
Republicans. Were il TO become possible
10 fuse on the old lines I'm the coming cam
paign. IL seems almost certain that the
Silver Republicans would receive little
recognition or consideration at the hands
OF their old co-partners.
On the whole. the efforts TO prepare for
combined fight against the straight Re-
publicans IN the county have been feeble
and frutiless. Work In that direction has
gone by jerks. and while certain minor fac
lions have succeeded In getting together
after fashion. steps taken TO spread the
movement have met with endless stumbling
blocks. This IS said TO hold true ont Of
town az well as IN the city precincts. and
the general trend of affairs politically
points to the Democrats and Popu!ists plac-
ing separate tickets IN the field.