The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-14

0cln-nattn8 Iuu Gehs5ai ttee1e Auu
adopting q platform The congressional
convention Tor the Second district met
at the same place yesterday. and at this
writing 1t h not known what It's proceed
ings were: but II ID not expected that.
owing to several troublesome problems TO
bo presented, conclusion or Its deiibera-
tions could possibly be reached in one
day. The congressional convention OF the
First district met at Eugene City last
Thomas HI. Tongue for congress apd re-
affirmed It's allegiance to the Sc. Louis
platform.
The Republican nominee for governor
viii undoubtedly be Theodore T. Geer, OF
Marion county. ex-speaker OF the state
legislature. farmer by occupation. and
orator and writer by instinct II - prob
able that Geer's nomination viii be unani-
nous. The remainder Of the ticket VIII
of course be chosen In the usual manner
from other parts Of the state. and II is
not clear a. this time just what its per-
sonnet will be. The present governor.
William p. Lord. also of Marion county,
was candidate for denomination. but
beng defeated by Geer IN the primaries
OF his own county, and the Marion county
delegates being instructed for the latter,
IL Is not likely that his name viii be
strongly urged. He may be nominated for
the supreme bench. and thus be returned
to the position he occupied continuously
for about thirteen years PRIOR to his cleo
ton az governor.
The state convention IL confronted by a
serious emergency. It must decide be-
tween two contrasting delegations from
MultHomah county. which are divided be-
tween Mitchell and the opponents OF
Mitchell. otherwise known as the regular
(Simon) Republicans. The unfortunate
controversy two years ago leading to this
deplorable schism is still fresh in the pub
lie mind. The regular Republicans carried
the primaries In 1885, and the Mitchell
Republicans bolted and organized a con-
vention of their own and nominated a cam
didate for Office. The delegation for the
state and congressional convention. largely
through the influence Of their chairman,
Hon. George II. Williams. ex-attorney-
general OF the United States. compromised
by seating both delegations and giving
each half vote. It was freely pre-
dfcted at that time that settlement OF the
differences Of the two factions had simply
been deferred, and the prophecy has been
literally fulfilled. 1t is not seriously to
be questioned that the Simon Republi-
cans are the regular organization. and
that they have conformed at all times to
regular party usage. On the other hand.
It il true that they have used their power
and authority in the most arbitrary
fashion. and that the provocation of the
Mitchell people in their effort to over
throw them has been great. 1t would un-
doubtedly have been better II the Mitchell
people had endeavored 20 obtain redress
for their grievances without resort to the
extreme measure Of boiling. and they
would have been n stronger position to-
day before the people OF the state. The
fact that they have received half recog-
milton In the state convention heretofore
has been due to the personal strength Of
Senator Mitchell in the Republican party,
as well as to the general sentiment that
they have not been altogether fairly
treated. II the state convention two years
ago had done az 1t should have done. how
ever, and seated the entire Republican
delegation. the forms of strict party usage
would have been compiled with. the prac-
tice Of boiling discountenanced, and the
party as whole would have been in
vastly better condition.
At the congressional convention In Asto-
ria yesterday two contesting delegations
appeared from Mu,tnomah county, and the
outlook wAs for the organization of lepec
arate conventions. The probabilities are
that no conclusion will be reached before
today. 1t has been for some time ex-
pected that the congressional convention
would endeavor to follow the precedent es-
tablished two years since and seat both
delegations. stripping each OF one-half OF
Its voting strength. The reasons for this
possible attempted settlement Will be
found in the fact that large part OF the
delegates In the First d.strict-they have
heretofore been In the majority--are sup
porters OF Congressman Ellis, who is
close friend and political ally of Senator
Mitchell. II they dared. they would prob
ably refuse recognition altogether of the
regular Republicans, but they know, az
the whole state knows, that they repre-
sent by far the largest part Of the Re-
publican strength Of Multnoman county.
and any action on their part not at least
measurably acceptable to Mr. Simon and
his followers will be fatal to the Repub-
lican cause In the state election. The
course established by the congressional
convention is likely to be followed by the
state convention, precisely as II was two
years Ence.
1t is doubtful IL the Portland regular
Republicans win accept this straddle
They were profoundly dissa tisied with the
action OF the two conventions i'm 1885, and
they have recently demonstrated that they
are in control OF the Republican party in
Portland. and they claim also that they
have q majority Of all OF the voters In the
county with them. II they refuse to ac-
cept the arbitrament of the country dele
cations. the outcome IL certain to be a
thorough decentralization or the party in
IL the conventions yield and seat the en-
tire Republican delegation. the Mitchell
faction In Portland. while, OF course.
greatly displeased. will not be likely az q
whole to oppose the Republican ticket in
June. The course OF the conventions
ought to be clear but the influence OF the
Mitchell machine Is very strong, and 1.
= quite likely to divert them from the
policy they certainly should adopt.
In the Conversational cnuvertfop f-,n
gresham Ellis will probably again be
the nominee. although he has A formld-
able competitor in Malcolm A. Moody OF
Wesco county. The FIRST district comprises
Eastern Oregon. Portland and the Column
hia river counties. Two years since. the
vote In this district was as follows: Ellis.
Rep. i2s17 Martin Quinn, Pom. IL go.
A. g. Bennett. Dem, 7.oes H. II. Northrup.
Ind. Rep. ss97: F.. McKercher. Pro. rs.
Ellis therefore had a plurality of only s7s
over Quinn. but his victory was achieved
In the face or a strong boz. OF the gold
Republicans, mainly In Portland. who
voted for Northrup. II there In any de-
fiction this time, ELS VII. still have the
fusion of the Democrats and poDu.ts,z