The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-14
Difference OF OPINION.
SPOKANE FISIONISTS TALK on
THE SEATTLE ELECTION
The Odiccholders and Candidates
Think II VIII Result i'm More
Perfect Fusion. While others He

Special Dispatch 10 the Post -IntelliScneer.
SPOKANE. March fs.-Below VIII be
found interviews With prominent fusionists
Of Spokane, giving their opinion IN the
causes which led up to the defeat of The
fusion ticket In the Seattle municipal cleo
ton, and the probable result il viii have
on the question OF fusion in this state
In the coming fail campaign. Before the
election. and Immediately after the first
receipt of the news that the Republicans
had won a signal victory "A number Of the
most prominent ulira-populist leaders. or
Observation-Disclosures. proclaimed their
joy At the defeat Of the fusion forces and
freely predicted that IL meant death
blow to fusion this fall. Upon sober sec
ond thought. however, or when asked by
the interviewer 10 give expression 10 their
opinions through the columns of the POST
1ntelligeneer a number of these astuie
party leaders who Were seen, maintained
clam-like reserve and positively refused
10 be quoted AT all.
In gathering the consensus of opinion
among the leaders of the Democratic par
~ of Spokane. the fact frequently cropped
out that while "A fusion might he accom-
plished at the coming fall election, 1t
would be the last time that a fusion of
the present three elements of the Peoples
party would ever again prevail in this
state. The injunction that Il am not 10
be quoted as saying So" forbids the pub
LEGATION of the names Of those so express
ing themselves.
Sheriff E. NJ. Denny. of Stevens conn-
ty, who was in the city en- route home
from trip to Seattle, said:
II was greatly surprised at the defeat
of the fusion ticket. as l was given TO I'M
derstand by the party leaders, while in
Seattle that they had sure thing. In
my opinion. the result of the election will
tend TO make the Populists stand more
closely together. and draw the party lines
so tightly as will discourage any further
attempts at fusion with outsiders.
Judge George w. Belt, a leading Demo
crat who two years ago was candidate
for the state supreme bench. and who Is
again being groomed for this office by the
Democrats. said
1.-The cause of the defeat of the fusion
ticket was in the putting up by the Popu-
lists of an untried man for the head OF the
ticket against man who had been tried
before. Judge Humes was known not to
be a dangerous man. while Calderhead
was an unknown quantity, and the neople.
were afraid Of him. There is no DOM. N
my mind that the policy to be pursued as
TO conducting wide-open or anti-wde-
open city had a great deal to do with the
result. l do not think the election signifies
anWning, as Only local issss4 ". n
feet fusion this fall. | think, however. a
new alignment from the present elements
of fusion will prevail in the election of
1900"
Alex Winston. the son and law partner
of Attorney General Patrick III. Winston.
said:
Local issues were alone involved In the
Seattle election, and can have no bearing
on the question of fusion in the state this
fall. With the platform adopted by the
that the ticket would so down TO defeat.
F. c. Robertson, late deputy United
States district attorney general and
dyed-in-the-woo Democrat. said:
II ascrbe the defeat in Seattle 10 un-
wise fusion. 1t Is impossible to win any
at the head Of the ticket. whom he peo-
pie have not confidence In as being capa-
BILE TO govern the city. The Populists de-
manded as a prerequisite to fusion TO
name the governor In the last state cleo
tion. As usual. they demanded TO name
the head Of the ticket In the Seattle cleo
ton. In the former case national issues
were involved and Democrats and Silver
Republicans supported the ticket. In my
opinion the silver forces outside OF the
Popullsts could have carried the state In
the two city elections Spokane and Seat
tie). held since. IL shows that the rank and
file of the Democrats and Silver Repubil-
cans. and many OF the liberal Fopulists.
cannot be dictated to by q few so-caled
middle-of- the readers. who insist upon all
the offices as prerequisite 10 fusion. Tho
Gold Republicans I'm Spokane supipo4teu a
Silver Democrat for mayor and succeeded
in defeating the Populists. who Insisted on
naming the head of the ticket. The result
and should be a warning TO Democratic
party leaders. who. In my opinion. are
forced TO make fight for recognition for
party before fusion Is agreed 10.
John cofeen. committeeman from Spo-
kane county on the state Populst commit
tee in the last state election and pres
ent leader in the councils Of his party,
said
1.-The Seattle election proves that fusion
is not success. The elemeninof the three
parties are as far apart az ever. They
have never become reconcifed, and they
. never will. This talk about the saloon
and sporting element being arrayed
against the moral element has nothing to
do with It. You viii always find the bet
ter element voting for men who viii car
~ out good measures. The f1sionists ac-
cused Humes OF being a wsde-open man.
but II is not so. He y rather man OF
good business qualifica tons. The element
that run Calderhead legged him and run
him 10 the ground. Personally ne is
good citizen. Going further back. Gov
ernor Rogers was the fruit OF fusion.
What does no do but app5iB; Or. Jordan
to membership on his board of audit and
control, II position which gives MIN The
power of naming appointments. The only
party that DR. Jordan pays really 10 =
Jordan Now comes the appointment OF
Judge J. H. Moore. of Spokane, as regent
of the state agricultural college at Pull
man Judge Moore, personally. - all
right. but there are penty OF good Popu-
lists in Spokane 10 pick from None bat
an Migrate would do such thing. Yet
they would have US fuse
County Clerk James r.. Low. Democrat.
said he knew but little or the issues in
viewed in the Seattle municipal election ard
could not express an opinion on the result.
lie however, ventured 10 state that In his
belief Il had no political significance bear
ing on the question OF fusion this fall.
FLOYD l.. Daggett, Democrat and present
member OF the city board OF education.
said:
seThe result will only make us more care
ful of our ticket and cause AL elements Of
fusion to get together tremendously. / am
not sufficiently acquainted To Seattle 10 ne
familiar with the personnel Of the ticket
defeated but one thing certain Is that Spo-
game fnsinnists mus nominate a good,
strong, clean ticket 10 carry victory thts
fall"
City Alderman c. s. Rutter, Silver Re-
publican, said.
Only local issues were involved in Seat
tie and / cannot see that II VIII have any
influence IN the politics OF the state"
s.yperior Judge l.. H. Prither, Liberal