The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-11
FANC[TT THINKS II 4 H|NT.
BUSINESS MEN ARE INCLINED To A
wIDE-OPEN POLICY.
This IL the Interpretation Which
Tacoma.s Mayor Puts Upon the
Seattle EIectton-Registrasi II
Now Becoming quite Active.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
TACOMA March la-The comment here
upon the Seattle municipal election would
I'll library II put into print The diner-
ence OF opinion respecting the subject -
marked. Everyone has something 10 say
about the way Seattle voters swamped
the fusion ticket. Republicans are IN
high feather. Democrats and other fusion
lists leaning toward the candidacy or
Mayor Fawcett say Il told you so" and
their opponents wear long faces
No one denies>that the SEATTLE election
will cur a figure in the selection or fusion
nominees here. but no two politicians
think alike on this point. Popu.ists VINO
are determined 10 secure the head OF the
ticket are now talking OF an independent
ticket II they cannot have their way, and
aiiege that if the Seattle election shows
that Silver Republicans and Democrats
will not vote for Populist at the head
OF the ticket. now is the time to demon
sirate IL here.
when Mayor Fawcett. who as a poll
tician Is greatly interested in the result
OF the Seattle election. was asked what he
had 10 say concerning X, ne replied guard
eddy. His usual franknsss seemed TO
have received a very sudden check, and
he deliberated some time before saying
anything. He at last said:
1T dogl't surprise me a bit. No, ] ex-
pected it, IL is plain that the business
men of Western cities are favorable TO lib
eral administrations: they don't believe IN
election OF Mayor Humes illustrates this.
I've always felt that this was true, and
while the ma jority accorded Mayor
Humes surprises me. his election does
not"
Regardless of inquiry as TO the bear
Ing the Seattle election may have on the
coming contest here. Mayor Fawcett de-
ciined TO talk.
Democrats and Silver Republicans held
caucuses in several wards last evening,
but their action has added nothing par
ticularly new to the situation. and until
the primaries have been held pointers as
to probable candidates Will remain much
of a guess. 1t is still tacItly understood
among the fusionists that IL she Demo-
Gratis get the head of the ticket the Silver
Republicans will be allowed the treasurer
and the Populists the controller. Numer-
Gus aspirauts are talked of for these
places under this arrangement but in
terest generally centers upon the mayor
atty candidate Ward and precinct meet.
ings with local orators as the chief at
traction are the order from now until
the day of election.
Aside from the interest shown In the
Maine investigation public attention Is
largely confined I'd the coming election,
and the contest is sure to be a hot one.
the head OF the ticket make no secret Of
their belief that the howl against such
an arrangement is being made by the
Fopuists solely to secure concessions
along other lines. They say these same
Populists are leaving no stone unturned
10 ger the police department and that they
would all fall in line without a murmur
IL they We're pledged the chief of notice
All concerned figure upon civil service be-
ing wiped out OF existence and the head
OF the police department in such event
would mean more places for the faith
1uf than any other appointment they
could hope for
Republicans are steadily showing more
confidence in being vctors in the approach
ing fight. Their chief trouble as thus far
SHOWN, VIII be the selection of the strong
est and best man 10 head the ticket. Ma.
teriai In plenty is at hand but It is not all
OF the kind that VIII guarantee a victory
Inc uhusuaI interest being shown i'm this
particular feature of the election is taken
by Republicans generally to be a good
sign. "N
The fight for the council will prove as
brisk as that At the other end OF the ticket
Republicans now claim TO be able To elect
probably six of the eight councilnneu IA
be chosen surely five of them. They adj
NIT the strength of their opponents in the
Fourth and Fifth wards Fusionlsfs do
not figure on the same lines of course. but
their more enthusiastic prophets do no,
predict the election CT but four Of the
eight.
While leaders I'm all the wards are busy
shaping their affairs as best they can. the
registration OF voters continues rather
more actively than was anticipated two
weeks ago. At that time il seemed that
fully one-third Of the Republican vote
would not be registered, but now the COM
plexion In this particular feature shows a
marked change. AT the closing of the
clerks office last night les names had
been registered. and early this morning 10
more voters mad been added TO the list
Three clerks are being kept busy during
the day. and if the present rush continues
TO next Tuesday night, fully 60 more votes
viii be recorded. bringing the total near
the 5000 mark. This number is about 900
more than was expected would be regis
tered.