The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-02
PDPUL|ST PRIMARIES SET.
TACOMA COANITTEEMEy HOLD AN.
OTHER SECRET MEETING.
They Are Strongly Favorable 10 Fu-
sion and Profess Not to Care
which Party Gets the Mayoralfy
Nomination II He IL q Good Man.

Special Dispatch 10 the Post-ln,elligencer.
TACOMA, Jan. 1.-The Populist city COM
nittee has agreed that the primaries for
the ensuing spring election shall be held
February g. Further than this nothing
whatever OF a public nature was done ~
its second meeting held IN the Office OF
Fish Commissioner Little last night. In
quiry developed that the session was at
first devoted TO informal discussion Of
plans for the coming fgh, ard that fusion
Is almost sure 10 result If the recommended
tons Of the committee are Endorsed
The three months yet to elapse before the
election Is the reason given by the COM
ni,tee for net at this time attempting TO
form definite plans or outline policy.
The members say that all kinds Of Enex-
pected developments may arise before
April 5. the day Of election. and they
therefore prefer to wait until the time i
ripe before officially shying their castor in
the ring. When questioned as to the
mayoralty candidate. ali they viii say IS
that they Will recommend the candidacy OF
the man who they feel certain viii make
the strongest fight, regardless Of his poll
tics, so long as ne Is one OF the combined
element.
In illustration OF how this committee
now looks upon Mayor Fawcet,s aspira-
ton for denomination. II ne possesses any
such, one OF the committee this morning
said on tbs point:
1--WE are. not making a fight against
IT. NAT
We will select the best man, as vote
getter, so far as We cut a figure
But you are not making fight for
him. either. are your
sure not, Why should we? We don't
seem 20 even be worthy OF attention by
him, so why should we take any pains 10
think of his personal interests? But this
is true: If it Is shown before the time
OF the convention that he is the strongest
possible candidate We will recommend his
nomination"
do you know OF anything happening
that might make him the strongest man
TO head the ticket?"
No: L can't say I do. But you can't
tel what might happen before April. The
mayor might have occasion 10 make an
other appointment" concluded the commit
teeman in a jocuiar tone, and he was
actually guilty OF winkinS at the reporter
as he said it.
His latter reference was 20 the naming
OF a clerk of the municipal court, the
choice as has already been noted having
been In opposition 10 the recommendation
of the city committee. Despite the fact
that members say nothing was done az
the meeting as TO the mayor. there Was
an interesting little episode at the meet
ing In this connection. One member of the
committee insisted the mayors appoint
ynert If Frank r Baker was direct sian
at the committee. and that II was the
duty of the committee to resent 1t. He
accordingly proposed that a resolution be
introduced and passed coudemning the
mayor for naming Baker. but the BAL
ance Of the committee thought differently,
whatever their feeling in the matter may
be, and successfully opposed move TO this
end.
Another feature of the meeting worthy
of note Is It's place OF meeting. II was
distinctly understood that this point
should remain secret, In view OF the COM
ment aroused on account of the first meet
Ing having been held outside the Popuiist
headquarters--or what is generally con-
sidered the hang-out OF the faithful. Lo-
cal newspaper men were told that the
meeting place would not be dvulged, but
it was learned by a Post-Tntelligencer re-
porter today that the gathering was held
at the office Of Fish Commissioner Little.
and that the same reasons which led the
committee to decline 10 meet at the head
quarters in the first instance are still
prevalent. This apparently means that
those OF the faction represented by
Messrs. Hogan and Metcalf. iessees Of the
headquarters, are still dstasteful TO the
committee. and that whatever difference
has existed between the committee and
this following it has not yet been patched