The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-28
The Two Factions Are Drifting
Further Apart.
BITTER CHARGES ARE MADE.
Lenders Threaten tn Disrupt the Par
fy-Each Wing WootDg the Demo-
Gratis and silver Republicans TO
Eject Coalition-Monkey and
ton m 10 COuncilmen nj Large.

There are two factions in the once har-
monious Peoples party in Seattle, and
tb< breach between the two appears to be
widening day By day. The members OK
each faction are free enough TO express
their opinions about the members OF the
other even to Newspaper reporters, and II
half the hard things that have been said
were quoted. the public press would con-
tain venom and profanity enough to form
the basis for numerous personal difficult
ties.
Just now the latest move on the part OF
the office holding faction OF the Pops. In
which Messrs. Way. Meyer and Hart APP
pear as the most conspicuous figures. is
an effort To- form an entirely new combina-
ton by which they may effect fusion
with the Democrats and the Silver Repub-
iicaus and thus leave the Jordan faction
of the Pops out In the cold. Members of
the latter faction claim that the office
holders have left no stone unturned TO
bring about their purpose. going even to
the length Of Misrepresentation. The Jor-
dan meH claim that this is the real reason
why no more definite dates have been set
for the city conventions They say that
the "office-hoIders'' have contrived TO i'm
bue the Democrats ard Silver Republicans
with the idea that IL those two parties
fused with the Jordanites IL would be at
the expense not only OF their political au-
tonomy and the sacrifice OF their political
platforms and convictions. bit, what is
still worse IN the eyes of some at the cost
OF Office and political preferment
From all accounts there must have been
a monkey and parrot time at the last meet
Ing of the Popuiist city central committee
al which the effort was made To reconsider
the vote excluding saiaried officc-hoiders
from taking part In the Approaching con-
sention. Not the (easr amusing feature
of the convention was the importation Of
Ar. Robert Bridges all the way from Oily m
pia. only tn find that he was CURLY ex-
eluded from participation in the evenings
deliberations. This was done by a mo-
ton from the Jordanites 10 make the meet
ing ussdiy executive. The motion pre-
vailed. after futile opposition. and Mr..
Broges was forced to 40 outside
From an authentic source IL is learned
that ono OF the ofiice-hoIding leaders grew
so irate at this turn of affairs that he
Openly aVowed his intentions of disrupting
the party, while Mr.. Bridges no whit crest
fallen at hts summary election from the
fold of the faithful. threatened as a last
resort that he would move TO Seattle force
his way into the convention, and IL nec-
essary, institute legal proceedings to es-
fablish his right TO "a seat.
Meanwhile. an entertaining by-plsy had
occurred between the warning factions Of
the much~dissevered Pops. A peace com
missioner. In the person OF one Mclean
had been sent by the ''ofiice-holders'' TO
sound the Jordanites on the proposition
that all good Populists would unite pro-
e'ded an ofiice-holders. salaried or not,
should be excluded from the convention.
As DR.. Jordan himself Is a non-salaried
oHlee-hoider. the proposition took rather
personal turn. Jordan avowed his will
ingness. II is said. to pass under the rod
Tor the sake Of harmony. but for some rea-
son ms followers suspected McLeans good
iAith. and the proposition fell through.
some Existing Conditions.
Az no time since the inception Of the
fusion movement has there been such an
Interesting situation within the camp of
the allied forces in Seattle as the present.
The Democratic branch OF the triple aln-
ance has taken the Initiative TO bring
about coalition of the brethren for The
approaching spring campaign The Silver
Republicans. anxious 10 he sheltered from
their loneliness by any protecting h.l.,
are hoping that the Democrats will sue
coed. The PopulIst organization. however
Is dominated ny men who are stuhboruiy.
opposed 10 yielding the organization ~
their party TO the Democrats. and viii
favor flSion only on condition that the
head OF the ticket be given TO them.
Inside OF the fopuliSt wigwam there is
an active. persistent and weil-orea niz.a
body or politicians OF experience and sa-
gacity. Some of them are Office hoi,;ers
and others have been. These men are IN
posed 10 the dominant sentiment of rho
party, as expressed through the central
committee. They are. whether outwareiiy
or not. In favor Of a union with the ~
Gratis with Democrat for mayor. \ strong
sentiment exists among the mass Of me
fnpulists that these men are acting for
selfish reasons and are not tn he ,r,,st.s