The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-02

Unwonted activity Is Just now being
manifested in Democratic circles. Early In
the political game the Democratic leaders
are laying plans for the next municipal
campaign. The election is yet more than
three months on, vet the Democrats. on the
principle of the early bird, are forming
their ward and precinct organizations ana
determining the issues upon which they
will enter tho campaign.
A meeting Of Democrats Is to be he'd
Thursday night at G. A. r. hall in the Col
Inns building for the purpose OF organizing
Democratic Club. The main object Of the
club will be the organization OF the party
In preparation for the municipal campaign.
The chief issue that will divide Its menu
bers will be that Of the municipal owner
ship Of public utilities in the city Of Seat
tle with especial reference to the street
railroads OF the city. This question will al
so be fought out on the floor OF the DEM
ocratic city convention.
There are ample indications Of settled
and well-denned course upon the part OF
the Democratic leaders in Seattle. which
evidently had its inception In tho now IA
nous family conference of the Goodwin adj
herents. held Saturday night last In the
office of O well-known law firm In the Mu-
tual Life building. That purpose is none
other than to frame up a campaign under
Democratic auspices as will compel the
Labor party to ticket composed largely II
not wholly OF Democrats.
Part of this campaign. which is being
ic Ingenuity, is the cry which is being stu
diously circulated by the interested ones,
in favor OF a straight Democratic ticker
next spring, and In the national and state
campaigns In the fall Of 1900 I. is hoped
by the managers of the new Democratic
propaganda to enlist the sympathy and CO
operation of old-line Democrats who have
not been infected by the dogmas Of the SIM.
gle tax organization, and who have not be-
come converts to the principles Of the gov
eminent ownership OF public utilities and
the initiative and referendum.
1t il we'll known to those who have
watched the drift of political matters dur
ing the past three or four months who are
Goodwin stands at it's head being chairman
of the committee Of one hundred, and also
prospective Democratic national commit
tseman: Mr.. Goodwin has been promised
prominent local Democrats in his
teeman, including Alfred Battle. Judge W
J.. T. Ronald, w. H. Blackman and others
Mr.. Goodwin If a politician of more
shrewdness and acumen than most people
give him credit for. He has friends among
the single takers and he has succeeded
In organizing q society OF miscellaneous
politicians around him who are advocating
ownership of ferries street car lines, etc.
Mr.. Goodwin Gays he favors a straight
Democratic ticket in the spring. The con-
clusfon to be drawn from all these things
naturally. ID that the Democratic managers
are planning to gather In their net all the
forces which formed the fusion organiza-
ton of 1s96-9S, together with such organt
cations as have no national political affli.
atoms, as the supporters of municipal
ownership and the single tax, and cement
ing them into one Heterogeneous mass, to
mold them into a political party headed
by a straight Democratic ticket.
For several weeks to come, 1t IL the plan
Of the Democratic manipulators to talk
straight Democracy to their fellow Demo-
Gratis who have no patience with municipal
ownership and the initiative and roteren-
dunn. Democrats like L. c. Gilman, J, b.
Howe. James r. McElroy, Fred Rice Row
ell, John Y. Terry, Frederick Bausman. f.
+. Randolph and Judge w. H. White are
to be cajoled into the new enterprise IL
possible. or kept out OF the conventions OF
the party IL other measures fail, 1t Is said
1t was given out yesterday by members
of the city committee, which stands back
of the call for the meeting of Democrats
Thursday night, that no discussion of the
expansion question will be permitted. The
first object of the meeting is to arrange for
ward and precinct organizations. Ove-tures
are to be made to the Populists and other
organizations. partisan and otherwise who
are advocating the submission of municpal
ownership and initiative and referendum
amendments to the city charter. and, it IL
said, If all goes well a ticket is to he
named under Democratic auspices, with
Democrats Occupying the principal places.