The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-02
Battle Royal for Control Of Demo-
cratic Organization.
M'ELRoY MAKES A NEW MOVE.
His Friends Say His Candidacy VIII
He Conducted without Guberna-
torial Complications Henceforth
Ronald Men want the Popu-
rfes-The sccretaryship Middle.

Notwithstanding the fact that interest
IN Democratic politics is to a large ex-
tent centered In the proceedings of the
Democratic national convention at Kan
sas City this week, the fight for con-
troll OF the party organization In this
county goes merrily on. Developments
during the past few days indicate that
the contest for the Endorsement OF the
King county Democracy for the con-
gressional nomination will overshadow
everything else In King county. The
night is growing more bitter day by day.
The Democratic county central commit
tee will be called TO meet in this city
soon after the national convention ad-
journs. II win settle first the contest
between Thomas J. Church and William
II. Middleton for the secretaryship of
the committee. Mr.. Church represents
one faction OF the party, Mr.. Middleton
another In the late. delegateship fight
between Lee Hat and J. w. Goodwin.
Mr.. Middleton bolted the regular conven>
tion carrying the minutes OF the body
with him. Mr.. Church was thereupon
elected by the Hart convention as sec
rotary of the committee.
The secretaryship Middle.
Mr., Church's friends will claim that he
Is the only regular secretary They say
that Chairman Thorne has promised 70
recognize him as the secretary OF the
dleton's supporters. among whom are
prominent adherents OF J. T. Ronald in
the congressional fight declare that the
Spokane convention having recognized the
Goodwin delegation. there is nothing left
for the committee to do but TO allow
Mr., Middleton to retain his place.
The contest over the secretaryship will
be but the beginning of an interesting
and protracted struggle for control OF the
Democratic county organization. The ad-
herents Of Candidate McElroy will de-
ma N tbn Auif f.v ka
ton he framed so as to allow only Dem
ocrats 10 vote at the primaries. The Ron
aid men on the committee, II is said,
viii fight for a liberal call. allowing not
only Populsts but also Silver Republi-
cans to participate in the primaries. In
which the congressional contest will he
to all intents and purposes decided.
The language OF the call on this point
will have great significance. 1t Is said
that Mr.. Ronald will have the solid sup
port OF the single tax Populists, who
organization of this city and county. In
the Godwin-Hart primaries great disorder
prevailed owing to the presence OF Ger
tain adherents of single tax at the vot-
ing booths. 1t is claimed that the Popu-
lists who helped Mr.. Goodwin In his fight
are not Democrats and never expect to
become members Of that party. and that.
therefore. they should be barred out of
the primaries.
on the other hand. according to state
ments made yesterday by intimate ad-
to allow the Populists, single takers in
cluded, to vote and TO sit in the conven-
ton as delegates. Said one of Mr.. Ron
AIDS main supporters last night:
'If the Democrats expect to carry this
county and state this fall they must
have the help and support Of the Popu
lists and the single takers. We want
every vote. There will be no fusion
ticket. There Will be single Democratic
state convention. composed Of Democrats.
Populists and silver Republicans. We
ought to extend every encouragement to
the Populists 10 Join with US"
The Fight on Mr.. Ronald.
The opponents Of j. T Ronald for con-
gress say they will make the campaign
interesting before the convention meets.
They say that II necessary they will dig
during the days when Mr Ronald was
mayor OF Seattle. They claim that they
will have vertable gold mine OF cam
as against Mr. Ronald in this way The
Ronald administration is one which IL
often referred 20 by Democratic positi-
clans It furnished the newspapers with
much good reading matter 1t wns during
the Ronald administration that the Celc-
hrated query. who cut the stickP'' orig
mated Then. as now, Mr., Ronald had
TO deal with happy family OF poll
ticlans. great and small.
A new move has been made by the
MeElroy men. They now declare that his
candidacy has no connection whatever
with the goyernorshIp question or with
that OF the supreme iudgcship. King
county has two candidates for supreme
Judge, namely Judge Moore and Judge
White. II has been commonly understood
that the men who are In the front rank
81 the McElroy column are for Gov
Rogers i'm his campaign for second
term on behalf Of Mir McElroy IL Ia
stated that he will make the fsht single
handed and alone, and that he Is not
pledged one way or another on the ques-
ton ~ the govern0rship.
Fire In Oneida. III.
GALESBCRG, III July Fire de-
etroyed the business portion % Oneida this
morning Loss about $4,000