The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-05
FROM THE PEOPLE.
A WORD TO REPUBLICANS.

tldl connection Win the ItepuDHCdu SiANe
organization will excuse my addressing
YOU on the subject OF the Seattle city cleo
ton.
l am in continual correspondence with
leading Republicans throughout the state,
and l give IL as the candid opinion OF the
most astute among them that Republican
defeat in Seattle on next Tuesday would
be worth $500 votes for the fusion cause
in the coming fan election. 1t is observed
that Mr.. Cotterilrs managers are strongly
urging the stock argument of the minor
ity that politics cut no figure in the cleo
ton; that the contest is being waged sole
ly on local issues and that Republicans
should shake off their partisan cloak and
vote for Cotterill and reform. ! want 70
say that while this feeling may prevail to
some extent among a very few IN Seattle.
Ii VIII not be accepted by the Republicans
throughout the state of Washington. We
Republicans who live in other parts CT
the state know that our party Is greatly
In the majority in Seattle; we know that
there are two tickets in the field, one Of
which is straight-out Republican. the
other a hybrid or mongrel makeshift un-
der the banner of fusion. The Republican
ticket is headed by the same man who
carried the party to victory in Seattle two
years ago, and thus fired the first gun In
the campaign of 1855, which resulted in
VICTORY Tor the R0DnhliCan
state ticket in the fall Without the pre--
tige of the municipal victory in Seattle In
March, we would probably not have car
rled the state in November 1895. And II
the Republican city ticket should be de-
feated on next Tuesday in Seattle no
amount OF explaining could satisfy the
Republicans throughout the state of Wash
ington that the contest was waged on
local issues, or that It was not a political
contest. The Republican voters of your
city should understand that they will be
held strictly accountable for the result Of
the city election, by the members Of the
party elsewhere.
/ find the following plank In the Re-
publican city platform:
I'VE especially commend the expansion
policy of the Republican party, which is
destined to make of the city of Seattle
a commercial metropolis OF the first mag
nitude."
That declaration, in my opinion. ought
to appeal to the voters of Seattle irre-
spective of party or politics There is cor-
tainly no local issue OF more Importance
in Seattle. to the business men and prop
erty owners. than this. The country .s
assured of Mr.. McKinley's retention AS
president for another five years. His
policy. and the policy OF the party. Is
expansion. 1t IS the biggest question that
has been presented 10 the people OF the
United States since 1860, and 1t is of more
Importance to Puget sound and the city
OF Seattle than to any other section or city
I'm the United States. Expansion IL dis
tinctly local issue in Western Washing
ton at least Expansion will develop a
Pacific ocean commerce that will do more
for the Pacific coast in less than twenty
years than the Atlantic ocean commerce
has done for the Atlantic coast in moro
than one hundred years. This is because
trade on the Atlantic has been built up by
the slow process of competition. while
here on the Pacific ships cannot be built
fast enough TO meet the great demand
that the strides OF trade are making ANY
clear minded business man win appreciate
the fact that this difference in conditions
will build up trade. and build up cities ten
times as fast here "a they have been built
up on the Atlantic seaboard.
What does this mean 10 Seattle and TO
Puget sound7 II means that this section
has such magnificent opening before II
as has never before been presented TO any
part of the entire globe, In the entire his
tory of the world
Our fusion friends will be apt TO ask
what this has to do with the city election
in Seattle next Tuesday? / answer that
the Seattle election is so closely allied to
the expansion policy OF the national Re-
feat on next Tuesday would leave the city
OF Seattle. commercially and politically,
ten years behind the point where Rcpubi-
can success would put II. ANY business
man can see this. At the opening OF this
great expansion traffic. much must come by
favor. San Francisco Seattle. Portland and
Tacoma all striving for the good favor
of the national administration and Its va
rious departments I'm connection with the
ri.
Witnessed every week In the matter OF
transport service. embarkatiou OF troops.
purchase OF government supplies. etc. beth
for the islands Of the Pacific and for
Alaska
win any candid, honest Popnlist or
Democratic business man Of Seattle dare %
say that the defeat OF straight Repub-
lican ticket and the election % fusion
ticket viii not injure Seattle commercially
I'm connection with the great expansion
project7 With a fusion victory next Tues
day. what claims can tho city Of Seattle
make upon q Republican administration as
against the equally strong claims ~ san
Francisco, Portland and TacomAg WIN
Seattle would simply be laughed out ~
court The Tacoma election is to be held
on April ! II Seattle downs the Repub-
lican ticket on Tuesday. the people u Ia
coma could make no better commercial In
and cleo, their Republican city ticket by
acclamAfion. no matter what so-cailed
local policy II might stand for. The
greatest aud most important local issue"
before the voters % Seattle is the great
expansion policy % the Republican party.
II appeals directly 20 the pockets ana
hank accounts 81 every man and woman
IN the entire community.
There can be no doubt that the national
administration T. Interested IN the Seattle
city eIectlon BY rare good fortune. the
voters a Seattle have the privilege OF
firing the FIRST gun of the campaign 81 1910
the most important campaign that the
present generation has witnessed strong
Republican majority wouiG strengthen the
expansion policy Of the ADMINISTRATION. be-
sides being worth hundreds q thGarands q
dollars 70 the cily Of Seattle commercially.
RepGhiican defeat there would give me
antl-@xpankisnistS throughout the entire
country good ci4sse Tor rejeaciug. They
would take advantage ~ &. and q wsuid
be referred 20 BY the ante xpansion shout