The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-07
McElroy and Ronald Each Claims
the Victory.
cAvovsss HELD LAST NIGHT.
Bitter Fight Assured In the Pri-
vention TO Follow saturday-Un-
less one Candidate Has Heavy
Majority the Contest VIII he
Continued to State Gathering.
JOHN DAVIS.

The Democrats OF King county began
the campaign last evening with the GUS
tomary caucuses. The main interest in
this early stage OF the game Of politics
centered In the congressional fight be-
tween J. r. Ronald and James r. Nc
Elroy. They and their respective follow
ers were active in the caucuses.,
Returns from the various precincts be-
gan to come In before o'clock. the hour
set for the caucuses being 8. At the head
quarters of the opposing factions clerks
were busily engaged In tabulating the
names OF the nominees. The results
seemed to be perfectly satisfactory to
both sides. At the McElroy headquar-
ters In the Collins building the workers
from the outlying precincts began to ar
rive before o'clock. and each one
brought tale OF a solid slate and q good
representation at the caucus
Lee Hart said. for his part Of the city.
Il got eight on my ticket. and everyone
was a McEiroy man; while prospective
delegate at the Ronald headquarters
stated that there were six people present
at the caucus OF his precinct, Ave Of them
Ronald men. and one for McElroy, and
as six delegates were necessary they
nominated the entire crowd"
Early In the evening w. II. Middleton.
was sought for. but diiigent search
failed to locate him until about 1890
O'Clock. when he appeared at the Ronald
nressan wns NAKED iSr an :.
refused to say. anything regarding the
factionai skirmish, he remarked:
Much interest has been displayed in
the caucufes. Both sides are active and
while the rivalry Is sharp 1t Is the con-
sensus Of opinion that whichever side
wins In the county convention will have
an undivided delegation To the state con-
vention fighting FOR a King county su-
preme Judge and congressman.
There are IA delegates to be chosen in
making a total OF "a for the number Of
votes at the convention next Saturday
! expect that we will be very busy pend
ihg the settlement OF this question. with
The printing OF ballots for the pri-
maries will be done Tuesday and wedncs-
day, and the primaries win occur We'd
nominations have not all been certified,
hut will be received by morning."
During the evening negotiations OF some
nature were entered into between the
opposing factions. John c. whitiock Of
the McElroy camp. calling on Mr.. Ronald
at his Headquarters. That the mission
was important Is evidenced by the fact
that Mr.. whitiock walked to the fourth
floor, under the mistaken impression that
the elevator was not running He was
siose,ed with Mr.. Ronald and some OF
his heutenants for some time, and later
in the evening several messages PASSED
between the candidates.
Mr. Ronald was seen late N the even
ing. and said; Il am well satisfied with he
condition OF affairs. While the returns are
not yet all In | feel sure that we will
have good working majority. and I am
well satisfied That expresses Il. salts
fed"
Mr.. Ronald's supporters were even
more emphatic in their declarations OF
victory, stating that there was no poss,-
bic doubt, and that their leader was sure
OF the nomination.
Mr.. McElroy and his friends are. how
ever, equally confident. When seen last
evening Mr.. MoElroy said: "'It looks good
10 me. and I feel perfectly safe. we Rave
| returns from a large number Of pfeelnefs
and think can say that we wiI nave
| i@ votes from the city precincts AZ the
convention. There are ia votes from the
city, and We viii have about the propo--
/ ton have stated"
Even the most conservative 81 Mr. Nc.
| Elroy's following placed hts city strength
| At eignty-hve votes, and when a hy-stans-
| or mentioned that Mr.. Ronald claimed TO
l hT satisfied With the result they said ar~-
! phaticaiiy There's nothing TO n. We win
/ and they know H."
Altogether. the prospects are good for
warm times az the primaries tonorrcx
1 While both sides profess confidence. uelth.
l cr shows any Intention OF taking a lay
On, The ge niie work ~ maktrS cneu.fes
for the opposition will be kept up to the
| last minute and u + generally believed
I cntside the few leaders who have IL tatk
I strong ths; the rssslt viii be very close
In that event = stormy convention Is
! assured. for Mr.. McEiray ard Mr. Ronald
] each has reputation as hard fighter 10
/ sustain. Unless the convention should Re
absolutely ari heavily one-xidef 4 IL free
I ~ predicted that tire fight viii not era
I there no matter how the majority stanaS
( but VII aeain se carried into the state
| convention.