The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-04


Harmony" at the meeting OF the Seattle
Democratic Club in Germania hall last
night and therefore the assistance OF the
constabulary was not required to MAINTAIN
order. The club met for no particular pur-
pose except possibly to give w. H. Waite
an opportunity to declare in view of his
prospective appointment to the supreme
bench, his allegiance to Organism, and
his opposition to the policy Of empire.
Corwin s. Shank presided and introduced
Fred Rice Rowell as the chairman OF the
evening. Mr.. Rowell made a neat speech,
and then introduced ex-Mayor j. t. Rom
aid, r. c. Strudwick and w. H: White.
1t was expected that resolution would
be offered indorsing James Hamilton Lewis
for vice president. This did not material
ize. however and thereby an interesting
contest was avoided between the Hart and
Goodwin factions which were represented in
force.
Mr. Ronald was the first speaker. He
flashed glittering array of figures before
the audience concerning the cost of the
present army He declared that tc fight
Spain for Cubas freedom required but 90
900 men at an expense Of $25o,OO0 per day,
yet to subdue the struggling Filipino pa
triots" require 5000 additional troops and
an expenditure OF 100000 per day. Would
you crush out the only republic that was
ever started on the shores OF ~Asia." he
asked with dramatic appeal.
Mr. Ronald appeared to have read well
the published accounts OF the speeches Of
w. ]. Bryan. He called up the memory of
Abraham Lincoln. Were Lincoln in
Washington when Agoncilo the represen-
tative Of Aguinaldo came to the national
capital. he would have sent the White
House carriage to the depot to receive
him." he said. "He would have asked him
to sit down in the White House and make
himself at home and he would have told
Aguinaldo's representative that the Fill
pinos would be given free government"
burst of cheering followed this remark
on the part of the ex-mayor Perceving
his advantage. Mr.. Ronald said: This is
a good time to quit. l thank you" and
took his seat amid more cheers.
| r. c. Strudwick followed with a speech.
His main argument was devoted to show
ing that because the administration mad
sought to secure an appropriation of 500
to pay certain personal expenses of Gen.
Wood, the governor general of Cuba, the
country was drifting toward monarchy
under guidance of the Republican party
w. Fl. White followed in a long speech
He announced his reconversion to Bryan
Democracy. He likened himself to the
dove which Noah sent out from the ark.
The dove returned wet and muddy ant
glad to get a perch in the ark. because
he could find no place whereon to set his
feet. This comparison evoked wild cheers
from Judge Whites followers, and for a
full moment there was considerable
warmth and enthusiasm.
The speaker quickly spoiled the effect
of this hit, however, by declaring that
he believed the Democrats in congress
had made mistake in not advocating
the annexation of Cuba. Then Mr.. White
entered into an elaborate argument in
favor of expansion. stopping now and
then to declare that he was with Bryan
and against Imperialism, which he
1l.p Of \, a.tt. ..E .
publican party. Referring to his pub
lished opinions a few months ago on the
Philippine question, Mr.. White said: II
did not then believe, and do not now
believe. In a declaration against uphold
ing American authority in those islands,"
Mr.. White then declared that the atti-
tude of President Mckinley In reference
to the Puerto Rican tariff bill had forced
him to take stand with Bryan.
Judge White read the speeches of Steph-
en- A. Douglas, where the latter, in -o5S,
declared in favor OF annexing Cuba, Cen
trial America and Mexico.
THE Philippines are now nearer by two
years travel to Washington city than
was the Pacific Coast at the time of the
Louisiana purchase by Jefferson" he
said. This statement awakened no en-
thusiasm. Matters were made even worse
when the speaker said he had been in
favor of obtaining the Philippines and
Hawaii because of the advantage they
would give this country In Pacific trade.
Finally Mr.. White wound up by declaring
that he agreed with Bryan that rather
than run the chance of Imperialism and
policy of empire" he would favor
allowing the Filipinos to set up their own
government with merely a protectorate
exercised by the United states. I'VE don't
want to take any more territory" he
declared, than we can occupy, Ameri-
canize and clvilize"
Tho excerpts which Mr.. White read
| from a speech in New Orleans by Douglas
were OF the most pro-expansion kind.
| They were received in chilly silence by
| the crowd. Finally. when the speaker
| announced his allegiance to Bryan and
| took back all the bad things he said about
! the Democratic leader a few months ago,
| the tension was Visibly relieved, and
| there was positive cheer when Judge
| White finished.
Before the meeting adjourned William
| Biackman moved that "aIl fuslonists''
| who desired to become Democrats be in
| vited 70 sign the club rolls. This carried