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24 stories matching unpopular
- ‘Rule or Ruin’: A Territorial Lawmaker Turns on Governor Stevens
Confined to his room with a cold, a member of the Washington Territorial Legislature answers his critics — defending his right to name the governor's unpopular appointees and accusing a ruling clique of trying to shut the rest of the territory up.
- The Industrialist Who Built the Waterfront
John Leary's ambitious shipbuilding operations at the dawn of 1885 turn Seattle into a hub of private enterprise and labor, defying the shadow of corporate interests.
- The Seattle Real Estate 'Gigantic Scheme' to Chicago
A proposed state law to widen Seattle streets is condemned as a speculative ploy to unload property on unsuspecting Eastern buyers.
- The D Street Market Under Fire
Tacoma city officials face criticism for allegedly targeting a popular public market to appease a 'grocery trust.'
- The Political Ousting of Register Krutz
After months of local controversy, the U.S. Land Office in North Yakima sees a shakeup in leadership.
- The Mayor and the Murderer
A scathing editorial questions the ethics of Mayor Ronald defending a local killer while in office.
- The Senator Who Wanted to Cut Off Every Chinese Man's Queue — and Jail Him
After Chinese cooks boycotted his Tacoma spice business, a state senator proposed fining and jailing any Chinese man who wore a queue, with state agents sent out to shear them.
- Masters and Pilots Revolt Against Port Inspector
A powerful local maritime union files formal charges against U.S. Inspector W. J. Bryant, alleging systemic corruption, bullying, and insurance kickbacks.
- The Unpopular Appointment of B. F. Kendall
Public outcry swells across Washington Territory against the controversial selection of a local lawyer as the new Indian Superintendent.
- A Hanging in the Armory: The Unpopular Corporal and the Men Who Stuffed His Uniform
Company E turned a grudge into theatre — an effigy rigged with an electric-light wire, a pair of odd-coloured glasses and a chalked gravestone — and a military court may follow.
- The Unreliable Peer: A Seattle Critique of Jury Bias
An 1878 editorial laments that the 'glory of English law' is being tarnished by jurors who prioritize class bias over evidence.
- The Shadow Over the City Attorney's Office
As Seattle approaches a municipal election, a local editorial scrutinizes the ethical conflicts of candidates entangled with railroad corporations and political betrayal.
- The Forgotten Platform for a People's Washington
In 1909, a visionary reformer urged a fractured movement of grangers, socialists, and unionists to put aside their hobbies and unite behind a single platform of 'Majority Rule.'
- City Engineer Fired Amidst Political Pressure
A storm of public indignation follows the board of public works' decision to remove the city engineer at the behest of shadowy political 'wreckers.'
- The Collapse of a Workingman's Dream
A bold attempt at worker-owned enterprise in Tacoma ends in financial failure and legal recriminations.
- The Masquerade Ball at Judge Keyes' House
A motley crew of ghosts, devils, and literary figures gather for a secretive and exuberant social event in Aberdeen.
- The Great Seattle Church Schism: Denny’s Deed vs. The Pastor’s Pew
A bitter power struggle at the First Christian Church has erupted into physical confrontation, with trustees seizing the building from Rev. Rufus Moss and his loyalists in a dispute over leadership and property rights.
- Tacoma’s Democrats Wake Up to a Republican City
A bitter municipal election leaves Tacoma’s O’Brien Democrats stunned, as Republicans take the mayor’s office and most of the council.
- The Great Cow Standoff: When Seattle’s Streets Were Held Hostage by Livestock
In September 1878, a herd of cattle and horses blocked the wharf district, forcing pedestrians to halt in their tracks. The city council was forced to intervene as commerce ground to a standstill.
- The Cream That Wasn't: A Milk War Lands in Seattle
An Illinois condensery mails Seattle a warning that a Washington company is skimming the butter fat out of its milk. The Seattle Times demands a prosecution; the local trade paper calls the charge a stunt — then quietly admits the 'Carnation Cream' label is a lie.
- Seattle's Chinese New Year: Fireworks, Debt Settling, and a Tartar Emperor
Local Chinese merchants celebrate the new year with fireworks and a week of festivities, while manager Woo Gen voices his opposition to the ruling Tartar dynasty.
- The Green Gold Rush: How Kennewick’s Asparagus Boom Became a Local Gold Mine
Local growers are realizing that with the right fertilizer and strict quality control, their valley's asparagus is commanding top prices and opening doors to eastern markets.
- The Last Word from the Dispatch: A Veteran Editor’s Farewell and a New Era Begins
In October 1876, the *Puget Sound Dispatch* underwent a significant leadership change. The outgoing editor, Bebia Brown, penned a reflective valedictory on his five-year tenure, while incoming editor Thomas B. Merry outlined his vision for Seattle’s future, pledging support for statehood and local industry.
- A Gavel, a Roar, and a Populist Ticket Born in Chaos
King County's People's Party convention at Turner Hall turned into a shouting, proxy-fighting, faction-splitting marathon—and buried Dr. J. Eugene Jordan and Jack McDonald on the way to nominating a ticket.