The Bosses’ Choice: Seattle’s Machine Politics in 1892
A scathing editorial account of a closed-door convention where the Democratic party leadership hand-picked a candidate for mayor who was widely viewed as a puppet.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The Democrats of Seattle yesterday nominated their city ticket. The convention was a quiet affair. All the work had been cut out beforehand by the bosses, and the delegates had little to do but ratify the nominations which had been determined upon weeks ago. The spasmodic efforts that have been made from time to time to bring out a Democratic candidate for mayor in opposition to the one selected by the bosses all proved abortive, and Mr. Ronald was placed at the head of the ticket in accordance with the programme adopted weeks ago. Mr. Ronald has been a resident of Seattle for eight or nine years, and has participated, as a candidate, in a number of political campaigns, in some of which he has been successful. He has never been identified with the business interests of Seattle. He has done little or nothing to further the advancement of the city. His name has never been connected with any commercial or manufacturing enterprise. He has never taken part in any popular movement outside of the strict lines of party politics. He is something over six feet in height, and rejoices in the possession of a loud and somewhat rasping voice, which he does not allow to languish for want of exercise. His other qualifications for the office of mayor are not apparent.
“All the work had been cut out beforehand by the bosses, and the delegates had little to do but ratify the nominations which had been determined upon weeks ago.”
This 1892 critique of machine-controlled nominations feels startlingly relevant to modern discourse regarding the influence of party elites and 'smoke-filled room' politics. Just as the P-I editors lamented a candidate with no connection to the city's growth, today's voters continue to struggle with the tension between grassroots civic engagement and the influence of established political machines.
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