The Political Feud Over a City Comptroller
A power struggle in Seattle's city government reaches a fever pitch as five aldermen defy Mayor Ronald's appointment of J. M. Carson, setting off a storm of allegations and local partisan warfare.
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 split among local Democrats over the appointment of J. M. Carson as comptroller of the city has grown wider during the past week, and with each succeeding day the dispute has become more acrid. The matter will come to final issue tonight in the city council, and since grave charges are made which Mr. Carson will be present in person to refute, the session will be stormy. The war—which for nearly two weeks had been going on under cover—became an open breach on Thursday last when five of the aldermen—a majority of the board—sent a letter to Mayor Ronald urging him to submit another man for ratification. The mayor has retorted, stating he would not withdraw Carson's name without his consent. 'Carson is an honest man,' the Mayor claimed. 'There is a good deal of complaint going on against Carson, but not a man will dare come up and put the charge in writing and give Carson an opportunity to meet them.' Mr. Carson is also on his mettle, and he defiantly announces that he will meet the charges at any time or place. The allegations, now in the hands of J. F. Brewer, concern accusations that Mr. Carson attempted to use his position as special agent in the land office for personal gain. Nearly all the active Democrats in town are now engaged in this fight to a finish.
“These Seattle faithful hate Mr. Carson not for the enemies, but for the friends that he has made.”
This 1892 political squabble over administrative appointments and character attacks mirrors the enduring tension in Seattle's city hall, where personal alliances often override policy, and 'inside-baseball' political fights frequently paralyze governance.
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