The Great Editorial Tug-of-War
When the National Editorial Association arrived in the Sound, Seattle and Tacoma engaged in a petty, comical, and highly public battle to 'kidnap' the visiting editors.
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 management of the National Editorial excursion from Tacoma to Seattle has aroused no end of serio-comic discussion. The editors wished to visit Seattle before dark, but Tacoma planned to take them to the Port Orchard navy yard, which the guests considered a kidnapping. When the Seattle committee attempted to greet the party, the Tacoma managers refused to allow them aboard. Seattleites, led by Mayor Ronald, chartered a tug, intercepted the steamer Multnomah, and showered it with flowers and badges. The Tacoma Ledger accused the Seattle committee of bribery and gross incivility, while Seattle proponents argued they were merely rescuing guests from a forced detour. Ultimately, the editors were delighted with their welcome in Seattle, though the inter-city rivalry remains as fierce as ever.
“Between two such ardent lovers, what could the editors do—but look and act modest? The editors were wooed pretty zealously.”
This rivalry between Seattle and Tacoma—often manifested in competition for transit and prestige—is a foundational part of Puget Sound civic culture. It echoes the modern 'sibling rivalry' between the two cities that persists in everything from infrastructure debates to sports and industry.
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