The Republican Rally for John McGraw
A boisterous night of cheering and song at the First Regiment Armory as Republicans ratify their gubernatorial ticket.
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 disagreeable weather neither lessened the attendance nor diminished the fervor of the great multitude who gathered last night at the First Regiment armory to ratify the nominations made by the Republican state convention. No man who witnessed the reception given to Hon. John H. McGraw was left with a doubt as to the hearty approval of the people of Seattle. During the two hours occupied by the exercises, the audience was profoundly interested and unceasingly enthusiastic. The platform was adorned with tropical plants and a monster floral shield with the name McGraw across its face. The McGraw Glee Club sang campaign songs, including 'Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ah,' adapted to praise the nominee for the coming election race.
“Look around and you will find / Bones; men of every kind / Shouting for our state’s brave son, / John McGraw of Washington.”
In 1892, political conventions were massive, theatrical public spectacles held in downtown armories. Today’s campaign events have largely moved from these civic halls into private fundraisers or digital echo chambers, yet the core desire to rally the party base behind a 'man of the people' remains the central engine of Washington politics.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.