The Political War Over John H. McGraw
The Post-Intelligencer battles claims that gubernatorial candidate John H. McGraw was seen at a notorious Seattle saloon.
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 Telegraph published an editorial claiming that Republican gubernatorial candidate John H. McGraw was seen meeting with Tommy Clancy and Tom Quigley at a saloon in the 'Whitechapel' district until 2:00 AM on a Sunday. The Post-Intelligencer investigated the claim, producing evidence that McGraw was on the steamer City of Seattle traveling to New Whatcom (Bellingham) at that time. Purser Gillam confirmed McGraw was on board and had retired to his stateroom early, later requesting that missing papers be sent to him in New Whatcom. The Post-Intelligencer characterized the Telegraph's report as a 'lust of lying' for political gain.
“The Telegraph in this, as in other instances, lied 'from the very habit and lust of lying.'”
This reflects the fierce, partisan nature of late-19th-century electioneering in Washington, where newspapers functioned as propaganda arms for candidates. The debate over McGraw's character and his commitment to the Lake Washington ship canal remains a classic example of turn-of-the-century civic boosterism.
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