The Political Battle Over the Lake Washington Ship Canal
Both parties are fighting over the proposed ship canal, with Republican and Democratic platforms diverging sharply on the project's viability.
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.
In order that it may be fully understood how far the enemies of King County went to strike a blow at its interests, and how gratuitous was the manner in which the Democratic state convention launched the Lake Washington canal into politics, we reproduce the planks on the subject of public improvements in the platforms of the two parties. The Republican plank recognizes the importance of our rivers and harbors, and specifically commends the Columbia River, the harbors of the Pacific coast, and a ship canal connecting Puget Sound with Lake Washington. Conversely, the Democratic plank singles out the Lake Washington canal as the only improvement worthy of condemnation, making it a major political issue. Mr. Snively, the Democratic candidate, has evaded the question, causing significant disappointment to the voters of King County.
“In thus preserving silence on this important issue Mr. Snively insulted the intelligence of his audience.”
The struggle for the Lake Washington Ship Canal was a defining infrastructure fight for early Seattle. Today, discussions about our regional infrastructure, such as the Ship Canal itself or the expansion of light rail, remain similarly charged with civic anxiety and political posturing.
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