The Battle for the Homecoming: Tacoma vs. Seattle Over the First Washington
As Secretary of War Alger hints that troops may bypass Seattle to land in Tacoma, a civic war erupts over who gets to welcome the returning volunteers from Manila.
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 the Star of Friday, May 16, there appeared a detailed announcement of the plans of the Tacoma people to secure the return of the First Washington volunteers direct from Manila to their city and to sidetrack the proposed Seattle celebration. The announcement caused quite a stir, inasmuch as Senator Foster admitted that he had been using his influence with the President and Secretary of War to accomplish that end.
Mayor Humes and other members of the Seattle committee recently appointed to arrange for a homecoming celebration in honor of the volunteers, expressed much surprise at the statements concerning the proposed action of the Tacomaites, and quoted the agreement made by the Mayor of Tacoma and others, that in case Seattle did not have its Fourth of July celebration but sided for the Tacoma celebration, then when the volunteers arrived, Seattle's celebration in their honor should be attended by the Tacoma people.
Last night the Star received a letter from Secretary of War Alger, which was enclosed a copy of another just written to C. P. Ferry, of the Tacoma chamber of commerce. The letters are exceedingly significant and are as follows:
War Department, Office of the Secretary, Washington, May 25, 1899. Dear Sir: I have your letter of the 16th inst., and inclose herewith a copy of the communication this day sent to the secretary of the Tacoma Board of Trade. When word is heard from General Otis, telegraphic notice will be sent to the Washington people. Very truly yours, (Done) H. R. Alger. Secretary of War.
To C. P. Ferry, Esq., Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma, Washington.
War Department, Office of the Secretary, Washington, May 25, 1899. Dear Sir: I have your letter of May 16 inst., with inclosures. If the Washington troops, upon being allowed to vote as to whether they wish to go to Port Madison or San Francisco for muster out, should elect to land at Puget Sound, no matter what the inconveniences of the Quartermaster's department may be, they will not go there. The only difficulty in the war is that it will make from $3 to $30 or $15 difference in the men according to rank in travel pay if they land at Puget Sound. I simply wish to act in accordance with the interests of men, and am going to have the matter left to the vote of the regiment as to where they wish to land under the conditions. If they choose to forego the difference in money value, the government will be the gainer, and the men will have the pleasure of landing with their arms in their own state. So far as I am concerned, it will please me just as much to have them go to Puget Sound as to San Francisco. Very truly yours, (Signed) H. R. Alger Secretary of War. To C. P. Ferry, Esq., Tacoma Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma, Washington.
It will be noticed that Secretary Alger does not say that the volunteers should be landed at any particular point upon Puget Sound. The inference, therefore, is that the place of debarkation has been purposely left unsettled for future determination. The letter sent by Alger to the Star upon this same matter several weeks ago, and published, also refrained from mentioning the port at which volunteers might be landed on Puget Sound.
After receiving Secretary Alger's letter this morning the Star called up Secretary C. P. Ferry, of the Tacoma chamber of commerce, over the long-distance telephone, and the following conversation ensued:
"Mr. Ferry, what kind of proposition did the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce make to the Secretary of War, that he should write the letter sent to you, a copy of which has been forwarded to the Star?"
"We asked for the return of the volunteers to Tacoma to be mustered out. The Chamber of Commerce here has had that project in view for several months."
"But do you not know that the Mayor of Tacoma and several others interested in carrying out your Fourth of July celebration, ran to Seattle about 10 days ago and made an agreement with the volunteers' celebration committee here that Tacoma would not make any claim to the troops upon the day of their return, provided that Seattle refrained from holding a big Fourth of July celebration this year?"
"We know nothing of any such arrangement here. It was made without the knowledge and consent of the people of Tacoma. We propose to get the volunteers here to be mustered out if it can possibly be done, and I will hold a second celebration in honor of the event. We would give up ten Fourthths rather than forsake the volunteers' welcome. No one here knows of any purpose to give up the volunteers to Seattle. The newspapers have never hinted at such a thing. We did not even know that you were going to have the troops mustered out at Seattle. It is simply nonsense."
The Washington volunteers are expected to land at San Francisco, but if Seattle is elected they will land at Puget Sound.
This 1899 dispute over military logistics mirrors modern battles over civic identity and economic development, where neighboring cities compete for federal resources or major events. The tension between Tacoma's aggressive lobbying and Seattle's defensive posture highlights how quickly local pride can turn into political warfare when public funds and prestige are on the line.
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