The Senatorial Deadlock at the Statehouse
Lawmakers in Olympia struggle to choose a U.S. Senator amidst party fractures and geographical rivalries.
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.
Olympia, Jan. 17. The senate proceeded to the election of a United States senator to succeed John B. Allen. Senator Roberts nominated John B. Allen, citing his unquestionable ability and integrity. Senator Claypool, however, argued that the Republican party had lost the faith of the people and nominated George Turner of Spokane. Senator Eshelman nominated Chauncey W. Griggs, a Democrat. When the vote was cast, it resulted in a stalemate: Alien received 15 votes, Turner 9, and Griggs 9. Senator Kinnear expressed his frustration with party politics, noting he had received petitions from his constituents asking him to vote against the incumbent. The senate adjourned without reaching a majority decision.
“I am not a prophet, neither am I the son of a prophet, but the prediction I made in this chamber two years ago has all but been fulfilled. The course of the Republican party has been such that the people are beginning to lose faith in it.”
The 1893 legislative deadlock over a U.S. Senate seat mirrors the intense partisan brinksmanship and ideological shifts in Washington’s political history. Just as these senators grappled with the influence of geography—West versus East—modern state politics still frequently navigates the divide between the urban Puget Sound region and the rural rest of the state.
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