The Great Senatorial Deadlock
Legislators in Olympia remain trapped in a paralyzed vote, while business leaders demand an end to the factional infighting.
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.
Today's joint convention did not witness the changes from Turner to Allen that seemed certain last night. The alternate pleading and threatening of men they were about to cut loose from, backed by declarations of war from Democrats and Populists, caused members to hesitate and postpone the change. As a result, the two ballots of the day were taken without the slightest diverting incident, much to the disgust of a large audience. While the failure to increase Allen's strength was disappointing, his supporters remain confident that his election is but a question of time. Meanwhile, business leaders and Republicans in Spokane are sending frantic dispatches to their representatives, urging them to drop Judge Turner and support Allen to restore party harmony and end the 'miserable factious fight.'
“It is ridiculous to continue the Turner fight, as it will injure him and the Republican party in the future, and can serve no good purpose.”
In 1893, Washington's legislature was paralyzed by a senatorial deadlock that lasted weeks, illustrating the intense factionalism of early statehood. Today, this resonates with modern legislative gridlock and the persistent tension between party loyalty and the need for pragmatic governance in Olympia.
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