The Political Gamble of John Collins
A Seattle power broker triggers a local storm by secretly vying for a plum federal consulship in Japan.
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 announcement that John Collins was a candidate for the office of consul general for Japan caused a flurry among the faithful. It had been generally believed that he was a candidate for no office and was merely seeking to serve his friends. It is realized that he has stolen a march upon them, and in the language of one of them, 'had thrown them down.' It has caused considerable bitterness, as Mr. Collins' preferment will shut out a large number of those who are seeking less ambitious offices. The Washington Democrats feel already that the incidents of the last election with its disastrous results to the Democratic party reduces its chances of patronage outside the state to a minimum. Most Democrats are very reticent on the subject, and some express their disbelief in what they consider Collins' treachery to those who have believed in his disinterestedness. Those Democrats who are not seeking federal office and are opposed to Collins, are, strange as it might seem, most in hope that he will be appointed in order that a prolonged absence may weaken his influence in local politics. With a municipal election approaching, they would greatly rejoice to have him out of the way.
“It is realized that he has stolen a march upon them, and in the language of one of them, 'had thrown them down.'”
Local political patronage remains a delicate dance in Seattle; just as in 1893, the 'moving on' of a divisive political figure to a federal role is often greeted by rivals as both a betrayal and a relief.
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