The Day Seattle Ran Out of Room for a Presidential Candidate
When William Jennings Bryan announced a campaign stop in Seattle in 1900, local organizers realized the city had no venue large enough for the massive crowds—so they considered pitching a giant tent.
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.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan, prospective Democratic candidate for the presidency, expects to visit Seattle within the next 30 days. This announcement is made on the strength of telegrams exchanged last evening between the Star and Mr. Bryan. The Star wired to Colorado Springs, Colo., as follows: 'Hon. W. J. Bryan—Do you expect to visit Seattle this year. If so, when? Kindly wire for publication. Seattle Daily Star.' The following answer was received: 'Seattle Daily Star.—Hope to visit Seattle and Tacoma early in September, but plans are not definitely made yet.—W. J. Bryan.' While the general statement had been made that Mr. Bryan intended to tour the West this fall, no definite information as to the candidate's Northwestern itinerary was obtainable. Both Seattle and Tacoma can now, however, count upon Mr. Bryan's early arrival. Just where he will address the thousands that will doubtless throng to hear him is a question which will puzzle the Democratic leaders in this community. There is no suitable public hall, and the only thing that seems at all possible is to secure a large tent.
“There is no suitable public hall, and the only thing that seems at all possible is to secure a large tent.”
A century before Seattle's modern struggles with stadium-sized crowds and housing shortages, the city was already grappling with the lack of public infrastructure to accommodate its booming population. The 'tent' solution serves as an early, desperate response to the perennial Seattle problem: we have the people, but nowhere to put them.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.