The Political Machine at the Seattle Gate
President Cleveland's recent appointments of a U.S. district attorney and marshal reveal the growing influence of Tacoma's Hugh Wallace over Washington's federal patronage.
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 attention of President Cleveland has finally been turned toward the state of Washington. He has appointed Hon. W. H. Brinker United States district attorney for this state, and James C. Drake United States marshal. As between Seattle and Tacoma in the matter of these appointments, honors are easy. Judge Brinker is a resident of Seattle and Mr. Drake is a resident of Tacoma. Considered from a political standpoint, however, the appointments are noteworthy because they emphasize the fact that has been patent for some time past that the astute young politician, Mr. Hugh Wallace, of Tacoma, is dispenser of patronage in chief for the State of Washington. The war horses of the Democratic party in Seattle have been turned down. The men who have grown gray in the service of the party and who have fought its battles time and time again when they realized that the fight was a hopeless one, have been ignored, and comparatively new men, now that victory has been attained, have been placed in power.
“When Cleveland put the sign 'Warhorses must keep out' at the White House gate he meant it.”
Local political friction over 'who gets the job' remains a staple of Seattle civic life. Today's debates over administrative appointments to boards and city commissions echo the same tensions between long-term party loyalty and the rise of new political power brokers.
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