The Custom House Spoils System
A political power struggle over federal appointments in Port Townsend reveals the deep-seated corruption and infighting within the local Democratic Party.
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.
Here is a list of appointments stated by Collector Saunders for positions in the custom house: C. H. Sawyer, deputy collector; J. A. Tibbals, deputy collector; A. V. Bossette, clerk; and others. It will be observed that Riptin, as well as Tibbals, who made so much noise in the Seattle deputy collectorship, will be provided with soft berths or fat salaries. Not a single Tibbals adherent is named in the list. These appointments were agreed upon by a small coterie of Southern politicians who reside in this city. Neither Mr. Tibbals nor any of his followers were consulted, and they appreciate the wanton insult. The city election, which takes place tomorrow, has cut quite a figure in local appointments. Saunders has delayed granting them until the city contest shall have been decided. He is reported to have threatened with a dreadful political death if the city passes into Republican hands. As a bait, he allowed one of the luscious plums to hang on the custom house tree in sight of Tibbals' friends, with the placard in sight, plainly saying that a man's qualifications for office would be largely governed by the result of tomorrow's election.
“As a bait he allowed one of the luscious plums to hang on the custom house tree in sight of Tibbals' friends.”
This 1893 political drama highlights the long history of the 'spoils system,' where government positions were treated as currency for loyalty. While today's civil service protections have replaced such blatant patronage, the tension between local political factions and the struggle for influence over administrative appointments remains a perennial theme in Seattle’s political landscape.
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