Political Chaos and the 'Colonization' of Tacoma
As municipal elections loom, accusations of bribery, fraud, and the importation of 'heelers' from Seattle turn Tacoma politics into a desperate power struggle.
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Tacoma politics are in a state of turmoil. City taxes have soared to 5 percent of the actual value of property, a burden many blame on the mismanagement of city officials and a questionable water supply project. With a municipal election approaching, the city is a powder keg of political machinations. Democrats and Republicans alike are accused of maneuvering to maintain control through graft, while the Populist party has begun filing perjury complaints, alleging that 'heelers' are being brought in from Seattle to register and vote illegally. One man, Leander Franks, has already been named in a warrant for falsely registering to vote, with claims that he is part of a larger scheme to 'colonize' the city with imported voters.
“There is scarcely courage and manhood enough in Tacoma to make the fight brilliant. There are too many cowards and sycophants.”
The rhetoric of 'imported voters' and 'colonization' during local elections echoes throughout Seattle’s political history, reflecting deep anxieties about outside influence and the integrity of the ballot box that still resonate in modern civic debates over municipal control and local identity.
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