Republican Wave Sweeps Local Tacoma Elections
A decisive Republican victory in Tacoma's municipal elections marks the total defeat of the Democratic ticket, fueled by economic unrest and accusations of 'boodle' politics.
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.
Tacoma, April 5. — Not a single Democrat was chosen at the municipal election today. Republicans elected their entire city ticket, and seven out of a total of twelve candidates. They would have elected eight or nine but for the nomination for re-election to the city council of certain Republicans who were more or less smirched in the water and city printing swindles. A most striking example of this was the emphatic turning down of John W. Berry in the Seventh ward. The total vote was 6,883, of which Edward S. Orr received 2,780, Dr. Goddard 2,156 and Turkey Fawcett 2,047, thus giving Orr a plurality of 534. Considering the fact that two years ago Huson, Rep., was elected by only 121 majority over the Democratic candidate, this year's result is significant because through demagogic promises of work for all, the Scandinavian wing of the Republican party went over to the Populists. While today's result indicates the wiping out of the aggressive Democratic minority, it is not a marker to what would follow were there another election inside of a month. Hundreds of nominal Democrats have been misled for the last time. They were told they could elect Turkey Fawcett, but now Turkey realizes the sensation of 'getting it in the neck.'
“They were told they could elect Turkey Fawcett, but now Turkey realizes the sensation of 'getting it in the neck.'”
The 1894 election reflected a volatile political environment where economic anxiety, specifically 'promises of work for all' during the Panic of 1893, caused major party shifts. Today, Seattle and Tacoma continue to see significant third-party and populist energy during times of economic stagnation, proving that the 'boodle' politics of the 1890s echoes in modern debates over corporate influence and civic transparency.
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