The Proxy Convention: Democrats Meet in Tacoma and Call It Harmony

TACOMA, Aug. 21.—A meeting by proxy of the Democratic State Committee was held here under W. T. Newcombe, of Dryad, Lewis County, the only man present who was a member of the committee and did not draw a large salary from the government or was not hitched up in some manner with the machine in this state. Mr. Newcombe bore his distinction modestly.

Out of twenty-eight counties represented, twenty-two were left to the care of proxies. The balance were state committeemen. Still, under this cloud of proxies, those who spoke tried to be cheerful and hopeful. In the presence of the cadaver of the late state committee, these Democrats tried to rejoice and to make each other believe that the Republican party in this state is a "minority" party, and that its 28,000 votes can be met with 30,000 votes of the "opposition."

This meant "fusion." H. J. Snively talked thus. Others took their cue from him. To overcome the Republican "minority" with the united opposition, they said: "There are 90,000 voters in this state, as demonstrated by the last presidential election, who do not believe in Republican principles. Now let us get together and meet this Republican vote with the votes of the opposition."

Representatives of the Democratic county committee of Pierce County went into the committee rooms and advocated fusion in this county. And the state committee—rather the men in office and those anxious to get there, who held the meeting today by proxy—took kindly to the scheme. Steve Judson would not run for sheriff, as planned; he would try for the state senate from the Twentieth district, where Populists expected to vote largely for him. A. U. Mills, a Populist leader in the county, would be nominated for sheriff and would get votes that otherwise would have gone to Judson.

"How do you account for that applause?" Sam Vinson, Marshal Drake's chief deputy for Washington, was asked.

"Well, Snively is only one man," Mr. Vinson replied warmly. "That's his idea, not mine. To me there is but two parties, and, by God, when I can't find a Democrat good enough for me to vote for I'll vote for a Republican. I'll never vote for no d—n Populist."

"Can I quote you?" asked the Post-Intelligencer's bureau reporter.

"Yes, sir; make it as strong as you like."

The office seekers grew very indignant when attention was directed to the fact that the committee met by proxy, and said it was not true. The names officially given prove it was true. Senator Hutchinson tried to prevent any but residents of the county sitting as proxies, but the motion was defeated. Hutchinson then became very docile, and Sam Hass, who was to represent Strong, of Whatcom, slunk silently out of town. Hutchinson got only three votes for Sprague as the meeting place of the convention; Walla Walla got one, Spokane three, and North Yakima won with fifteen votes. The convention is to be held September 20. Snively said a railroad rate of $10 from Spokane to Tacoma and return would be secured, allowing delegates to attend the state fair and convention at Yakima and the Interstate fair here.