The First Ward Has Not Yet Voted: A Rowdy King County Convention Picks Its Ticket

The Republican county convention met yesterday in the Armory. Though it opened with little promise of agreement, the delegates got down to work and by a night session nominated a full ticket: Dr. A. P. Mitten for treasurer, A. T. Van de Vanter for sheriff, Thomas W. Gordon for clerk, A. W. Hastie for prosecuting attorney, Nathan Beman for auditor, J. M. Layhue for school superintendent, D. R. Abraham for assessor, Albro Gardner for surveyor, E. S. James for coroner and John Coleman for wreckmaster.

The result was reached amid enthusiasm, but not before the Woolery-Considine Democratic combination had tried to break up the First Ward primaries. The credentials committee threw out the regular representation of that ward along with the contesting delegation, creating confusion. Considine’s supporters were present in large numbers and met every move to adopt the minority report with yells, hisses and shouts. The chairman’s decisive action kept the outside mob in order. Several vigorous speeches supported the minority report, which was finally carried and the regular First Ward delegates allowed to take their seats.

At 11 o’clock John Arthur, chairman of the county central committee, called the convention to order. “Old Glory” was brought in and spread over the chairman’s desk, setting off patriotic applause. E. C. Hughes was nominated for temporary chairman and won 321 votes to 69 for E. W. Craven. When the First Ward was called, M. A. Gottstein, chairman of the contesting delegation, rose to announce its vote. John E. Humphries instead announced: “The First Ward has not yet voted. We give 23 votes for Hughes.” Arthur told Gottstein he would not be recognized while Arthur was chairman. The episode brought loud cheering and was the only noteworthy incident of the roll call.

In the afternoon the hall was packed. The credentials committee reported that no legally held primary election existed in the First Ward that would entitle either delegation to be seated. The reading of the portion throwing out the First Ward was cheered by outsiders. A minority report, signed by John W. Corson, A. E. Bratmer, W. F. Oliver, W. V. Rinehart, Jr., and John L. Neagle, found that a regular and legal primary had been held; that the attack on the regular officers of the poll and the temporary assumption of election functions by bystanders was an interference and usurpation; and recommended seating the regular First Ward delegates.

The minority report drew hisses from the crowd marshalled by Considine. The chairman called the crowd to order and said they might be in order at a different convention, but not in a Republican convention. John W. Corson argued that the regularly appointed primaries were the only legal ones. John Wiley answered with a fiery speech, cheered by the outside crowd. John H. Elder said the disgraceful scene in the First Ward primaries was the result of a feud between Jim Woolery and the chief of police, with John Considine as the Mephistopheles urging Woolery on to illegal action. W. V. Rinehart, Jr., said several hundred Republicans in the ward should not suffer because a few corrupt judges had presided at the primaries. After a heated debate the previous question was called, and the minority report was adopted 252 to 101. The First Ward delegation was then seated unanimously.

At the evening session nominations were made in rapid succession. For treasurer, Frank M. Davis was placed in nomination, but Dr. A. P. Mitten won 214 to 100. For sheriff, A. T. Van de Vanter won 291 votes to 69 for D. A. McKennie, 13 for Col. Joseph Green, and 10 for Byron H. Butterfield. For clerk, Thomas W. Gordon won 263 votes, with W. S. Harlan 51. For prosecuting attorney, A. W. Hastie was nominated on the third ballot with 205 votes after E. P. Dole and William H. White divided the early ballots. For auditor, Nathan Beman defeated Edward P. Tremper and J. S. Seymour after a city-versus-country fight. J. M. Layhue defeated O. S. Jones for school superintendent, 253 to 130. D. R. Abraham was nominated for assessor with 241 votes, and Albro Gardner for surveyor. The platform reaffirmed Republican principles, endorsed sound money and protection, condemned the last Democratic Congress, and commended the Lake Washington waterway and the administration of Governor John H. McGraw.

A resolution by John Wiley deplored the selection of certain primary election judges in District No. 10 and demanded that future primaries be conducted by precincts with judges of unquestioned reputation. After debate it was adopted. The convention also provided for delegates to the state convention at Spokane on September 19, 1894.