A Gavel, a Roar, and a Populist Ticket Born in Chaos

The Populists held their county convention in Turner Hall yesterday and evolved a ticket for the November election which they felt 'dead sure' would be elected. The convention was made up of the material usually found in a Populist gathering—big, stalwart, muscular men for the most part, honest enough of purpose, but with little to justify their aspirations to the control of county or legislative offices. Their speech was crude and voluble, and had it not been for the knowledge of parliamentary rules possessed by Chairman Winsor the convention would have deteriorated into a farce. As it was, when the nomination of sheriff was in order a scene of turmoil and confusion followed that was strongly suggestive of a Democratic ward meeting.

The fusionists made a strong fight by private caucusing to secure control of the convention, but were beaten off at every point. This was strongly emphasized by the overwhelming defeat that Dr. J. Eugene Jordan met with in his attempt to get on the ticket as treasurer. The same fate awaited Jack McDonald in his effort to secure the nomination for sheriff. It was undisguised, straight-out Populism pure and simple from first to last. The single tax men gained a great ascendency over the convention and it may be said to have been virtually in their hands. They claimed all along that they did not care for any of the county offices except the assessor, but wanted a strong representation in the state legislature. In this they succeeded and Single Tax Tommy Bevan admitted that they had not less than fifteen staunch single tax men on the legislative ticket.

Many Democrats in the morning were busy among the delegates, buttonholing this man and that in an attempt to effect a fusion. Jack McDonald and his supporters were out in force pressing the deputy's claim for sheriff. William Cochrane, of White River, was also present with his friends working for the same nomination. J. M. Wolfe, ex-Democratic member of the board of public works, was also engaged at whispering words of wisdom in the ears of the country delegates. Jack Thompson and Eugene Way, the gamblers, were members of the First ward delegation, and were a whole host in themselves in swinging their fellow delegates into line. The claim was made by some true blue Populists that the majority of the proxies were held by Democrats. From Black Diamond six out of twelve delegates were present, and it was charged that one man, a Democrat of life-long standing, held the proxies of the six absent delegates, which he intended to use in Jack McDonald's favor. Among the side workers were also noted Lee Hart and B. E. Bennett, of the distinguished kid committee; ex-Mayor R. White and many others of like caliber and political standing in Democratic and Populist ranks.

CARROLL'S OPENING WORDS. Ten o'clock was the hour set for the meeting of the convention, but owing to a lack of seats for the delegates order out of chaos was not secured for a full half hour, after which time P. P. Carroll called the meeting to order in place of J. J. Hohmann, chairman of the central committee, who was absent suffering from a bad cold. Mr. Carroll made an opening address outlining the object of the convention in nominating a county, legislative and precinct ticket. He hoped the delegates selected had fully weighed the importance of the responsibility placed on their shoulders. The eyes of King county, the state and the country were on this convention. There never was a time when the people of a country thought more for themselves than they did today, and it was the result of corruption in office in the Democratic and the so-called Republican parties. It was the duty of this convention to put in the field a good ticket.

WINSOR FOR CHAIRMAN. For temporary chairman the name of Richard Winsor brought out loud cheering. A. G. Seibert's name was also given. The vote on the question, Single Tax Tommy said, should be by 'raising vote.' Winsor's name 'raised' almost the entire convention to its feet, and L. G. Levold and W. J. Larkin were instructed to bring Mr. Winsor to the platform, which they did amid a storm of applause.

Mr. Winsor returned thanks for the compliment. This was a campaign, he said, that required work, and not words. The work of the convention was to put in the field a ticket that would cause no man to blush, and would hurl back into the faces of their enemies the slanders that had been put on the party.

For secretary five names were put in nomination, and as considerable division on this question was apparent, an amendment to an amendment was carried making the five nominees secretaries, as follows: J. C. Levold, Nathan Anderson, Frank E. Wright, Harry Newman, Lee Kellinger.

The chair announced that as there were no contesting delegations he would suggest that in order to facilitate matters the chairman of each precinct hand in his list of delegates, that the names might be read from the platform and the delegates by such action declared seated. This, he said, would save much time to the committee on credentials and to the convention in general.

SEATED WITHOUT A HITCH. On motion of Bertrand Griligwa the convention went into committee of the whole on credentials and the names were then read off by precinct. Among the delegates from the Fifth ward was J. Eugene Jordan. To the list of delegates for the Fourth ward was added the following note: 'Mr. H. Meitzner was also elected as delegate to this convention, but he told me in the presence of a number of good People's Party men that he was not a Populist and did not believe in their principles, and on those grounds I have refused to sign his credentials. Respectfully, ____, Chairman Fourth Ward Club.' N. B.—We could not find the above name on the roll of the Fourth ward clubs. Secretary, Democrat.

John B. Hart attempted to speak on this footnote, but as Meitzner's name was among the list of accepted delegates from that ward the chair decided that he was properly seated.

The delegates as a body were then declared duly seated, and the temporary chairman and secretaries were made permanent by acclamation and a rousing cheer followed the affirmative vote on the permanent organization.

The convention again formed itself into committee of the whole on platform and resolutions and order of business, and a recess of twenty minutes was taken in each district was instructed to select two members for these two committees.

A SAVAGE FOR THE PARTY. Pending the taking of this recess H. G. Oden presented a gavel to the chairman which he said he knew was good because he made it himself, and especially so as it was made up of many sound pieces of timber, 'all Populists,' and representing the unity and strength that ever characterized the People's party.

Mr. Winsor accepted the gift for the convention, and said one end of it would be used during the coming campaign in knocking out the Bolton Rogers faction and the other the Jim Woolery faction of the Republican party.

A twenty-minute recess was then taken, during which the several senatorial districts occupied various corners of the hall, quickly organized and elected committeemen.

THE COMMITTEES NAMED. At 12 o'clock the convention reassembled and the various committees were appointed as follows: Order of business—F. A. Purdy, Mr. McArdle, E. M. Allen, H. H. Thompson, John B. Hart, M. F. Knox, E. Clayson, Sr., C. D. Hibner, L. W. Kidd, A. H. Shutt, W. B. Forester, Jacob Davidson. Platform and resolutions—Wilcox, Hughes, Robert Bridges, M. M. Holmes, W. T. Hayes, P. P. Carroll, A. G. Seibert, H. Noyes, A. Hummer, P. H. McKernan, Walter Walker, J. T. Gilmore. The convention then adjourned to meet again at 2 p.m.

NO PROXIES ALLOWED. When the convention reassembled at that hour the delegates found better seating arrangements, and the hall was crowded both by delegates, who about filled the entire ground floor, and spectators, who crowded the galleries. The presence of three ladies adorned one of the proscenium boxes.

The question of casting the full vote of country districts to cover absentees brought up a lively discussion. A motion was made to let all country delegates present cast the full vote of their respective precincts. An effort was made to compel the presentation of a written proxy from all such absentees. The whole matter was finally tabled. An effort to permit the five members of the Black Diamond delegation present to cast the twelve votes of that precinct brought up another lively discussion. The motion was made on the ground that the absent seven delegates were prevented from attending by the coal company. This motion was also defeated.

NOMINATIONS AT THE TAIL. The committee on order of business reported in substance as follows, the business coming in the order given: consideration of this report; report of committee on resolutions; election of county central committee, one from each ward and five from the Second and Third commissioner districts, exclusive of the Ninth ward; nomination of commissioner from the Second and Third commissioner districts; two justices of the peace and constables; senators and legislators from their respective districts; nomination of county officers in the following manner: first, wreck master; second, coroner; third, surveyor; fourth, superintendent of schools; fifth, assessor; sixth, prosecuting attorney; seventh, county treasurer; eighth, auditor; ninth, county clerk; tenth, sheriff.

We recommend that the voting in the convention be made by wards and country precincts, and the result of all ballots be announced by the chairman of the ward or precinct as the names of the precincts are called by the secretary of the convention. We recommend that all speeches be limited to three minutes and no one be permitted to speak more than twice on any question. We recommend that this convention empower the county central committee to fill all vacancies that may occur on the ticket nominated by this convention. John B. Hart, Chairman. M. Allen, Secretary.

W. Van Waters objected to commencing with the nominations at the tail end of the ticket, as it left the convention open to too much fine work on the part of factions. This was opposed by a number of speakers, who said the nominations as reported by the committee were made in the interest of the party and would keep alive the interest in the convention to the end. After a lengthy discussion the rules were allowed to remain as reported, and the report was adopted as read.

The committee on resolutions and platform made its report, which was adopted as follows:

'Equal rights to all, special privileges to none, being the chief cornerstone of Populist hope; and believing that the cardinal principles of the People's party are the redeeming power and hope of an outraged people, we reaffirm our last national and state platforms and adopt the following county platform:

'We oppose the concentration of power in the governor of the state through the legislative establishment of municipal commissioners and boards whose members are to be appointed and subject to removal by him.

'We favor the reduction of the legal rate of interest from 8 to 4 per cent per annum, to the end that all usury may in due time be abolished.

'We favor the radical revision of the present state revenue law in the interests of economy and justice.

'We favor an employer's liability act, and a further law declaring void all contracts releasing or tending to release employers and common carriers from liability on account of negligence.

'We favor a liberal and just reduction in all common carrier charges of all kinds whatsoever, and a law fixing maximum charges therefor, as required by the state constitution.

'We favor a law making it a felony to issue to or for any public officer to ride upon or use a pass furnished by any common carrier.

'We condemn the extravagance of the present county government and demand more rigid economy in expenditures, and demand the gradual reduction of taxation on personal property and improvements on real property, with a simultaneous increase in the rate of assessment on land values, to the end that all taxes shall become a thing of the past.

'Also, that we demand the strict enforcement of the law against issuing store orders and that all officers whose duty it is to enforce such law, and who shall fail or refuse to perform such duty, upon the proper evidence of failure of such duty, be removed from office, and that the legislature provide for such a removal.

'We demand the enactment of the imperative mandate.'

RESOLUTION ON FRANKLIN MINE. The following resolution was introduced by H. F. Hess, of the Eighth ward, and adopted:

'WHEREAS, The last session of the state legislature refused to pass any law providing for the better protection of the lives of miners in this state, and

'WHEREAS, There has been a terrible calamity in the Franklin mine which has resulted in the loss of thirty-seven lives; and

'WHEREAS, The coroner's jury declared that said calamity was caused by some unknown person or parties setting fire to the mine; therefore,

'We instruct our representatives, if elected, to do all in their power to ascertain who the guilty party or parties are, and to bring them to a speedy trial.

'And we further pledge our representatives to pass such laws as will compel coal and mineral mine operators to so operate their mines that ample protection shall be granted to the miners.'

A RECESS FOR CAUCUSES. The appointment of a county central committee necessitated another recess for the caucusing of the various precincts, and as these caucuses included the selection of candidates for the legislative and county tickets, the rest of the afternoon was consumed by their deliberations, necessitating a final recess at 4:30 until 7 o'clock.

As all the delegates were present except those of the Second Commissioner district, the chair called the First Commissioner district convention in order for its nomination. Bridges moved to proceed with the nomination, but was opposed by several speakers who said that the question of Fred Gasch's tenure of office had not been definitely settled, and until it was known whether a vacancy would occur the convention had no right to name a commissioner. A motion to pass this nomination was finally lost, and J. G. Kenworthy received the nomination by acclamation.

HOW CANDIDATES ORATE. To fill in time while waiting for the return of the absent delegations, speeches were called for. John B. Hart started in with a flowery address, in which all the virtues in creation were found centered in the Populist party, and the success of the party meant that people could travel to New York for less than $20, and men working on railroads could get such big pay as would make strikes an impossibility.

W. T. Hayes predicted victory for the party. For twenty-five years he had been a Democrat, and worked with them. Two years ago the people rehabilitated the party, and the result of its administration since then had been such as to be an everlasting disgrace on the Democratic party.

Robert Bridges attacked the methods of the collection of taxes in state and county, the assessors having exempted the franchises of all railroad companies and insurance companies.

H. H. Thompson (better known as Jack Thompson) made an attack on the Republican party as a political corporation whose nucleus lay in the legal firms of James McNaught, Col. Haines, Senator Allen, John McGraw, Judge Hanford and Judge Greene. These, headed by L. S. J. Hunt, with the Post-Intelligencer and the Northern Pacific to back them, had controlled the affairs of the state and been duly rewarded.

THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. It was 7:30 before the chairman's new gavel called the convention to order with all the delegates in their seats, both city and country.

The nominations of county commissioners being in order, the following names were offered and confirmed: District 1—J. G. Kenworthy, of the Fifth ward. District 2—James Jones, of White River. District 3—W. H. Heaton, of Bellevue.

The next in order was the naming of the county central committee, which resulted as follows: First ward, Eugene Way; Second ward, J. J. Hohmann; Third ward, Thomas Dixon; Fourth ward, W. T. Hayes; Fifth ward, J. C. Levold; Sixth ward, L. B. Nordlund; Seventh ward, P. T. Noyes; Eighth ward, H. F. Hess; Ninth ward, James Davidson; Second commissioner district—E. A. Ziebert, of Columbia; E. Ramsay, of Kent; M. Walters, of Black Diamond; C. E. Kenney, of Adelaide; B. Blake, of Osceola; Third commissioner district—Cash Monohon, of Newcastle; John McCann, of Avondale; J. D. Reard, of Gilman; George Webber, of Ballard; J. Jorgenson, of Kenton.

For justices of the peace the names of James Quinn, First ward; David W. Phipps, Eighth ward, and A. A. Garner, colored, Third ward, were presented. The voting was by wards, the two having the highest votes getting the nominations. The results favored David W. Phipps, 142 votes, and James Quinn 125 votes, Garner being left behind with 117 votes.

For constables the following eight aspirants were placed in nomination: Benjamin Kennedy, Dan Mahoney, J. H. Newell, Hughey McGonnigie, James Campbell, J. H. Perkins, Cecil V. Trotter. Mahoney and McGonnigie were declared the nominees by a vote of 96 each.

At this point a voice in the rear wanted to know whether the order of business did not call for the nomination of a wrecking master. The chair called him to order by saying the party would be wrecked soon enough if care was not taken.

THE LEGISLATIVE TICKET. Senatorial nominations were promptly reported by districts as follows, and confirmed in a bunch: District 34—W. H. Drake, of Meeker. District 25—H. H. Thompson, First ward. District 35—P. P. Carroll, Third ward. District 27—Clayson, Sr., Fifth ward. District 28—J. W. Range, Sixth ward. District 29—John Davis, of Gilman.

The representative ticket was reported with equal promptness by the chairmen of the several districts, as follows: District 38—F. A. Purdy, of Stuck, and William Prosser, of Black Diamond. District 39—William McArdle, of First ward, and Robert Bridges, of Second ward. District 40—Percy O. Cobb, of Third ward, and Sam Dobrin, of Fourth ward. District 41—A. G. Seibert, of Fifth ward, and J. Sheehan, of Seventh ward. District 42—P. H. McKernan, of Sixth ward, and L. Weldon, of Eighth ward. District 43—Thomas Winsor, of Ballard; Adolph Baker, of Cherry Valley, and D. C. Mitchell, of Arthur.

'Single Tax Tommy' Bevan was nominated for 'wreckingmaster,' and created some amusement by declining the honor. This position afforded considerable merriment and Martin Baldwin and Edward Murray were placed in nomination. To save time the nomination of Baldwin was made unanimous.

'The next in order of nomination is that of coroner, to hold an inquest on the Republican party next November,' said the chairman. This afforded material for a wild scene of merriment and shouting. The names Dr. O. P. Askam and Dr. William Van Dyne, both of the Fourth ward, were announced, and the result was the nomination of Dr. Askam by a vote of 160 to 152 for Dr. Van Dyne.

For county surveyor the names of Harry Bostian and Windom D. Spearin, both of the Seventh ward, were placed in nomination, and Bostian declared the nominee by a vote of 246 to 87 for Spearin.

For school superintendent the name of David Thomas, of Kenton, was the only one given, and he was made the nominee by acclamation.

THE SINGLE TAXERS WIN. 'It is now time for the single tax men to get in their work,' said the chairman in announcing the assessor as the next person to be nominated. The names of A. McDonald, of Ballard; L. M. Robbins, of the Sixth, and O. W. Fenwick, of the Fifth, were presented, and the result of the voting was as follows: McDonald 193, Robbins 113, Fenwick 40. McDonald's nomination was received with a great shout by the single taxers, who claimed him as their special choice.

For prosecuting attorney the names of Richard Winsor, of the Sixth ward; John Hart, of the Fourth ward; E. D. Benson, of the Seventh ward, and W. L. Thompson, of the Seventh ward, were all placed in nomination, but before the vote was taken Winsor and Thompson both withdrew. The result of the voting was as follows: John B. Hart ___; E. D. Benson 101.

JORDAN'S FALL. The fight for county treasurer was a lively one. Larkin placed in nomination Dr. J. Eugene Jordan, a man he said who would never bring on the People's party the stain of a drug scandal. This race, he said, would insure 2,000 votes for the party. Purdy placed in nomination J. W. Maple, of Snohomish, a man who needed no gas to support him. The announcement of Maple's name made the convention wild with cheers and shouts. L. M. Robbins seconded Maple's nomination, and said:

'In the name of God give the country something; give us Maple for this office.'

This brought out another succession of cheers that showed clearly that the wily Dr. Jordan was not popular and had not the support of the convention. John B. Hart attempted to strengthen Jordan's chances by seconding his nomination with a speech, but the strength of the convention even before the voting was strongly in favor of Maple. A third name, that of M. L. Maddox, of White River, was presented and then nominations closed.

Some lively lobbying was then indulged in and the results eagerly looked for. As the votes were called out it became evident before the list was half through that Jordan was being badly snowed under. The gentle fall of white pieces of paper increased against him, and when the city was reached his unpopularity was at once made manifest, for aside from his favorite First ward, which gave him almost the full vote, the rest of the wards voted straight against him, snowing him under by a vote of 131 to 215 cast for Maple, who was declared the nominee. The vote was as follows: J. Eugene Jordan 131; J. W. Maple 215; M. L. Maddox ___.

For auditor only two names were placed in nomination: Addison Smith, of the Sixth ward, and J. C. Levold, of the Fifth ward. The result was: Addison Smith, 163; J. C. Levold, 104.

For clerk the following names were placed in nomination: John E. Carlson, of Fall City; Lyman Wood, of the Sixth ward; Arthur C. Hummer, of the Eighth ward. Carlson was said to represent the Scandinavian element and would draw a large vote. Lyman Wood's name was withdrawn, leaving the field to Carlson and Hummer. The vote, however, especially in the country, was found solid for Carlson, giving him the nomination by 311 to 31 for Hummer.

JACK M'DONALD ROASTED. When the nomination for sheriff was announced a perceptible renewed interest in the convention was made manifest. The candidates placed in nomination were: J. F. Adelman, of Houghton; William H. Moyer, of the Ninth ward; Jack McDonald, of Riverside Park; William Cochrane, of White River, and Eben R. Davis, of the First ward.

Dr. A. S. Hughes, of Kent, seconded the nomination of 'Bill' Cochrane, and did it in such a long-winded, rambling speech that time was called on him by the delegates and he finally had to be howled down before he would quit speaking. Long speeches were declared out of order, and Mr. Hayes, on seconding Jack McDonald, met with the same fate.

W. T. Hallested, of the Sixth ward, asked if it was in order to object to any candidate presented. Shouts of 'No!' 'Yes!' 'So!' 'No!' were raised on all sides. This nettled Hallested, and he spoke through the turmoil, claiming that Jack McDonald was the man who had in the interest of corporations driven out women and children from poor shanties on the water front; that he was not fit to be a candidate on a People's party ticket and would disgrace it if his name was put there. He had much more to say, but the howling, the shouting and the yells were so great that he could no longer be heard.

George Comox, of the Sixth ward, took up the gauntlet for Hallested when quiet was in a measure restored and said no man's name should be put on a ticket whose record could not be openly discussed. This started another rumpus of howls and shouts to shut off further speaking, and it took the chairman considerable muscular effort by pounding the table with his gavel before he succeeded in securing anything like order.

Frank Terrace, of Newcastle, undaunted by the two previous speeches, said he was a miner and knew that the character of Jack McDonald was such as to make him unfit to associate with Populists. He was the man who, in the employ of corporations, helped to drive miners, their wives and children from their homes. He was the man who, a few years ago, kept a cigar store, drove away union labor, hired scabs, and had to be boycotted for selling Chinese cigars and hiding them under the counter when the union men came around.

PANDEMONIUM IN THE HALL. The convention was by this time wild with disorder over the subject, and it took several minutes of pounding to quiet the delegates. Dr. Hughes tried to speak again at one end of the hall, while several others tried to talk at the same time in another portion of the hall and pandemonium for a while reigned supreme. After much more pounding of the gavel and shouting for 'Time,' 'Order,' 'Sit down,' 'Put him out' and other wild howls of disorder, quiet was restored and nominations declared closed, not, however, without several more attempts being made to again start the confusion.

M'DONALD SNOWED OUT. The first ballot failed to elect, standing as follows: Jack McDonald 30; William Cochrane 1; William H. Moyer 169; Eben R. Davis 41; J. F. Adelman 114.

The second ballot left the race between Moyer and Adelman, with Moyer a winner by a vote of 293 to 180 for Adelman. The announcement was received with wild cheering, and quiet could no longer be maintained. Amid the continued confusion a motion was made thanking the chairman and the secretaries for their efficient work.

Before adjourning a request was made on the collection committee to defray hall expenses to return a gold piece dropped in the hat by mistake by a poor country delegate in place of a nickel. This created some amusement, but the $5 was returned. The convention then adjourned at 12:40 a.m. with a rousing cheer for the ticket.