The Battle for the Territory: Judson vs. Jacobs in the 1876 Election

THE ELECTION.

Thank the Lord, the battle is over and in a day or two the killed and wounded will be comfortably put to rest. None will be so well pleased as myself, for though we never allow partisan animosity to override our innate love of decency and civility, yet there is an amount of bickering and warfare about elections of this kind that is peculiarly distasteful to a man who is a chronic place hunter. We are now devote our time to the real object of our coming hither—the proper presentation of the "some" and industries of Washington Territory, where we hope to spend our riper years by the side of the great inland sea.

The exact result of the canvass cannot yet be determined. So far as the Delegateship and other territorial positions are concerned, the fight has been made nobly and free from dirty entanglements; but some of the county candidates have not hesitated to utilize the scum of the Sound in order to carry their ends.

However, this is one of those questions which must necessarily occur biennially. Where it is but my duty to them boldly, speak out one's mind fully and then when the thing is over, go about our way. Every newspaper man knows that the mere politician, if he cannot write upon non-partisan subjects, cannot earn a living except on occasions of this sort. We have a higher mission than for our paper and ourselves, and feeling confident that we have not transcended the limits of decency in our advocacy of the Democratic candidates, we return to the humdrum of our every-day life with unalloyed pleasure.

ELECTION NEWS! Nov. 7th, 11:30 A.M. A private dispatch to John Collins, Esq., from Olympia, says that the largest procession took place last night that has ever taken place in the Territory. Republicans declaring for Judson. He will carry this (Thurston) county by a large majority.

Nov. 7th, 3 P.M. A private telegram from Harry Sutton at Port Townsend, to a gentleman of this city, dated at 2 P.M. stated that Judson was far ahead.

9:00 P.M. Duwamish precinct returns all in. Whole number of votes cast 59. Of these 59 ballots Booth (Dem.) for Auditor had 36 to Kellogg's (Rep.) 23. The same count gave Judson 22 against 36 for Jacobs; Wyckoff (Rep) for Sheriff had 45 to Flynn's (Dem.) 14; Hill (Rep.) for Treasurer had 46 to Curley's (Dem.) 11; Burke (Dem.) for Probate Judge had 34 to McConaha's (Rep) 24; Rufus Stearns (Dem.) for Commissioner has 47 to Boyce's 11. For Superintendent of Schools, Ingraham (Rep) has 37 to McMillan's (Dem.) 22. For Councilmen, Hanford (Rep.) has 37 to Pickering's 18. For Prosecuting Attorney White (Dem.) has 31 to Inman's (Rep) 27.

A dispatch from La Conner says that Judson is safely ahead of Jacobs there and that White, for Prosecuting Attorney, has nearly two votes to Inman's one. The county ticket is about evenly split up, owing to local causes. At Port Townsend Jacobs is ahead, the Republicans having reserved their vote till after noon. At Olympia, Judson is reported as being far ahead.

The count, so far, of 124 votes, shows 65 votes for Jacobs against 59 for Judson. White has 60 to Inman's 59. Pickering is behind Hanford, for Councilman. Foster has 67 and Wilson 55 against 65 for Tibbetts and 60 for Andrews. For Sheriff, Wyckoff has 65 to Flynn's 59—straight party vote, you see. McConaha has 67 votes to Burke's 60 for Judge of Probate Court. For Treasurer, Hill has 100 votes to Curley's 22.

11 P.M. A Port Townsend dispatch to W.H. White from H.L. Blanchard, Esq., says that at 10 P.M. Judson had a majority over Jacobs, and White 20 over Inman.

12:45 A.M. W.H. White, Esq. received a dispatch from Allen, at La Conner, saying that he had 200 majority in Whatcom and that Judson had carried La Conner precinct, always a strong Republican.

Sumasoon, Nov. 7, 12:30 PM. Pierce county has one hundred majority for Judson now; will increase fifty more.

1 A.M. Mr. White claims he will carry Whatcom county by 200 majority and Judson 100. He received a dispatch from Port Townsend that he was ahead at 11 o'clock last night of Judson a few votes. He claims his election sure and concludes that Judson is undoubtedly elected by a handsome majority in the city.

At 3 o'clock with a count of 200 votes, Judson 2 ahead. Hanford and Pickering run about the same, Hanford 2 ahead.

THE NEW GOSPEL. And I heard a voice from Port Discovery saying, "Paul, Paul, why persecutest thou me?" And Paul answered and said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, once upon a time thou wert mine orange and I could smell thee from afar off. But now thou art mine oyster and muchly will I gobble thee. Yea verily."

HON. J. P. JUDSON. This gentleman called on us yesterday morning and tendered us a true man's gratitude for our humble efforts in his behalf, during the campaign. We received them with pleasure, for he is elected without either bribery or misrepresentation. His future rests with himself and we are confident that his diligence will be manifested in wholesome legislation for the good of all our people, irrespective of party. The great popular vote of Tuesday struck his name from the roll of citizen practitioners in the lower courts and made him the attorney at Washington of all our people.

In his defeat, Judge Jacobs has one thing to console him and that is, the recollection of having made a gentlemanly battle, devoid of holligans or personal abuse. So far as he and Mr. Judson is concerned, it was a "field of the cloth of gold." They made charges against one another but it was done in a spirit that transgressed no amenity of debate nor lost reason in the vortex of bigotry.

THE GREAT ISSUE. Enough is known already to satisfy the people that, in spite of all the "Grand Armies" and "Fires Invincibles," the end of the race of America is reached. The Democratic party has accomplished the restoration of civil government and the total dethronement of stick-satraps as Sheridan and Ruger.