A Variety Theatre, a Bundle of Testimonials, and the Preachers Who Wanted It Shut

Statesman John Considine, the once mighty organizer of the First ward Democratic primaries and the ever-to-be-remembered theatrical manager who produced that thrilling tragedy, the "Kadloff Mystery," at his notorious People's theater, is having more fun than a "cage of monkeys" at Spokane. He may not get a license for his variety theater (it does not look as if he would, because the ministers have jumped into the fight), but he will make a strong and ever-to-be-remembered fight for it, and produces strong endorsements from his Seattle friends. There is a possibility that he may reform, too, and then the citizens of this city would not be surprised to hear of him as a Sunday school teacher.

The Spokesman-Review, in telling of the last meeting of the city council (where Considine's application for a license was laid on the table), says that the gallery was crowded with clergymen who had come to protest against the granting of the license. The committee of the council to whom the question had been referred reported in favor of the license, provided Considine would nail up the door between the theater and the upstairs gambling rooms. Then the ministers commenced to talk about murders and the increased cost of trials over the revenues from licenses. One of the members, Rev. Mr. McInturff, caused considerable merriment by saying:

"From what I have heard I am convinced that Mr. Considine is so good a man and so available that I am going to get him into my church at the earliest opportunity."

To refute what the clergy had said, Considine flashed up testimonials from home. To quote Considine's own words from his own paper, the Times:

"Mr. Nusum then came forward to refute some of these arguments. He said that the gentleman claimed that signatures had no effect, but he thought that the signatures of men whose representations were not confined within the bounds of the state, men who would not sign an indorsement without knowing whereof they spoke, ought to have some weight." Here he produced a large bundle of letters, which he read to prove that Mr. Considine was a straightforward, honorable business man. Here are some of the names of the writers: Ex-Judge [Pichelsburg]; Salvador Ellicott, hotel inspector and proprietor of the Seattle Sun; Dr. J. Sweeney, alderman and prominent physician of Seattle; Mr. L. Baer, Democratic candidate for municipal Judge, Seattle; Dr. J. Eugene Jordan, prominent physician and chairman of the Seattle council committee on license and revenue; J. Hamilton Lewis, the Seattle orator and politician; W. H. Meredith, ex-Chinese inspector under the Harrison administration; Wiley & Bostwick, lawyers; John Wiley, known to Spokane people from his fight for silver at the Republican convention; Andrew Blackstone, deputy city comptroller; John W. Roberts, city detective; Frank Sims, captain of police; James P. Gleason, deputy collector United States Internal Revenue; Dr. Cox, a prominent physician; R. R. Spencer, president of the National Bank of Commerce; William Caldwell, justice of the peace; James P. McElroy, Democratic candidate for prosecuting attorney; W. E. Crews, lawyer and Democratic candidate for superior judge; T. M. Daulton, alderman and merchant; Andrew C. Freeborn, druggist; General J. U. Metcalfe; Edward Eavin, wholesale grocer; Glossun Kelly and many others whose names the reporter did not catch. It would seem that the entire population of Seattle indorsed Mr. Considine.