Tacoma’s Mayor Ousted After Turbulent Term
Mayor L. D. Campbell reflects on a bitter defeat fueled by corporate opposition, machine politics, and internal disputes over the 'sliding system' of management.
I am surprised, but not disappointed,' said Mayor L. D. Campbell in speaking to a Times representative today. 'A number of elements combined to bring about my defeat. One was the strong opposition of the Tacoma Railway Power Company. The gambling element, the slot machine men, and the saloon elements were against me. A number of our best people think the 'sliding system' should be resumed. I would not under any circumstances countenance this system, and lost a number of votes in consequence. Others were disappointed in what I had done and were opposed to my terms.'
“The gambling element, the slot machine men, and the saloon elements were against me.”
Local elections in early 20th-century Tacoma were frequently defined by the influence of private utility monopolies and struggles over vice regulation. Mayor Campbell's mention of the 'sliding system'—a euphemism for municipal corruption or kickbacks—highlights the persistent civic anxiety over how private interests influence public governance in Tacoma, a theme that remains a core part of city politics.
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