City Hall Appointment Sparks Democratic Party Feud
Tacoma’s incoming mayor faces internal party resistance over the appointment of a plumber to a high-ranking public works post.
The story, cleaned up
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Opposition has broken out in Democratic circles in this city to the appointment of William Welsh as commissioner of public works under Mayor-elect George P. Wright. The action of the mayor-elect in selecting Welsh is being criticized by some of the prominent Democrats, and an effort will be made to get the mayor to haul Welsh off. One worker stated that while they expected a clean administration from Wright, this appointment 'nearly paralyzes me,' suggesting Welsh was not the man for the job. The controversy was fueled by an alleged portrait of Welsh published in an evening paper, which supporters claimed was a caricature designed to make him look like a chimpanzee. While some leaders remained silent to avoid public dissent, others like Frank P. Cole expressed disappointment, noting that Welsh, a plumber by trade, lacked the necessary experience for the commission, though others defended the mayor's prerogative to choose his own staff.
“Welsh is a plumber by trade, but he ought to be as well qualified to fill the position as was Commissioner Clark, who ran a feed store before his appointment, or the barber who filled the place during Fawcett’s administration.”
Municipal appointments often serve as lightning rods for larger battles over party patronage and professional qualifications. The tension here between 'experts' and 'party men' mirrors the ongoing modern debate over whether city government should be run by technocrats or political loyalists.
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