The Democratic Party Gathers in Ellensburgh
A new generation of Democrats assembles to nominate a state ticket for the soon-to-be state of Washington.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The convention called to nominate the first democratic ticket for the new state of Washington assembled at the court house in Ellensburgh Monday morning and proceeded with the work with much vigor. The convention was composed of a fine-looking body of men, and it was a notable characteristic that it was largely dominated by young men, who were greatly in the majority. Both temporary and permanent chairmen were young men, and the nominees, with one or two exceptions, were all under fifty. Hugh C. Wallace of Tacoma was nominated temporary chairman and delivered a stirring speech. Hon. James Hamilton Lewis was elected permanent chairman and made a brilliant address that completely won everyone in the hall. The ticket nominated includes: Eugene Semple of Tacoma for governor; Hon. Thos. C. Griffiths of Spokane Falls for congress; L. B. Flummer of Colfax, lieutenant-governor; W. H. Whittlesey of Port Townsend, secretary of state; Col. M. Kaufman of Tacoma, treasurer; John Miller Murphy of Olympia, auditor; Harry J. Snively of North Yakima, attorney-general; J. H. Morgan of Ellensburgh, superintendent of public instruction; M. L. Goodell of Chehalis, commissioner of public lands; W. H. White of Seattle, B. L. Sharpstein of Walla Walla, J. B. Reavis of North Yakima, John P. Judson of Tacoma, and Frank Ganahl of Spokane Falls for supreme judges.
“The convention was composed of a fine looking body of men and it was a notable characteristic that it was largely dominated by young men.”
The transition of Washington from a territory to a state in 1889 was defined by intense political maneuvering between cities like Ellensburgh, Olympia, and North Yakima. These early party conventions highlight the intense localized competition for the prestige and economic windfall of hosting the state capital.
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