Politics at the Longshoremen's Hall
Tacoma’s political machinery turns as Republican candidates rally voters in Old Town amidst debates over saloons and city contracts.
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.
Last evening the Longshoremen's hall at Old Town was crowded with voters, who had gathered to hear the Republican orators discuss the issues which are foremost in the campaign. W. H. Harris was chairman of the meeting and the speakers were Mayor Louis D. Campbell, City Treasurer Charles O. Atkins, L. O. Jackson, candidate for controller; William A. Whitman, candidate for the city council from the First ward; John A. Shackleford and John W. Linck. Mr. Shackleford said the Republican party had never had so many men of backbone, merit and honesty as it had today. John W. Linck spoke in the place of General J. M. Ashton, who was unexpectedly called to Olympia. He attacked the Democratic platform, claiming the opposition had no clear views on corporations, saloons, and gambling. Mayor Campbell addressed the crowd regarding the struggle to obtain cheaper light and the city's complicated dealings with the Tacoma Railway & Power Company.
“The Republican party had never had so many men of backbone, merit and honesty as it had today.”
The rhetoric of 'backbone' and political maneuvering between Democrats and Republicans in 1904 echoes the persistent tension in local Tacoma politics regarding corporate influence and utility regulation.
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