Internal Strife Rips Apart Tacoma’s Democratic Party
A bitter feud between the party's 'kids' and established members over sheriff nominations and fusion schemes threatens to cost the Democrats the election.
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In view of the fact that Judge Fremont Campbell has been named by the People's party for the superior court, the friends of George Hazzard are telling the Democratic 'kids' of Pierce County that they were duped yesterday when they spurned his proposal to fuse with the People's party candidates. Hazzard's admirers say the result will be that the Democrats will have no judge at all. The 'kids,' with Stephen O'Brien in the lead, are roundly denounced for not listening to Hazzard's advice. Adding to the fire, the 'kid' faction is split wide open, with allegations that Freeman’s nomination for sheriff was the result of fraud. Tally sheets show Freeman received 101 votes while Drake had 147; the 'kids' are now so incensed by the irregularity that many are threatening to vote for the opposition candidate.
“The 'kids' are split wide open. They will not pull together.”
Internal party schisms and disputes over local candidate nominations are a perpetual fixture of urban politics. This account of 1892 Tacoma echoes modern-day concerns regarding election transparency and the consequences of fractured voting bases.
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