A Split in the Young Men's Political Club
A political observer analyzes the rift between two factions of Seattle's young voters over alleged 'back-room' ticket manipulation.
Surely political matters are becoming very exciting—with two young men's political clubs in the field. Having closely watched the young men's movement from the start, I may be pardoned for offering a few remarks. All who believe in conducting political campaigns without the usual accompaniments of personal wrangles and charges of unfair dealing must regret the dissension which led to the withdrawal of a large number of young men from the original club and the formation of a new one. They say that they were to be made the appendages of some ticket made up in a secret conclave, attended by the Executive Committee of the club and representatives of the Protective Association and the Citizens' League. They charge further that, in order to carry out their part of the agreement, the Executive Committee refused to allow anyone to sign the roll of the club who was not known to be with them.
“They were to be made the appendages of some ticket made up in a secret conclave.”
The internal power struggles of political clubs in 1884 Seattle predate modern concerns about 'dark money' and machine politics. This report highlights that even in a nascent city, the suspicion of secret deals influencing voter choice was already a major civic preoccupation.
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