The Political Fight over the City Printer
A heated dispute between Republican John Arthur and the Populist press reveals the ethnic tensions and political maneuvering defining 1890s Seattle government.
John Arthur, chairman of the Republican county committee, published a scathing rebuttal to the Evening Herald regarding the City Council's decision to award a printing contract. The Herald had accused Alderman Dr. John P. Sweeney of being swayed by Arthur to abandon the Democratic Telegraph in favor of the Post-Intelligencer. Arthur denies the 'secret interview' and refutes claims that he is part of a political 'ring.' He defends Sweeney's vote as a principled stance, citing the Post-Intelligencer's strong support for Irish political liberty, contrasting it with the Herald's perceived hostility. Arthur claims that by targeting Sweeney for his Irish heritage, the Herald is engaging in 'Know-nothing' nativist tactics, which Arthur predicts will only serve to drive Irish-American voters toward the Republican party.
“Why do you single out Dr. Sweeney for all your vilification? Is it because he bears an Irish name?”
This reflects the deep, often messy intersection of ethnic identity, party loyalty, and the local press in Seattle's formative years. It serves as a reminder that political 'gatekeeping' through ethnic framing is a long-standing tool of the city's power struggles.
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