A Democratic Patronage Fight in King County
A letter signed 'Alki Montgomery' protests a court clerkship appointment, accusing party leaders of rewarding latecomers and ignoring loyal King County Democrats.
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.
Democrats of this county of King, and this Third Judicial District, and our Territory at large, have not had a fair showing at the hands of our Democratic Administration, and they need, and ought to have, all the official support that can be legitimately given them. Although for years and years in a minority, and with nearly every office, National, Territorial and county, in the hands of their opponents, they have still adhered to their 'old love' and hoped for a change of the political tide. The change has come, and now they should be benefited and braced up and made strong. Every Democratic official having patronage at his disposal should see to it that he helps in this matter in the right direction, not by giving place and power to eleventh-hour and sunshine Democrats, so called, who are now so thick upon the surface, but to the old and true soldiers, who faced the wintry storm, upheld the 'old banner,' never despaired, never deserted the ranks and were always ready for duty. Is there not some one of these competent, efficient, active, pronounced in his Democratic faith—among the applicants for the Clerkship of your Court, your Honor? Please look and see. If there is, why not give it to him?
A few months ago (not many) a Democratic County Convention convened in Seattle. An effort was made to break it up—scatter it to the wind—not by outsiders but by delegates of the Convention. In spite of protest and effort of a portion of the body, the attempt was successful, and King County was left without a Democratic county ticket. Is one of the delegates who approved this action a candidate for your clerkship? If so, he should not have it. Will your Honor please investigate?
Apologizing for trespassing at so much length upon your time and patience, you may believe me to be, very truly, your obedient servant, ALKI MONTGOMERY.
“Every Democratic official having patronage at his disposal should see to it that he helps in this matter in the right direction, not by giving place and power to eleventh-hour and sunshine Democrats.”
The letter's demand that patronage go to 'old and true soldiers' rather than 'sunshine Democrats' is a familiar argument about party loyalty and public appointments. Seattle's early Democratic faction fought over the same spoils that shape modern debates over who gets government jobs and contracts.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.