Seattle Canal Endorsement Sparks Political War Between Tacoma and King County

It is a hard course for the Ledger and Tacoma to swallow, and a first course, too—that dish of anaconda soup prepared and served by King County to the Republican state convention. But there is a fly or two in that, which, while we gag, should be dissected. The issue of the canal was made. And the fight on the canal was started weeks before by the Ledger and Mr. Bennett. They, with the great combination made with certain Eastern Washington counties, made a great noise about the canal and precipitated a fight on the question. Now, when it comes to a fight, King County is generally found with both feet in the bag, lots of bottle-holders, and all usually pretty well trained. The political history of the state shows that King has oftener been a winner in the political arena than any other county. There is nothing in history will contradict this in favor of Pierce County. If there is, the volume is not out yet. It is quite likely that if Mr. Bennett and the Ledger had not made so bitter and uncompromising a fight on the canal early in the campaign the canal would have been a side issue instead of a principal proposition, and could have been defeated with comparative ease. Perceiving that a big effort would be made to beat a canal indorsement, King County and the Squire and Allen forces girded up their loins and waded in. The usual result happened. Hence the query is apropos, whom have we to blame for the defeat of Mr. Bennett's and Pierce County's desires with reference to the Seattle canal?

There seems to be a great deal of early kicking over the matter anyway. The Herald is of the opinion that the canal, built either at private or government expense, will not be such a great benefit to Seattle as it is generally feared it will be. The canal is not constructed yet, or even begun, or even a dollar appropriated for its commencement, and the indorsement of the scheme by the state convention is not alone going to secure the appropriation of the millions of dollars that will be needed to dig it.

Looking the whole subject fairly in the eye, an addendum may be written. Just now the unpoetic local refrain is, 'Damn the Ditch.' If Tacoma could make a big lake in her rear like nature has given Seattle, the tune would be changed. Nature has provided us with more than half a canal to the prairie through Gallagher's gulch and the gulch running from Wapato Lake. Let us dam the prairie, or damn the prairie for not being the lake it once was.