Olympia's Election Scramble: A Mayor Bows Out, a Boss Bides His Time

The city council took the first step last night toward providing for the county municipal election, which occurs on December 3, by appointing supervisors and inspectors.

There is any quantity of speculation as to who the new city officers will be, although no definite action has been made toward their nomination. Mayor Horr stated this morning that he was positively not a candidate for re-election, and that he would hereafter devote his attention to earning a living for himself.

Councilman Murphy would not commit himself. He will probably be on hand, however.

Sickels smiled, and denied that he was seeking the office of mayor. He is satisfied to remain as the representative of the Second Ward. Of course, it depends upon the new mayor as to whether or not he will again hold the office of chairman of the street committee, and silent partner in the big corporation. Should he not be gratified, however, he will work himself in as chairman of the judiciary. “It is not money I am after,” he says, “but it’s my dog-goned ambition that pushes me forward. I can’t help it.” This would seem to indicate that the Boss might like to get to the legislature if he can induce somebody to stump the county for him, or, failing in this, will content himself with a seat on the board of county commissioners.

One of Sickels’ friends quoted him with the following this morning: “I will build county roads everywhere, and have a hundred-feet-wide boulevard direct to Puget City. It will make a beautiful drive, and I believe in giving the contractors and their men employment the year round. It circulates money, and it’s nothing but the newspapers that’s doin’ all the kickin’.”

A mayor, three regular councilmen and one at-large are to be elected, in addition to a treasurer, health officer, and assessor. The city attorney, clerk, engineer, and street commissioner are to be chosen by the council. Murphy, McBratney and Marr go out this term, as does also Percival, the councilman-at-large, who is elected for one year. All persons voting at the coming municipal elections must be qualified voters of the county and residents of the city for at least 30 days, while all persons seeking office must have resided in the city for at least one year previous to election. The various wards will hold meetings for the nomination of councilmen, and a mass meeting will be called to nominate a mayor, treasurer, assessor, health officer, and councilman-at-large. The new officers take their seats in January.

There is strong talk of making a new ward of the west side, but it is too late this year. Residents in that section of the city, who are nearly all property owners, complain that they are not properly treated. It is too late this year, however, as an ordinance for creating a new ward must be passed sixty days previous to election. The city by its charter can contain only six wards, and it is likely that before another year Tumwater will be in the fold, as the general feeling of consolidation by the residents of that town is stronger than heretofore.

Speaking on election matters, Milton Giles said: “Nobody from the Second Ward wants to be in the council. The only way is to split Sickels in two and make two councilmen.”

George Olcott: “We want a mass meeting to nominate the councilman and all other officers. No delegates, or there will surely be a ‘job,’ and no job lots are wanted this far. We’ve had enough.”

Robert Frost: “I am opposed to an election of city officials on a political basis. We want good, sensible and substantial business men, who will conduct the affairs of the city as they would their own business.”

Captain W. W. McMicken was spoken of this morning as the man for mayor.