The Governor's Choice, Leaked from Chehalis
A Chehalis powwow and a delegate-apportionment fight revealed Governor Ferry's preference for Senator J. Henry Long—and the Reed family's counter-campaign—in Washington's 1892 governor race.
Special to the Tribune.
Seattle, Jan. 4.—It has just leaked out here that a sort of powwow was recently held at the St. Helena Hotel in Chehalis by a number of Republicans from Chehalis, Whatcom, Pierce and Thurston counties for the purpose of booming Senator J. Henry Long of Chehalis for governor. It is said that Governor Ferry is back of the movement and that he is not favorable to the aspirations of State Auditor Reed for the nomination. It is also stated that Thomas M. Reed Jr., of this city, has written letters to parties in Douglas and Spokane counties urging that arrangements be made to boom his father, Auditor Reed, for governor.
The proposition of the Fairhaven Herald for the appointment of delegates to the national convention—giving one to King, one to Pierce; one to Skamania, Clarke, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Pacific, Lewis and Chehalis; one to Thurston, Mason, Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam and Island; one to Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom and San Juan; east of the mountains one to Kittitas, Yakima, Klickitat and Franklin; one to Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin; and one to Douglas and Stevens—is creating some talk here among the leaders. The convention will assemble here in May. King wants two of the delegates and so does Pierce. It is probable they will get four of the eight by forming combinations. McGraw is an avowed candidate from this city.
“It has just leaked out here that a sort of powwow was recently held at the St. Helena Hotel in Chehalis … for the purpose of booming Senator J. Henry Long of Chehalis for governor.”
The 1892 rumor mill shows that Washington politics was already a game of hotel meetings, endorsements, and delegate math. Modern campaigns still run on the same currency—early endorsements, regional blocs, and the question of who gets to count in the party's internal elections.
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