Tide Lands and Populists: Tacoma's 1895 City Hall Fight

Tacoma, March 3.—Special.—Four weeks from Tuesday, or on April 2, the annual municipal election will be held. Eight councilmen are to be elected, one from each ward. The outgoing councilmen are: First ward, W. H. Harris, independent Republican, now president of the council; Second ward, Dr. Lee, Republican; Third ward, Isaac Pincus, Democrat; Fourth ward, Glen, Democrat; Fifth ward, Nash, Populist; Sixth ward, Junett, Republican; Seventh ward, Votaw, Independent Republican, and Eighth ward, Humphrey, Republican. Of these Harris, Lee, Nash and Junett are candidates for re-election. None of the parties have issued calls for their conventions yet, but nevertheless candidates are thicker than hair on the back of the proverbial dog. Members of the Chamber of Commerce are taking a hand in the campaign, and are endeavoring to effect some sort of an organization whereby business men, irrespective of politics, may be chosen.

There is talk of the Democrats and Republicans uniting in the Fourth and Fifth wards and electing a Democrat in the Fourth and a Republican in the Fifth. The Populists have great strength in these two wards, and last year elected their men to the council to sit for two years. There are now six Populists in the council, and the business element fear they will be able to secure a majority at the coming election unless vigorous steps are taken.

As the campaign grows livelier it becomes more and more evident that the tide land question is to be the one on which the chief fight will be made. A strong effort will be made to have the policy of the city government in making its war on the corporations indorsed.