The Tacoma Land Grab: How Rich Men Tried to Steal Washington’s Senate Seat

The legislature of the state of Washington will today ballot for United States senator. Every consideration of state interest and state pride demands the re-election of Hon. Watson C. Squire. The public discussion of the candidacy of Mr. Squire and his opponent, Mr. W. H. Calkins, has developed an overwhelming public sentiment in favor of the former. The entire Republican press of the state, with the exception of a few journals printed or controlled in Tacoma, has declared in favor of the re-election of Squire.

Where commercial bodies, except in Tacoma, have expressed a preference, it has been for Squire. Every test by which the people's wish may be measured shows that Squire is their choice. In the face of such unanimity it is not possible that the legislators will refuse to do their plain duty.

Washington is one of the richest regions in the world. The progress that will take place in the next six years can scarcely be imagined. Our mineral resources are scarcely touched; our lumber industry is not fully developed; trade with Alaska and Asia is just beginning; thousands of farms are yet unclaimed. The legislator should stop to consider whether the interests of a great commercial state would best be served by a practical business man, yet a statesman, or a nimble politician, whose trade is the seeking or sale of office, and who has no material interests in the commonwealth.

Senator Squire is closely identified with the state; while he was governor he did much to attract investors hither, and he ranks high in the United States Senate... There is no section of the state that can complain of unfairness, neither was there any wrong done by him when he was governor. The fight that is being made against Mr. Squire would be waged upon any citizen of Seattle by those whose financial interests are centered at Tacoma and who demand that the legislature give them a senator to do their bidding.

It does not follow because King is the most populous county in the state, has the greatest natural resources, has the largest amount of capital invested and regularly polls the biggest Republican majority, that she should nominate the senator; but neither do these facts bar one of her citizens from holding office. It is the same battle now, the rich men of Tacoma against the people, that was waged in 1889.

To elect Calkins senator would belittle the state. His consecutive applications for federal offices have excited laughter and derision... He is put forward by the rich men of Tacoma because they have been unable to agree upon any one of their own number. His residence in this state has been so short that his election would signify to the world that, unlike Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and the Dakotas, Washington, greater than any of these, has no one of her own citizens fit to represent her in the nation's council.

But the opposition to Squire is not tied to Calkins. Its votes can be transferred to any candidate not obnoxious to the rivals among Tacoma's rich men.