The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-11-28
JUDGE TURNER TALKS.
An Explanation Of the Combination Thai
Resulted In His Defeat.
The spokane spIIt.-some OF Aliens
supporters Very Angry Over
Their Treatment.


Northern Pacific train yesterday morning.
A RerieW reporter called at his residence
last evening and inquired il he had any
thing Of public interest to say concerning
the late contest for the United States SEN
atorship.
"I could probably say much concern
ing what took place at Olympia that
would be Of interest," )" he replied; "but
the public is no doubt more directly in
terested in the manner in which the fight
was conducted and the causes which led
to my defeat.
81 would certainly have been elected
had received the undivided support Of
the Spokane delegation. OF this there
can be no doubt.
"On the Saturday night preceding the
election had thirty-four votes pledged.
The nine democratic members bad also
pledged themselves to vote for me when
ever they became satisfied that the demo-
cratic vote would elect me.
81 then needed only ten votes. l had
been striving to get the King county dele
CATION to come over, with every prospect
Of success, as the majority Of them were
uniavorable to Allen. They wanted to
vote for me, but the boiling members Of
the Spokane delegation stood over them
with an uplifted club, and would not
allow them to do 80, In order to get
Squire to support s. G. Hyde for supreme
Judge, the dissenting Spokane members
had promised him the support Of the del
egation. Gene Hyde and Van Houton
said they had made no such pledge.
"While the primary cause Of my defeat
was the refusal Of part Of the Spokane
delegation to support me, would have
been elected without their votes had it
not been for the combination between
Allen and Squire. l had every assurance
that no combination would be entered
into. At l2 80 on Monday night, Senator
Wood, an emissary Of Squire, came to me
and assured me positively that Squire had
not and would not form a combination
with Allen; and yet, within an hour
afterwards or thereabouts, the combina-
ton had been made and the election Of
both assured, Allen giving Squire Walla
Walla and Whitman counties in return
for King county.
"Allen would never have entered into a
combination had he not become alarmed
at the prospect Of defeat. In making the
compact with Squire he deceived his own
friends, who, acting under his instruc-
tons, had induced the friends Of Sprague
to keep him out Of Aliens way on the
first ballot. In return for this favor,
Aliens friends agreed to postpone the
election Of the west side senator until the
next day. Had not Allen duped the
friends Of sprague, the election Of both
Allen and Squire could have been pre-
vented. But the combination settled II
for both Of them, and after Aliens elec-
ton the second ballot, which he had
agreed to postpone, was forced on, and
Squire was elected by larger vote than
Allen received.
"Thus Allen not only broke faith with
the friends Of Sprague, but deceived his
own friends, and made bitter enemies Of
men who had been his earnest supporters
for many years.
Nearly all Of Aliens supporters were
for Thompson or Sprague, and mine were
mostly for Squire, and the final result was
that had nothing to give for the support
Of King county.
81 did everything in my power to unite
the Spokane delegation, but to no avail.
The boiling members gave as their excuse
for going over to Allen that / had no show
for election. They made no effort to test
nv strength, and the fact that my own
deleration was divided prevented others
from coming to me. The members Of the
King county delegation told me repeat-
edly that II I could unite my own delepa-
tion thew would come over. This would
have insured nv election, with six votes
to snare,
"In order to make some show Of justi.
tication for disregarding the instructions
Of the county convention, Watt Of the
home delegation telegaphed home for
,,ot;,;ons osL;nr, tho dalagatior 10 s,nrort