Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-09-27
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


Hon Eugene Semple, who was NOM
mated for governor of the new State
of Washington by the Democratic con-
vention assembled at Ellensburgh on
the ninth of this month, was born in
the city of Bogota, Colombia, South
America, June 18th, 1910, his father
being then the American minister to
that country. When the boy was five
years of age his parents returned to
their home in Madison county, Hi
nois. The youth was sent to st. Louis
College, and after course there grad
uated from the law school of Cincin.
natl college in 1868. The elder Sem
pie was always prominent in politics,
and while United States Senator he
was much interested in the Oregon
boundary matter, and made thorough
examination of the subject at the
time of the fifty-four-forty- or-fight"
agitation. The young man became
favorably impressed with this country,
and after his graduation came west to
Portland. He practiced law until
1869, when he became editor of the
Daily Herald, the Democratic organ Of
the northwest at that period. AssOci-
ated with him in the conduct of that
paper were Sylvester Pennoyer, present
Governor of Oregon, and A. A. Ames,
of Minneapolis, who came within a
few votes of being elected Governor of
Minnesota two years ago. In 1872
Mr.. Semple was appointed State Prin-
ter for Oregon, and shortly thereafter
he left the Herald. He was State
Printer two years. Then he engaged
in business operations in Lane and Co.
lumbia counties until 1882, when he
removed to Vancouver, Washington.
Since then he has been engaged in the
lumber business. In April, 1887, Mr..
Semple was appointed Governor OF
Washington Territory by President
Cleveland, and two years later was
succeeded by Miles c. Moore, the pres
ent incumbent. Mr.. Semple is now a
resident of Tacoma.
The nominee of the Democratic
party of Washington for national Rep
resentative of the new State is Hon.
c. Griffitts, senior member of the law
firm of Grifiitts, Moore & Feighan, of
Spokane Falls. Mr.. Grifiitts was born
near Carthage, Illinois, December s.
1857. He spent his youth on the farm
and in the printing office of the Car
thage Republican, educated himself and
was admitted to the bar at the age OF
twenty-three. In 1881 he moved to
Salt Lake City, where he practiced his
profession successfully until about two
and a half years ago, when he located
in Spokane Falls. Mr.. Griffitts took a
prominent position among the mem.
bers of the local bar and when the
time came for choosing delegates to
the constitutional convention he was
elected in district admittedly Repub.
lican. In that convention he served
with distinction on the committees on
judiciary and on city, township and
county organization, and his minority
reports submitted in two or three III
stances were approved. Though al
ways a Democrat he had taken nc
active part in politics until nominated
for delegate to the constitutional con.
vention. He is a ready speaker and
live worker in whatever enterprises
engage his attention.
81. Commoner. % ,
L. H. PlattOr, the nominee for Lieu.
tenant Governor, is a young and able
attorney from Colfax, about 36 years
of age. He has not an equal on the
stump; is well acquainted with parlia.
mentary ways, and will make a good
presiding officer for the State Senate.
N. H. Whittlesey is native of Vir-
ginia, is 81 years of age, has lived in
Port Townsend for the last four years
where he has held several important
Offices, has been Probate Judge and
Clerk of the Court, each of which he
filled with honor and distinction. He
is well liked by everybody that knows
him, and will make a good Secretary.
Col. NJ. kaufman, of Tacoma, the
Democratic candidate for Treasurer, is
46 years OF age, has been in the Terri
tory for six years, engaged in merchan-
dising. A more honorable conscien-
tious man could net be found. =
John Miller Murphy is an old res
ident of Olympia, editor of the Olym-
pia STANDARD and present Territorial
Auditor, which he has filled with per.
feet satisfaction. He is so years OF
age.
H. J. Snively, of North Yakima, is
candidate for Attorney General. He
is the present Prosecuting Attorney of
Yakima and Kittitas, is 33 years OF
age, has been it the Territory for five
years and has gained a host of friends
in both parties. 2- %
J. II. Morgan, candidate for Super
intendent of Public Instruction, has
been in the Territory for ten years, all
of which time he has been engaged in
school work, is Sc years of age and is
at present Territorial Superintendent.
A little over year ago, while engaged
in visiting the schools of the Territory
he met with a severe accident which
has made him cripple for life. He
is hard worker.
The Wards.
Mr.. EDITOR.