Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-26
BECKER'S LETTER.
TO WHITMAN co. REPUBLICANS.
IN DEFENCE OF HIS CASE F. W. BECKER
ADDRESSES A LETTER TO WHIT
NAN REPUBLICANS.


office Of chairman vacant, which I con
slider Illegal as it is done on trumped
up charges, 1 am compelled in order to
bring the true facts of the matter to the
public, which l intended first not to do
until at the meeting Of the next con-
Tention. The same are, that after the
election of members to the constitutional
convention, enquiries were made as to
the adoption Of e method by which the
republicans Of Whitman county would
be able to come off victorious in subse-
quent elections. ] waa asked mine [
proposed that In order TO establish con-
tidence in the minds Of the republican
voters it would be necessary to show
| them that they were not looked upon as
merely voting cattle by combined lot
Of tricksters in Colfax and a few allies
outside, whose sole object it is to gather
in the loaYes and fishes by getting fat
offices for chosen few of their cliques
and to do that was to let the people of
the county know that they would have
far chance in the primaries and con-
ventions and not fix up states for them
and make promises Of goods which could
not be delivered, by way of nominating
candidates as agreed upon, or nominal
ing some good citizen only to be knocked
out by tricksters at the polls. Many
approved that as being a good theory,
but thought it hard to put in practice.
There seemed to be no one who would
put the bail in motion. had confidence
that it would work, SO when asked if
would undertake the job, said that I
would, but as [ did not think that
would gain much personally, but would
cost ne time and money, besides neg
Letting my private affairs, was promised
aid financially, and was even told by
some that ii [ succeeded they would be
with me-for a wonder.
So, on about the Goth OF May, 1889, 1
took my own team and visited nearly
two-thirds of the precincts in the coun-
t., explained the situation and my theory
of remedying the evil, at an actual ex-
pense out Of my private funds to the
amount of $40, loss of time, twenty
days, worth at least SIS per day, 500.
What was accomplished is well known
to you. After the conventions were held
and the campaign opened, 1 appealed to
various parties for aid financially, out
side Of this county, first to the state
central committee, whose chairman in
formed me that $3.50 had been forwarded
to the member Of the state central com
mittee of Whitman county, with in
structiOns that it should be expended in
conjunction with the county committee.
When called for aid from that member.
@. Z. Chamberlain, he informed me that
he had no money until the county had
been polled, and wanted me to got him
the poll Bll-heads, posters, tickets and
other printing was ordered by the men,
Der OF the state central committee for
use in the campaign, state as we'll as
county, but all charged to the county
central committee.
collected $425 from the candidates
for the various county offices. Finding
that that would not be sufficient I an
| pealed to others candidates outside of
the county-but got response from none
but Watson G. Squire, who sent me two
checks Of hundred dollars each, with
instructions that I should use it as I
thought best for the good OF the party.
That made SEQ all told Out of that
amount ] paid $44G.60 to apply on
various bills and to pay parties expenses
while canvassing the county and aid the
canvass III precincts in the county, of
which PaIouse City got $50 alone, and
the balance paid to F. ". Becker for
services rendered. Here you have the
whole dedication and shortage in my
accounts.
Dir. Z. P. Cornell appealed to me dur
ing the last campaign for money for the
Tekoa Globe, as 1t had been promised
aid II it would Iemain neutral I told
him that Chamberlin held the sack.
With there facts [ leave you all to
draw your own conclusions as to my
guilt or innocence, and until [ am pro-
nounced guilty by the next republican
county convention 1 shall consider my
self chairman of the republican county
central committee, until my successor is
duly elected; not the chairman Of the
republican central committee OF Colfax.
AS the Colfax central committee
through its chairman has named the End
day OF August for the holding OF pri-
maries, I shall, in order to save confusion,
call the republican primaries to hold on
the same day, and hope that they will
be attended by the republican voters en-
masse. The apportionment I do not
consider just, as the smaller precincts
are apt to not be represented. on account
Of only one or two being chosen and per
haps not able TO be present, while in
large towns generally all are, so often
Instead OF precincts being represented
are misrepre resented. The same has been
true in former territorial conventions.
Parties that The people d;i not Tant
there got there by proxies.
It 10 well to remark that these great
lovers OF honesty in political affairs, who
have sought % depose me Tor dishonesty,
did not offer the least bit Of assistance
TO the chairman in missing camraiga
funds, but we're very ready to send con