The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-10-25
Eff. BENSON ASA WORKER.
The Democratic Candidate for the Leg
iSlature a Progressive Man.
He is FOR YAKIMA THROUGHOUT,
His Great Energy Constantly Utii.
ized 10 Push His Country Ahead.
Reasons why He would Make N
Valuable Representative.

What has Mr.. +. F. Benson done, that
he should be entitled to support for the
legislature? That is question that may
be ASKED, aad THE HERALD will speak OF
his busy and successful ife-believing that
the same energy and traits of character
would prove OF incalculable value to Yak
ina county in the event of Mr.. Benson
being elected representative.
He came to this county three years
ago, having resided in Lincoln county
eight years previously, and began the
sale of Sunrysiie lands. He very soon
acquired the reputation of being real
estate hustler OF the frat order, and he
was successful in every sense of the word.
Every dollar of his earnings was invested
in Yakima and he now has lands ut vari
Gus points between North Yakima and
Kennewick, all OF which are being i'm
proved by the planting OF fruit trees and
other forms OF cultivation.
He has at all times been personal al
vertisement OF Yakima county, and has
probably been instrumental in bringing
more people to this section than any other
man in the same period of time. Last
year he spent nearly five months adver-
Using the Yakima valley ut the Worlds
Fair. and his efforts there can only be
fully appreciated by those who witnessed
the crowds of people who were constantly
entertained and instructed by his inform
al lectures and answering of questions
No other "bureau of information" on the
entire fair grounds attracted so many
people, and his especial talent in this d.
rection was the subject Of frequent COM
ment.
At the close of the Worlds Fair he Sc
cured for our State Fair a collection of all
the different minerals exhibited at Chic
ago from this state, also the Model Farm
machinery, buildings, ETC., and all the
glass jars for preserving fruits, vegeta-
bles and seeds, which property alone cost
the fair commission several thousand dol
lars. In addition TO these donations he
secured free transportation on the same
from Chicago to Yakima.
On his return to this city Mr.. Benson
found the Yakima club disorganized and
prepared to store its furniture and he ag'
itated the formation of commercial club
first by letters published in TIE HER.
AID and then by personal solicitation.
He stimulated an interest in the matter,
and largely through his efforts was the
present fiourishing organization founded
and started in its work. Its utility and
practical benefit to this community Is
well known to all, for scarcely week
passes but its aid on some important mat
ter is invoked.
The subject of an exhibit at the Inter
state fair was canvassed, but the people
felt too poor and no concerted action was
taken; but Mr.. Benson collected fine
| lot of melons and secured at his own ex'
pense a display OF hops, corn, alfalfa,
fruit, ETC., from the Sunnyside, the col
Letting, hauling, preparing for exhibit all
being paid for out of his own pocket and
without any promise OF reimbursement
Mr.. Benson's idea was that the exhibit
made OF the Selah Valley products and
| his exhibit from Sunnyside would be aug
mented after the State fair by a credit
able exhibit from North Yakima anC
tributary country, and he spread out his
exhibit with a view to cover and hold
space for this purpose.
When it was decided to hold State
fair he accepted a position as special com
missioner of the Interstate fair, closed his
office for month and visited every rail
road town and station between the Cas-
cade mountains and the Idaho line-rec'
ognizing in this splendid opportunity
for aiding the State fair while attending
to his other duties, and this territory hi
billed without any expense TO the State
fair commission, meeting the necessary
expenses from his private purse.
1t may be contended that MIR. Benson
has done all Of these things as either
of Yakima county hoping to benefit him
self. Granting that is true, let him g
to the state legislature and use the same
energy and show the same interest in oui
county's welfare, and we will get returns
in the way of satisfactory appropriation
for our state fair as well az horticulture
and other legislation which will be bene
fetal to county and state. THE HERALl
has taken up Mr.. Benson's record as al
active and progressive citizen of Yakima
as it believes that it is only Justice to giv'
credit where credit is due.
Edwin +. Benson was born in Main
in 1861, but lived in Boston from 1870 t.
1882, when he moved to the then terri
tory OF Washington. He is graduate O
the Boston University, one of the bes
law schools in America, and was admit
ted to practice before the supreme court o
Massachusetts,. In this state he has beel
most OF his time personally and practiC
ally engaged in farming and stock raising
except for two years when he was pro
bate Judge of Lincoln county, and tn,
past tn rec years of his residence in YAK