The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-12-13
SENATORIAL FIGHT.
Banker Brown of Moscow Said
to Be a Candidate.
SWEEPS FRIENDS CONFIDENT
An Int restine Story Of the Great Poiit.
icai VA Now tagi. z Fierce
In Mo COW.

SeInDleS spokane IN many respects. 1t
is a novelty in the political world and,
like Spokane also, is the largest town
in its part of the state. 1t impresses
one with it's mud, the thrift of it's bust
ness men and the rancor of its politics.
Moscow was unknown to political
fame until about four years ago. Since
then it has claimed the residence of
United States senator, a governor, a
congressman, and still boasts of gov
ernor, congressman and two United
States senatorial aspirants. And yet all
\ these famous characters in Idaho's po-
litical history are contained in two in
hividuals, w. j. Mcconnell and Willis
Sweet.
With two such big men in one town it
is not to be wondered at that factions
arose in the politics of the town. Two
such planets could not occupy the same
space without big display of fireworks,
There were plenty of offices to fill with
out Sweet and Mcconnell coming in
each others way, of course. but, as is
usual in frail human nature, both
Sweet and Mcconnell began advancing
to the same objective point They each
had senatorial tree and each began
edging toward the same post-hole to
then smiled, then frowned, then dis
puted, and are now quarreling. They
have their knives out and each is sur
rounded by crowd of his friends. The
steel is shining in the sunlight, and il
begins to look as if row was on that
would end only in the complete annih-
lat ton of one of the leading combatants
or both
~ INT
Governor Mcconnell was big man
four years ago. He was a merchant
with political sagacity and much desire,
Northern Idaho had never been recog-
nized by the politicians of the southern
part of the state, but Mcconnell be-
came candidate for United States SEN
ator nevertheless, 1t was fight
against odds and it cost about $4,000
but Mcconnell won. Idaho had just
become state and was entitled to two
senators, one of whom was to fill long
and the other short term of about two
| months. Mr.. Mcconnell drew the short
| straw, and, though he served only few
| weeks in the United States senate, he
| made it brilliant. Mcconnell was a
rough orator-he has improved some
he lacked in polish, and he shattered
senatorial idols with the ease of cham
pion marksman shooting glass balls.
Time-honored senatorial dignity was
trampled under foot with such reckless
bravado that Senator Mcconnell be-
| came at once a famous character
Senator Mcconnell was a big mer-
chant then and wealthy-or supposed to
| ha a caD1a bac flushed with capa
torial pride and was soon in a hot race
for the gubernatorial chair. He won
After a while he failed in business
and, it is said, today has nothing left
| of his al one time big fortune. Many OF
his friends and supporters disappeared
| with his fortune, as is usual in such
| cases; but not all of them, and he was
| still strong enough last fall to secure the
nomination for governor again. but II
was with "a split in the party at his
home.
WILLIS SWEET.
The other great man in Moscow's po
litical history is Willis Sweet He was
Il newspaper man few years ago. anC
a very good one, too. After Idaho be
came a state Mr.. Sweet was elected t,
|
ton His work was earnest and he wa.
well thought of all over the state. Las
summer Congressman Sweet was in
formed by Senator Shoup that he
Shoup, would not be candidate for tn
senate again, Senator Shoup even pu
this in writing. AS southern Idaho ha'
had both members of the United State
senate after Mcconnell retired, Con
gresham Sweet concluded to try for tn
place He released his grip on the con
gressional car and came out openly TO
the United States senate. Governo
, Mcconnell was a candidate for re
election, and for time it appeared a
If it would be easy sailing. But
wasn't. for when Mr.. Sweet carried hi
tree toward the senatorial post-hole h
! found Governor Mcconnell guardin
il. Governor Mcconnell was told {
roll over to his guberna torial post-hol
> and attend to his own affairs. II
said he would, but he didn't stay ther'
< After Mcconnell planted his guberna
torial tree successfully and was elected
= he returned to menace Sweet. as Sci
n ator Shoup's second
OPENLY FIGHTING SWEET.
Mcconnell is now openly fightin
- Sweet He claims. or his friends do fc
? him. that Sweet endeavored to defei
him and is not a good republican. The
point out that while in Latah county ;
sbe tate election Wilson, for congress
eejyed i,253 votes, and while Mill
o.. lieutenant governor received IL
80 and Parsons for attorney gener
receive d 1901. Mcconnell received on
or ,,o,,es. They also point out tn
~ 'atfye candidates in Mosco
ra, away ahead of Mcconnell, and 50
on ~ these votes lost to Mcconnell we
!. traced 70 Swe cts friends. For this M
: Council is fightins sweet ana swea
he shall not be elected.
a sweets friends deny this. They clai
. thai sweet gave Mcconnell cordial su
= ,ort and begged all his friends to su
a mort Mcconnell. Some people say tn
. democrats voted for the legislative ca
h didates but would not vote for Niece
It nell.
n Many friends of Mcconnell are
70 willing to admit that he is candida
a. for the senate, but the Spokesman
10 | view representative asked one OF
Is governors close friends and warm 81
of porter il the governor was candida
ed There is nothing to prevent him
ing a candidate" the gentleman