Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-10-25
POLITICAL HISTORY.
TOLD IN COL. OWINGS' VIGOROUS
STYLE.
a Chapter in Which the Sterling
Character of the states First Ex.
ecutive Is Fully Portrayed.

| SOi. ->ltA CWlllSe was III hCOill'
yesterday on his way home from Gov
ernor Ferry's funeral. In conversa
ton with friends and with 4 reporter
he talked entertainingly Of his ac
quaintance with the late Governor
and sometimes like Casca, "in hi.
sour fashion," of political matters il
days gone by in which the Governor
and his friends and enemies had taken
part.
| :" first met the late Governor" he
said, cat Nicksburg on board the
headquarters boat of Gen. Grant, i'm
| mediately after the fall of that city in
1868. He had been sent down as the
personal representative of Gov. Yates.
Upon that occasion Gen. Grant init.
mated that it would be very easy to
continue down the river, join Gen.
Banks and complete the opening of
the Mississippi. Col. Ferry suggested
that Banks ranked him. A curious
look came over the face of Grant and
the conversation upon that subject
ended. You will recall that Grant re-
lates in his memoirs that that just at
this time he recommended that he
make a forced march to Mobile and
that fleet join him there, the army
and the fleet to cooperate in the re-
duction OF the city. If this plan had
been accepted and had proved success
full, the confedtracy would have been
cut in twain in the same manner as
was afterwards done by Gen. Sherman.
Under the advice of the stupid Gen.
Halleck the plan was rejected.
"The next time l met Governor
Ferry was in 1877, when l succeeded
Hon. II. G. Struve as Secretary OF the
Territory. Governor Ferry's office
and that of the Secretary were on the
same floor. | ofliced with him for
four years-my quarters were his and
his mine. During that time our rela-
tions, personal, political and official,
were Of the most intimate character.
In all our intercourse there was never
one unkind word spoken. Yes, l
loved him as brother"
"In those days he took quite an in
terest in politics. did he not?"
"Oh, yes. All the Territorial and
Federal officials took a hand and
it was there learned how pure. up
right and honorable he was. He
would not countenance or join in any
OF the maneuvers of the demagOgue.
I do not recall one suggestion or rec
ommendation made by him that might
not have been proclaimed from the
house-tops. When he became Terri
torial Governor, the finances uf the
Territory were in bad shape. He pre-
pared and had the Legislature pass
laws that placed matters on an equi
table basis, by reducing taxation, and
when he left the chair warrants were
at par and a large balance in the
treasury"
"Why was Governor Ferry moi
made the first Senator?"
"He certainly could have been, bu
for years before we became q State, hi
friends would say: Governor, we viii
make you the first Senator Ill
would always reply: Il do not wan
it. If the people want me, / would
like to be the first Governor Thi
was so generally conceded, that it wa
almost universally understood that III
would be nominated without opposi
ton. But just at that time there wa
a daring gang OF unscrupulous politi
tians, drunk with power and craze'
with ambition. in King county, having
no regard for the rights of others, VIII
formulated a plan, farming out tn
offices for the State Government
much as q czar would do. Governo
Ferry was not consulted in this mat
ter. They knew the man we'll enoug
to know that he would object. Afte
it was all cut and dried, they sent til
man to him who was thought to hav
the greatest influence, to show hir
the programme. After the usual ga
utation, much circumlocution and n
+ little vaporing, the scheme was sui
mitted. 1t did not take one momer
for the Governor to repudiate til
= entire programme. Il will not b'
come party TO such an act OF perfid
and bad faith. You have left out
man l have given my word to suppol
for Senator But what concern
that OF yours; you are slated for Go
ernor.' Sir l have given my wor'
> and rather than place myself in sue
q position, would forego the Pres
10 dency of the United States 'Vel
we'll, sir; we will substitute anoth'
man for you. A majority of the del
= gates to the county convention wi
select delegates to the State ConveI
ton at our dictation, who will not on
support another, but will work TO d
"a feat you
"Governor Ferry defied them al
would not give an inch. These co
ispirators were as good as their VOL