The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-02-05
ssFarmer Todd" and Rep. Hicks.


All through the senatorial struggle
there has been hints of "boOdle" and
number Of charges of venallty were
made against several populists in the
legislature. A committee was APP
pointed to look into the charges, and
the following extract of their frs;
session is taken from the Pts.
report:
Tonight the first session of the house
investigating committee was held in
the Bettman block. Chairman Powell,
of King county, presided. 1t was evil
dent from the beginning of the session
of the committee that the investlga-
ton will.Sbe rigidly and vigorously
prosecuted, and that none will be
spared who have transgressed the law.
The committee met at Z: 80. The first
witness was s"sFarmer" Todd, of Mason
county, manager for Richard Winsor
in his senatorial campaign. From
the questions put to Todd by -ttorney
Williams, who conducted the exami-
nation, it was evidently the intention
to prove that one of the members OF
the legislature had received improper
overtures from one of the senatorial
candidates. The member is S. d.
Hicks, Of Mason county, who voted
for Turner. Todd testified in part as
follows:
81 have long been a personal and po-
litical friend of Representative Hicks.
I had received several letters from
Hicks in which he stated that he was
favorable to Judge Winsor and believ
ed that he should be supported from
the beginning of the fight till it was
ended. Soon after the joint balloting
began Hicks voted for Turner. saw
him Immediately and asked him why
he had voted for Turner. He replied
that he wanted to do the best thing
for himself. / could not infer which
he meant-whether he wanted to do
the best politically or financially"
"On crOss-eXamination witness ad-
mitted that in one conversation Hicks
had appeared somewhat fustered and
had stated that his financial condition
might be improved. He said that
Hicks had stated directly that $4,000
could be secured for vote. In the
conversation with Hicks the name of
Frank R. Baker and Fred Merrill of
Tacoma were mentioned. The witness
swOre that Hicks had said that he told
these men that if there was anything
in sight they would have to Cough
up" The witness swore that he had
advised Hicks to steer clear of this
sort of thing, and that Hicks had pro-
missed to have nothing more to do
wi h that kind of business.
Replying to question by Williams,
witness said that in the conversation
relative to the $4,000 Hicks had said
that he could use that amount of
money to good advantage.
The witness was here excused and
was about to leave when he turned to
Chairman Powell and said: "Before
[ testify further III this matter l will
see Judge Winsor and if he advises me
| may give further testimony"
Chairman Powell demanded: "Are
we to infer from that, that you are
concealing anything from this COM
mittee?"
The witness hesitated and replied
that the committee could infer what
itpleased. Powell replied emphatically
that the witness, would be tried for
contempt if he did not testify fully.
While the JOURNAL, from the best
information at hand, has no doubt
that Senator Turner's election was
secured by means of money, just why
Representative Hicks should be openly
charged with being influenced" is
not plain, except that Farmer" Todd
is feeling sore at the defeat of his can
didate. From casual look over the
personnel of the house, we feel that
our representative will compare favor.
ably with any of his populist col
leagues in the house, and is head and
shoulders above some of them. II
seems to us that his course has been
consistsat,-he voted cor Winsor, a
popuhst, steadily until he saw that
there was no prospect of the populists
uxating, and then he turned to Turner
Many OF the others changed their vote
nearly every ballot, as if waiting for a
bid or orders to jump.
OF course, the investigating commit
tee will be a "white-wash," but if its
work was properly done, number OF
legislators whose vote is more ques-
tlonable than that of Mr.. Hicks
would be brought before the bar of the
house. Although the local populists
are feelI ng dissatisfied over Mr.. Hicks
voting for Turner, still he will un-
doubte dly get the benefit of the doubt
in 'Fa rmer" Todd's changes.
TIT Olympia Standard says that the
Old settlers are responsible for the