Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-08-23

The democratic convention at Elma,
Saturday, was hot one from start TO
finish. There was no danger of its being
mistaken for funeral service, unless,
indeed, it proves to have been the burial
of the hopes of that party for success III
the coming campaign hopes that looked
so bright one short week before. A con-
spiracy to kidnap the democratic organl-
cation of Chehalis county was revealed,
that for audacity would have reflected
credit on Quay or Plat. But its execu-
ton betrayed the bungling work OF
amateurs. The fury Of the conspirators
when they learned that their plans were
not only discovered, but that the dis
covery was early enough to Illustrate
them, was study to behold.
The scheme was to quietly secure
delegation to the state convention, os-
tensibly in the interest of Rogers, that
could be controlled by w. II. Abel, for
the purpose of nominating him for SUI
perior Judge in the judicial district con-
vention, while the democracy at home
would be entirely innocent of there be-
ing any opposition to Judge Hodgdon,
the present highly satisfactory incum-
bent of that Office.
To a full understanding OF the situation
at the county convention, it is necessary
to outline the plan adopted. A SYSTEM
attic campaign for control of the primaries
in the towns, and the delegates from the
country precincts, was secretly begun
several months ago, Abel at that time
giving out that he was candidate for
attorney general, on the state ticket. Not
receiving much encouragement from the
leading democrats, it was decided to
make the play under the cover OF Gov.
Rogers. whom but a short time before
Mr.. Abel bitterly opposed for renomina-
ton. Fish Commissioner A. G. Little,
chief fugleman Of the Rogers push, came
down from the Sound to look after his
bailiwick, and, in his zeal for Rogers,
either fell in with Abels scheme or was
a dune of the latter. The fact that few
of the prominent members of the demo-
cratic party differed with Mr.. Little as
to the candidacy of Gov. Rogers being OF
sufficient importance to justify disrur-
ton OF the fusion forces, should the
nomination be denied him, was distorted
into an opposition to the governors
candidacy, and this was enlarged upon
in all parts OF the county by hired
emissaries. To carry out the judgeship
scheme under the cover of a fight for
Rogers, there must, OF course, be Rogers
opposition. There being no such oppo-
sition, one was manufactured. Every
prominent democrat, who would have
been the likely choice OF his precinct for
state delegate, was declared to he "against
Rogers" and steps were taken, secretly,
to prevent their being members OF the
county convention, or elected to the
state convention.
The schemers did not appear to lack
funds-probably Rogers leg was pulled
on the strength OF the dummy fight
against him, although it is said to have
cost the ambitious county attorney a
tidy sum. At any rate, the county was
covered with emissaries prepared to ca
iole, bride or threaten as the case might
demand. In the distant country pre-
cincts, which rarely attend county
convention, typewriter primary election
certificates were supplied, with blank
proxies attached, and, in some cases,
the names of the delegates desired were
filled in.
In Montesano a private meeting was
held in the office OF Mr.. Abel the night
before the primary election, slate agreed
upon and typewriter ballots prepared,
with which to turn down some OF the
Oldest democrats in the county. Demo-
Gratis who have grown gray in the service
OF that party; men who were fighting,
IN hopeless minority, against the re-
publican methods of machine politics
and packed caucuses at time when w.
II. Abel and A. G. Little were fighting
the democratic party, and inventing
"pure politics" for Chehalis county use.
In Aberdeen, Mr.. Little decrced that
the editor OF the HERALD must be kept
out of the county convention, notwith.
standing the fact that, as chairman OF
the county central committee, he is the
official head OF the party in the county.