The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-12-28
ALL H NOT HARMONY
Democratic Trouble Over Dep
uty Sheriff Appointment.
Also an Exchange of Discourtesies
Between thu, New Auditor and
Executive Committee.

All is not harmony in the ranks of the
victorious democracy OF Whitman
county. Two of the newly elected
county officials, who are to take charge
of their offices January IA, are at outs
with the executive committee OF the
county central committee, over the APP
pointment of deputies, and in one case
the executive committee has vowed ven
geance on the officer, while the latter
has expressed a hope that the advising
statesmen may go to that bourne where
ice is at premium.
Sheriff elect j. B. Mackay is the officer
who has called down on himself the
awful curse of the party organization
During the campaign Charles Hinchhff,
who was candidate for county com
missioner, announced that it elected the
sheriff would be allowed but two depu-
ties. Democratic Candidate Mackay,
not understanding this, and thinking
that he would be allowed three deputies,
promised places to several OF his friends,
among them being a deputyship to a
warm supporter in PalOuse named
Joseph Davis, and also to Ortis Hamil-
ton of Coifax. Finding that he was to
be allowed but two deputies, Mr. Mackay
chief deputy, and Mr.. Davis as field dep
uty. As soon as the announcement was
made, the chairman of the democratic
central committee, E. j. Doneen, called
the executive committee together, and
asked Mr.. Mackay to appear before
them. When he did so, the committee
endeavOred to induce him to drop Davis
and substitute Hamilton. This Mackay
refused to do, and then the committee
laid down the law, with the result above
noted
An explanation of the reasons for the
action of the committee, disclOses a little
bit of political history that is instruc-
tive az we'll as amusing. At the time OF
the state convention III Seattle, last fall
the delegation from Whitman county
was largely composed of opponents OF
Governor Rogers. This opposition was
headed by Chairman DOneen. while the
five Rogers men of the delegation in
cluded Joseph Davis of PalOuse. Davis
was more than an adherent-he was a
partisan, and being unable to induce the
majority to come his way of thinking,
alluded publicly to some of the demo
cratic leaders in terms more emphatic
than respectful. Nor were bis illusions
said in his secret closet. They were given
the widest publicity, and of course the
persons mentioned knew Of Davis IN
kind thoughts and words. 1t wouldn't
have been human nature ii the persons
thus publicly cursed had not worked
against his appointment to one OF the
soft places of the public service, particu
larry as it was we'll known that Mackay
had given a promise to Hamilton OF
that particular place, and as Hamilton
and his father have been democratic
leaders in the past, while Davis is known
as demo-pop.
Inst wiitrsute- dpb0slpI05n from the ex.
ecutive committee and has fatty told
the members thereof that they must
keep their hands off his office, as be was
elected auditor, and expected to fill the
Office, appoint his own deputies and
stand responsible for their honesty and
efficiency. What especially called the
attention OF the executive committee to
the auditors Office, was the announce
ment that Mr. Raby had appointed
John +. Fuller as index clerk. The com
mlttee did not care to suggest the ap-
pOlntment of any particular person, but
did not wish Fuller appointed, and were
not slow in saying so, although they
gave no particular reason for their OPP
position. 1t looks as though the princi
pal objection to Fuller's appointment
by the committee lies in the fact that he
has always been called a republican, and
mas frequently been mentioned as posi-
BILE nominee for that place by the re pub
llcans. Fuller is a number l office man,
and 1T is probably for that reason alone
that he has been selected by Raby.