The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-09
GOV. ROGERS PET
POLITICAL SCHEME.


State Superintendent Browne and state
Printer Hicks.
With resistless ambition to make all
else subseryient to his own political aims.
the governor removed the members Of the
board of control, charging them with mis-
conduct In Office. He did not even notify
them that In hts belief 1t would be impos-
sble for him TO work In harmony with
them, He chose the mien and method OF
the autocrat and dictator and roughly
informed them that they must resign at
once.
But the governor found that he was
dealing with men who had some slight
regard for the interests of the state and
of the party which elected them 10 office.
even IL he was ruthless and Indifferent
to these things. The members OF the
board remained firm, only to have their
heads dropped into the basket May 5. lSsI,
six weeks after they had been appointed
A sBettcr" Board.
The governor suppianted the board OF
control by new men. the first of whom
was III. j. Snfveiy. of North Yakima. who
never wavered in service to the Turner
Rogers ring. The governor made the
larger appointments, With ne ,. AID ana ana
ing the next few months. The FIRST re-
quisite for political preferment was 10y.
atty to Turner and Rogers. the political
for Office were made secondary considera-
tions. Snively was ever at the governors
elbow, ready to offer suggestions. Lister
there was a question as to the loyalty OF
a P0pullst aspirant for office to the
Rogers-Turnar machine.
Those suspected Of having Independent
the office Of senator, or Of the ethics in
Waived In Turner's election as senator,
were relegated to one side and not recog-
ntzed In the distribution Of the spoils
TIA mn n a
tion Of affairs should result in the poorest
kind of service to the state and the iucu-
baton OF constant and offensive scandals.
Not one Of the state institutions under
the direction Of the board Of audit and
control has escaped. Instead of attending
to the duties OF his office Commissioner
Lister has been the travelling political
agent and fence builder Of the governor.
He has had large sums Of money placed
at his disposal by the legislature for his
legitimate travelling expenses in the serv-
that much OF Listers time during the past
year or more has been directed to further
Ing the governors candidacy for renom-
nation. His visits to state institutions
were made the cover. as Is notorious. for
political errands. Here Populist leader
was to be cajoied into supporting the gov
ernor: there rebellions 'reformer" was
70 be punished and, II necessary, thrown
out of his position, because he differed
with the governor as to the latter's own
opinion Of himself.
Removals from office came fast during
the early days OF the Rogers-Sniyeiv-
Lister regime Experienced employees in
the penitentlary and other institutions
were removed to make way for the clam
oring placE hunters who surrounded tho
governor. wen the asvlurns were empfied
OF competent and experienced men and
those placed In charge Of them were over
run with applicants for positions. III
dorsed" by the board OF audit and cob
troll Gov Rogers personally passed on
the applicants for positions. even down
to the iaundresses and assistant at
tendants at the asylnms before they
were given the magic card Of the board
OF control
Good Men Resign.
Dr. Semple, the efficient superintendent
Of the Medical Lake asylum In 1897. re-
fused to suffer the appointment OF In
competents and resigned. He WAS sue
even hs could not stand the pressure
brought to bear on him by the board OF
control. He resigned from the position
after declaring In an interview Tint the
board OF control would not allow him to
use his own knowledge and discretion in
the selection OF his suhordlnates The
institution fell into a depiorable state.
When Pr. Lorkhart protested against the
Of the power conferred on the <uperiDten<
dent or the asylum. Col. Ridpath. n MEM
Der OF the board. took the matter up with
the governor. Rogers would hear moth
Ing even from Rtdpath. who was once a
factor In the Turner-Rogcrs machine
Then Col. Rldpath resigned after vigor-
ousiv condemning the autooratic conduct
OF the governor.
Al Steiiacoom many changes were made
among the employees In q few weeks after
the governors board of control got TO
work under his orders Men nocked TO
the asylum In twos and three. bearing
notes from the board 0f control which
read something like this:
"Piease give this man a positi IN.
Two more to follow
This was signed by the board or audit
and control. superintendent Goddard was
powerIess. lie simply submitted and In
a few weeks the home Of the unfortunate
insane at St@llacoom was reduced to
dire straits. IN which was bred one scan
DIAL after another. These have mot ceased
to this day.
Last spring Judge stallcup, OF Tacoma.
control because of his friendliaess for
Mayor Fawcett. the governors political
enemy He was succeeded by r. H.
Doherfy. Political protcge Of IAs.er. who
yoncheH for him 20 the governor, The
other members OF the board Ara j. N
Jordan. af Sesttie They are scarcely
more than hEur.haads, however The real
work Of the board has been done by
Rogers, Sniveiy and Lister
During the past six or eighf months the
board ~ control has used up every cent
Of the xc8 appropriated for incidental ana
travelling expenses, The fund WAS .x-
hansted in September ~ she 500. Mr.
Snlvegy. the governors main facsotuTn,
drew nearly s@a X was necessary for
him to travel about the state on 'suehtie
business while building ~ the goyef-
n0r's political fortunes and paving the
way for fha governors denomination
when Il last met the members ~ the