The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-01-10
THE SILENT NAN TALKS
He Speaks Of the Peculiar Republican
Political Methods In Vogue.
HIGH PRICES FOR TURNCOATS
The City Government an Asylum for Ex- Demo.
crats-0ld Line Republicans Are Sore
Over This System Of Reward
and Openly Protest.

The appointments by the city council
on Monday night have occasioned much
comment, and as rule it has been in
anything but commentators strain.
Even the Silent Man has been induced
to open his mouth and in a quiet way
has unbosomed himself to a HERALD re-
porter. Once started, his customary
tacturn policy seemed to have utterly
disappeared, and words flowed through
his lips with freedom that indicated
his apparent unconcern in public mat
ters was only cloak to cover the smoul-
dering fires of outraged feelings.
81 have always been republican"
he said, "but occasionally my .fealty to
the party has been sorely tried and now
my disgust is SO great as to almost APP
proach nausea. l have watched the
trend of events very closely. l admire
a gallant foe in party politics, and be-
lieve in an open fight, and that the
spoils gained in victory should be given
to those most capable and deserving,
but the bushwhacking tactics pursued
in the past few years in this county give
me the same restless feeling that l ex-
perience from sickness of the stomach.
1t began four years ago, when the Rud-
kins and DR.. Hill were persuaded to
leave the democratic party, and virtual
ly stepped from its convention hall, into
the convention hall of the republicans
as delegates. On top of this DR.. Hill
was made chairman of the republican
county central committee, and then the
undetermined system OF PROSECUTING was
pushed with vigor. Every democrat
who had any little cause for feeling dis
gruntled was surrounded with republic
cans, flattered, cajoled and finally prom
ised party preferment if he would
flop. Heavy campaign assessments were
made, and whiskyand cigars were placed
where they would be the most effective,
and those who were addicted to these
vices had soft snap of it until they
were finally landed, and then the supply
suddenly fell off.
"In running over the list of those who
have shifted their political beds, some
very curious facts will be observed. AS
before stated, DR.. Hill was made chair
man of the republican county central
committee, with almost unlimited means
at his disposal. John Rudkin was made
city attorney, and then county attorney.
Frank Rudkin was elected superior
Judge. George s. Courier, for turning
tail on the populists, was sent as dele
gate to the various county conventions,
appointed secretary of one or two of
them, and given several minor jobs.
The PROSECUTING continued, and in the
November campaign John G. Boyle, j.
G. McCrimmon, f. F. Mulligan, H. F.
Marble and some others were captured
Boyle has been made city marshal, and
such efficient and satisfactory officers as
R. A. Grant and J. c. Liggett have been
turned down, although one of them is
now martyr to smallpox as result of
his faithful efforts on behalf of the city.
McCrimmon was elected justice OF the
peace, Mulligan night watch, and Mar
BILE city surveyor. o. A. Fechter was
one of those who changed four years ago.
1t was ON account of the financial ques-
ton. He was nominated for mayor on
the non-partisan ticket, and also nomi-
mated in the republican caucus, but when
the republicans found that he would
stand by the first nomination, a futile
effort was made to defeat him. These
things have made old line republicans
extremely weary, and while not looked
upon as an assertive man, feel like ex-
pressing myself upon this OCCASION