The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1902-03-21


again succeeds in being reelected the
political plot OF the state will be even
more complicated than it has been in
the past, and that is saying a good
deal. If Mr.. Campbell is defeated for
the mayorality of Tacoma it means
that S. A. Perkins is in the saddle,
but, if on the other hand, Mr.. Camp
bell is elected it means that Mr.. Per
kins will have to do a good deal more
scraping before he will hold the key
to the situation in Pierce county, and
yet, regardless of what the political
results may be in Tacoma, Mr. Per-
kins must be considered a strong fac
tor in the political affairs of Pierce
county, owing to the fact that he con-
trolls the policy of the two and only
daily papers published in Pierce
county.
Every election in the state of Wash
ington, whether municipal or other
wise, seems to have it's bearing either
directly or indirectly on the higher
political Offices of this state. That is
to say, Washington seems to have an
over-supply of would-be statesmen,
who imagine that they could fill con-
gressional seat just as it should be-
These statesmen" use the various Of
fees in the state only as stepping
stones, which will some day land them
in Congress, and for that reason ev-
cry election in the state is of peculiar
interest to some aspiring politician,
he believing that it will redown in
some way to his own success and per-
sonal agrandizement. The coming
election, therefore, in Tacoma will
have some bearing on the coming SEN
atOrial as we'll as congressional cleo
tions in this state. If Perkins wins
out it means that Hon. Francis w.
Cushman still has fighting show to
go to the next state convention with
Pierce county a unit for him, and
likewise if Perkins wins out it means
that Levi Ankeny, the Walla Walla
banker, who has so repeatedly aspired
to go to the United States senate, and
as repeatedly failed, will meet the
united opposition of Pierce county
when the naming of a United States
senator again comes around. Who Mr..
Perkins will throw his political
strength to is cOnundrum at present,
but it is absolutely certain that it wont
go to Mr.. Ankeny. The Tacoma cleo
tiOn will also have some slight bearing
on the reelection of Senator Foster
Though a Tacoma man, he will not
get very much strength, it is predict
ed, from Mr.. Perkins if he (Perkins)
should happen to get into the political
saddle of Pierce. county. There are
others in Tacoma much more accept
able to Mr.. Perkins than Senator Fos-
ter, and regardless of the outcome of
the next municipal election in Taco
ma, the Pie-maker predicts that Mr.
Foster will find trouble at home when
he aspires to succeed himself in 1905.
Speaking about the next senatorial
election reminds the Pie-maker that
the senatorial campaign has already
been opened and breastworks are be-
ing thrown up by each of the leading
aspirants for the coming senatorial
battle of ballots. Throughout East
ern Washington, and especially the
PalOuse country, the senatorial war is
raging f1ercely at present, and the
two generals that are leading the re-
spectiye armies are Levi Ankeny, the
railroad candidate, and Harold Pres.
ton, the anti-railroad candidate AL
ready Whitman county has taken the
lead in this fierce battle and the forces
of Ankeny and Preston are arrayed in
mortal combat against each other and
nervoUsly waiting for the command
to fire. The Ankeny forces have the
federal patronage at their backs, as
Senator Foster is allowing Mr. An
keny to name such persons for the
various postoffices and federal posi-
tions in that section of the state as
suits him best. The Preston forces
have the state administration at their
backs, and Governor Mcbride is Sc
lecting Office-holders from that Sec
tiOn with the view of Strengthening
Mr.. PrestOn's candidacy. To such an
extent is the governor pursuing this
course that he has served an ultima
tum on the wOuld-be state office-hold-
ers from King county that they need
not expect anything at all at his hands
for the positions at his disposal will
be given to persons in Eastern Wash
ingtOn in order that King county's
candidate may have a clean sweep for
the United States senate before the
legislature next January. With such
strong allies at their backs the two
senatorial aspirants are making prep
arations to wage the fiercest political
battle that has ever been fought in
the state.