The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1902-09-19
This T THE RESULT
Nominated Cushman, Jones and
Humphrey for Congress.
Hiram e. HadIey for Judge of su.
preme Court-Adopted Com
mission Plank.

hllsslOnj temporary chairman.
2-Elected }. Ii. Powell Commission
permanent chairman.
3-Sent congratulatory telegram to
President Roosevelt, pledging him the
good will OF this state in 1904.
4-Nominated Hiram E. HadIey of
Whatcom for Judge of the supreme
court.
5-Listened to campaign speeches
from each OF the successful and defeated
congressional candidates.
6-Adopted a platform containing a
plank favoring railway commission to
be appointed by the governor.
I-Nomlnated Cushman, Jones and
Humphrey by acclamation for members
of congress
S-Appolnted new state central com
mlttee, which organized and appointed
Ellis Morrison of Seattle chairman.
The record OF the republican state con-
VentiOn shows that it can no longer be
asserted that it is utterly impossible for
hlng and Pierce counties to pull to-
gether in the same harness.
During the caucussing previous to the
assembling OF the convention Cushmau
narrowly escaped being swallowed by a
combine. During the convention Gov
ernor Mcbride and his railway commits
sion policy narrowly escaped being
wrecked. Both finally came out victor
lous. Whether Cushman saved Mcbride
or Mcbride saved Cushman will be a
matter upon which there will be differ
ence of opinion for some time to come.
For the saving OF his political life Mr..
Cushman, in the Pierce county caucus.
tn hn
delegation and particularly to Governor
Mcbride and his friends. In the conven-
tiOn, on the other hand, when the rail-
way commission forces were in danger it
ls clear that the friends of Cushmsn
saved the day. The final test vote
stood: For an elective commission,
272h; for an appOintive commission,
290h a majority OF 26 for the gov
ernor's forces. On this final test vote
Pierce county voted 81 for an appointive
and 1S for an elective commission. OF
the delegates voting Cushman person
ally named "a. The county convention
squarely voted down an appOintive CON-
mission proposition and went on record
as favOring ali elective commission.
Though that vas the sentiment of the
county convention, it's disregard in the
state convention clearly saved the day
Tor the Mcbride forces. King county's
vote was almost equally split. Out of
the Spokane delegation the railway
forces gained IA votes against instruc-
tions. Mr.. Ankeny held WalIa Walla
sOlidly in line against a railway COM
mission with 81 votes.
Interest in the closing hours of the
convention naturally centered in the dis
cussiOn on the railroad commission
plank, which was fought out on the floor
with unremitting zeal until the decisive
vote was reached at IL O'Clock at night.
The public interest was intense, specta-
tors filling every seat, and standing
room space being at a premium, while
the delegates and visitors vented their
prediction with thunderous applause
whenever telling point or cogent rea-
son was urged on either side. SO intense
was feeling wrought up at times that
Chairman Powell found some difficulty
IN maintaining order, and he was fire.
quently compelled to admOnish the dele
gates against ObstreperOus demOnstra-
tiOns and personal retorts. Mr.. Powell
made an admirable chairman, his decis-
ions and his manner of stating ques-
tiOns being clear and decisive; but he
was not always able to prevent dia-
logues and verbal passages at arms be-
tween the cOntending delegates, and
therein the auditors found huge enjoy-
ment.
For hours the fate of the plank so
coveted by one side and so obnoxious to
the other hung in the balance. Each
faction was apparently able to muster
oh o+r -
kept the shrewdest politicians guessing
which way the scale would drop when
ballot was reached. 1t was one of the
gamest Oratorical combats fought in
republican state convention since 1894.
During the Debate.
During Thompson's speech he used
one of the aptest illustrations heard in
the debate. In speaking OF the growth
of railroads and what might be termed
the isothermal line of energy in the
United States he pictured in graphic
words belt OF land 200 miles wide ex-
tending west from New York to Chicago,
thence northwest to st. Paul and on
westward to the coast, embracing in it's
western terminus the cities OF Tacoma,
Portland and Seattle. Within this belt,
he said, was embraced nine-tenths Of the
enterprise, energy and wealth OF the
country. ut is" he said, "the gulf
stream in the sea OF population. 1t is
flowing this way and piling up its waters
in the state OF Washington"
Beverly W. Coiner OF Lewis county
made one of the most telling arguments
for a commission thet was presented.
Coiner shook his blonde locks in his
leOnine way and hurled facts and figures
at the opposition with appalling rapid
ity He pointed out that thirty-two
states now have railway commissions,
twenty OF these being republican, and
he challenged the statement OF Plummer
OF Spokane that the commission is
populistic measure. Coiner favored an
elective commission personally, but as
an emergency exists he wanted the gov
ernor to be allowed to name the COM
mission until the general election two
years from now.
jim. Frink of Seattle, the defeated
candidate for governor two years ago,
was given an ovation when he arose TO
speak. He took issue with Mayor
Humes and among other reasons for
favoring a commission declared he be-
lieyed it would eliminate the railroad