Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-09-01

ANKENY METHODS
DESCRIBED IN THE
COLFAx CoMMONER.
While Published in a Whitman County Paper
it is Fair Description Of Ankeny Meth.
DDS as Applied in ChehaIis County. will
Republicans Stand for II?

NCpuDUCdUS StdUu IOT W.
| Ever since Levi Ankeny entered the
race for the United States senate he has
relied on his wealth to secure the prize.
The sentiment in favor OF his election
was not spontaneous, but has been manu-.
featured. His money has been used not
only to secure votes in the legislature,
but to carry primaries and control nomi-
nations. The Commoner does not mean
to say that Mr.. Ankeny himself has ever
offered a bride, but it is an open secret
that his campaigns have been managed
by men who do not hesitate to use
money in order to influence votes. Mr..
Ankeny's strength is not due to personal
popularity, it is not due to admiration OF
his ability, it is simply a result of the
liberal use Of his ample fortune. Had
he been poor man his name would
never have been mentioned in connection
with the Office to which he aspires. He
does not stand for any particular policy
or principle which would tend to make
him strong with the people. He is not
public speaker, he is not even skillful
politician. He is simply wealthy
banker with such strong laundering for
this Office that he is willing to spend a
good deal of money to land it.
There has never been any pronounced
sentiment among the republicans OF
Whitman county for his election. They
have hitherto regarded his ambition
with friendly tolerance. because he was
a pioneer, a good story teller and a
pleasant companion, and up to the last
session of the legislature had not openly
opposed their interests.
But two years ago, when the farmers
OF Whitman county were struggling to
secure railroad commission, Mr.. Ankeny
arrayed himself on the side OF the rail-
road lobby and fought against them. He
has not changed his position since that
time, but is today bitterly opposing the
railroad policy of Governor Mcbride, and
has placed the management of his sena-
torial campaign in the hands OF railroad
attorneys. It is bnt natural then, that
the republicans of this county should
not view with favor his candidacy, and
that when he wanted to secure the nomi-
nation Of candidates for the legislature
who would support him, he was obliged
to fall back upon the use of his sack to
manufacture an Ankeny sentiment.
For weeks before the republican pri
maries his emissaries were busy travel
ing over the country, stirring up discord
among his opponents and organizing his
forces. On the day of the primaries the
Ankeny sack was plainly in evidence.
Enough votes were purchased in Colfax
to elect all the Ankeny delegates, except
one, in all three wards and money is
said to have been used freely in other
parts of the county. AS a result, the
convention was absolutely controlled by
his friends and agents, and they selected
the candidates for the legislature. 1t is
true that the convention adopted reso-
luton, opposing his attitude on the rail-
road question, but it passed by the
sufferance of his lieutenants, and not be.
cause they did not have enough votes to
defeat it. Having nominated Ankeny
candidates for the legislature, they were
willing to adopt any kind OF platform
which would tend to help elect those
candidates.
The candidates do not dare to deny
that they will vote for Mr.. Ankeny for
senator, and yet they do not dare to
frankly declare that they will support
him. Why? Because they know that he
has such small following in this county,
that even his sack cannot avail to elect
a candidate to the legislature who ad-
mits that he is an Ankeny man.
Again The Commoner asks them the
question. If elected, will you abide by
the Ettinger resolution, instructing you
not to support any man for United States
senator who is opposed to Governor Nc
Brides railroad policy, or will you vote
for Levi Ankeny, who is avowedly
opposed to railroad commission?