Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-07-13
ANKENY METHODS
DISCUSSED By EX-GOVERNOR
MILES c. MOORE.
The Ex-Governor Finally Replies to Some Of
the Attacks Of Ankenys Hired Men. Calls
the Last Session Of the Legislature "a
Carnival Of Corruption"

Carnival Of Corruption"
Replying to personal attacks upon him.
Ex-Governor Miles G. Moore published a
long letter in Senator Ankeny's paper,
addressed to the editor. He said in
part:
''For some weeks past, your paper hes
been filled with articles regarding me, so
abusive, so full Ct utilization and venom,
that a stranger reading them would sup
pose that the incarnation OF evil had
selected Walla Walla as place of abode,
and that his name was Miles G.. Moore.
What your motive may be, can only
conjecture. Possibly my offense is daring
to have opinions at variance with these
OF your bosses. Possibly you hope to
make of me frightful example of those
who do not worship at their shrine, or
perhaps you hope by this senseless fusil-
AIDE to distract attention from the real
question at issue in this campaign,
namely the weakness and seivility, to
use no harsher terms, OF your candidate
for mayor.
"Whatever your motive or whatever
your opinion may be, is of little conse-
Quence, either to me or to the public,
but inasmuch as you are presumed to re-
feet the sentiment Of your employer, a
person Of more Importance in political
and financial circles, your structures seem
to call for reply. This must he my
utterances of newspaper so VIGOROUSLY
unfair, and with so imperfect ccncep.
ton of the duties, the dignity and de-
cencies OF journalism.
"By way of preface, let me say that l
have been a resident of Wa!la Walla for
forty years. came here as boy. Her
people are my people. Il am bone OF her
bone and flesh of her fesh.' have seen
her children grow to manhood, and their
parents grow old. The record is made
up and there is little you can tell her
people they do not already know. If
during all these years there has been any
thing in my dealings with my fellowmen
that is dishonorable-if you can find one
among them whom l have wronged, you
have my permission to publish his story
in bold typo and under glazing head
lines.
"My political record does not seem to
please you. This also is matter that
gives me little concern. l was fighting
the battles OF the republican party in this
county before you had dazzled the world
by your entrance into it, and while his
most intimate friends were still guessing
what were the politics OF the present
proprietor of your paper. The republican
party had no rewards to bestow in those
days and he was stranger in primaries
and conventions. He eschewed politics
utterly and devoted himself exclusively
to the acquisition OF that wealth which
he found so useful in later life in further
ing his ill-advised ambition. His life
has been devoted to commercial pursuits
and the commercial idea entered into his
politics. He seemed totally oblivious to
the fact that political preferment, like
wealth, is only honorable as it is honor
ably attained.
"Since he 'butted in to politics ten
years ago. his money bags have stood in
the path of every aspiring young man in
Southeastern Washington, barring the
way to political advancement. Everv-
thing had to give way to his selfish am
bition. Even SO good man as Judge
Anders was opposed by his henchmen
for denomination, because he had once
resided in Walla Wala and his selection
for the position Of supreme Judge would
lessen the chances of their candidate for
the senatorshp. No man, however
worthy or popular, could have public
position in Walla Walla county, no mat
ter how insignificant, without abject
surrender to the machine.
"Among many other crimes and mis-.
demeanors, you have charged me with
being dark horse 1t is this crime
that seems to arouse your ire, and your
excuse for continued villification. That
was not very 'obscure equine was
shown by an interview published
throughout the state year ago. In this
interview you will perhaps remember
that said that nothing would please me
more than to be senator from the state of
Washington, provided l could feel | was
the choice OF the people, but if the seat
was to be sold to the highest bidder,
would not be present at the bidding. l
was not present at the bidding, nor did
even start, as you have somewhere as
serted. Ii there was any crime in this
you are at liberty to make the most
OF it.
CONSTITUTED as your mind is, you can.
not probably understand that there are