Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-01-21

d. J. Kalkwarf J. M. Comparet
e. Il. Lehman M. A. Carter
John Kanzler L. Heistuman
Henry Rosenoff J. W. Lansing
A. f. Rosenotf VIM. Snyder
G. H. Spalding J. d. Bassett
A. j. Webb O. H. Greene
s. M. Lee w. H. Martin
J. Il. Gaibreath VIM. Mckay
In reply we have the letter publish
ed below:
OLYMPIA, WASH Jan. 10, 1908.
e. D. Gibson, Az:
Dear Sir-Your telegram OF even
date reached me without delay. Per-
nit me to say that am on the ground
and l believe l am competent to judge
of the proper course to pursue. have
never been asked to join the anti
caucus, which you urge me to support
and which lie not designed to aid the
passage of railway commission, but
to help the candidacy of Harold Pres
ton or John L. Wilson for United
States senator, and is so announced
here. think l will be able to prove
at the proper time that my course
has been right and that you will have
no cause for reproach, and until such
time my friends will be acting as such
by Withholding judgment, or at least
not be too eager to give credence to
newspaper reports or information
from other sources designed to place
me in wrong light.
Yours faithfully,
@. w. BAssETT.
Mr.. Bassett was elected as O Nom.
Der OF the lower house OF the lcgisla-
ture upon the following declaration,
published broadcast over the county
few days prior to election:
II desire to brand as an absolute
falsehood the assertion in the Spokes-
man Review OF October oath that all
efforts to secure statement OF my
position in regard to railroad COM
mission have resulted in failure. !
have answered this in. number of
letters to inquirers and on every oc-
casion have expressed myself in favor
OF commission and have never evnd-
ed or refused to make a statement on
this point. e..
II stand squarely on the Republic
can State and County platform in re-
gard to a commission and shall do all
in my power to carry out the declara-
tions therein made. 49, -
II was among the first to favor
railway commission in this state, lorg
before the discussion OF recent months
began. challenge the Spokesman
Review or any newspaper .r individ-
ual in the State to point to "A single
instance where an effort to get an ex.
preston from me on the matter of q
railway commission has resulted in
failure. .....,.
II shall go to the legislature abso-
lutely unpledged on the senatorial
matter, and am unalterably opposed
to tying up the Legislature intermin-
ably in deadlock, and making the
enactment OF needed State laws sub
servient to the success OF any man
for United States Senator.
Respectfully and sincerely,
GEORGE w. BBssETT,
Republican nominee for the Legisla.
ture from Adams County"
The plank in the platform adopted
at the Republican county convention
held in Ritzville, August Both, per.
tanning to the commission reads as
follows:
ave earnestly endorse the policy OF
Governor Mcbride in his state admin
istration, and we are in favor OF the
passage Of q law establishing a rail
way commission, clothed with the
necessary power to fix, regulate and
control freight and passenger rates,
to prevent unjust determinations, and
to inquire into and remedy such
abuses as may be found to exist, said
commission to consist OF three men,
bers to be appointed by the governor,
not more than two OF such members
to be taken from the dominant politi-
cal party; and in support of such
measure we pledge the honest and
hearty efforts of legislative nominees.
ave are" also, in favor of the
passage Of law, in compliance with
our constitution, making it an offensc
punishable by fine or imprisonment
for anyone connected with any rail
road or other transportation company
to give, or offer to give, a free pass or
ticket to any public official, or to sell,
or offer to sell, to him q ticket or pass,
at discount other than as sold to
the public generally; and to the sup
port OF such measure we pledge the
honest and hearty efforts OF our legis-
lstive nominees"
The state platform adopted in Tacoma
Sept. 10, enunciated the same meas
| ure.
Mr.. Bassett egotistically hands it
back to the people OF Adams county
that he is master OF the situation nd
needs no advice from his constituency
at home. He does not view matters
as the trainers of our constitution,
that he is only appointed serva mt OF
the people to do their bidding, but
rather assumes a dictatori al attitude.
The gentleman who is evidently
laboring under some hidden influence
declines to join in Railway Com
mission Caucus, fearing that it may
assist the senatorial candidacy Of
Preston or Wilson, in other words
he will take no steps that may injure
the candidacy of Ankenv The most.