The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-09-14
THOMPSON
IS OUT
As Attorney for Great
Northern Railroad.
/. c. GILMAN TAKES THE JOB
Thus Removing Him From List Of
Probable Democratic Candidates
for Governor.

Will H. Thompson, counsel and trl-
al lawyer for the Great Northern
Railway company at Seattle, is to be
superseded on October l by L. G. Gil
man. junior member of the law firm
of Preston. Carr & Gilman of Seattle,
says the Spokesman-Review. The
story of change in the legal depart
ment Of the Great Northern comes
from a source so authentic that its
reliability cannot be questioned, and
it has considerable bearing on the
future policies of the state.
Mr.. Gilman is a partner Of Harold
Preston, who was the candidate OF the
railroad commission forces for United
States senator before the Legislature
last winter. Mr.. Gilman is demo
crat, and he is believed to be the one
man whom the democratic faction, Of
which ex-senator George Turner is
the head, would prefer above all 9th
ers for the democratic gubernatorial
nomination. Mr.. Gilman never took
pronounced position Oh the railroad
question until last winter, when his
partner was defeated for the senate
through railroad influences. Then he
denounced the railroad lobby with
great bitterness. and declares tina,
the railroad influence should be re
moved from politics. He became a
pronounced advocate Of a railroad
commission. Now, however, it would
appear that Mr. Gilman is about to be
pIacated with fine legal appoint
ment from the Great Northern, and
should such appointment be made, is
will remove Mr.. Gilman from the lis
of gubernatorial possibilities.
Mr.. Thompson's Health Fails.
Mr. Thompson, who, according 20
rumor. is to be superseded by Mr.. Gil
man. has been failing in health for
two years. He is at Niagara Falls
n. Y. trying to regain it, but il can
be authoritativeIy stated that he has
resigned his position with the Great
Northern.
Mr.. Thompson was Confederate
soldier from Georgia during the civil
war. Following the war he and his
brother, Maurice Thompson, the noted
author. moved to Indiana, and Mr.
Thompson practised law al CraW-
louisville. Ind, for several years. It
was while a resident Of CraWfOrds-
vile that Maurice Thompson wrote
Alice of Old Vincennes,' "A Banker
for Bankersyille." and several other
novels which have given luster to his
fame.
Turner's Plan Fails.
If Mr.. Gilman is to be given a rail
road position. it will knock in he
head a cherished political plan of
Judge Turner's. When the sugges-
ton was first made that Judge Turner
run for governor. his friends cOun-
tered with the suggestion that Mr..
Gilman be nominated, and the Turner
ldCIlOu ever SlliCS DSIiI 4l1d IoCI L
ousIy "boosting' Mr.. Gilman's boom
A good many local democrats, who be
lieve that Senator Turner is the only
man who can defeat the republican
nominee, whoever he may be, will not
be disappointed at the news that Mr..
Gilman has eliminated himself.
If a change is made it will not af-
feet the status Of Judge NJ. ]. Gordon,
local counsel for the Great Northern.
Judge Gordon represents the road in
all cases which originates between
the Columbia river and the Montana
line, while Mr.. Thompson's territory
embraces all that portion Of the state
of Washington west Of the Columbia
river.