The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1904-10-28
A. B. MEAD T GAINING
George Turner's Vote in Whit.
man County Dwindles.
Promises by Democratic Guberna-
torial Nominee Not Con
sidered as Satisfactory.

+. w. Wright, staff correspondent
for the Portland Oregonian, has visited
| whitman county three times during the
past summer, as he has many other
counties in Washington. Mr.. Wright il
considered one of the best political
estimators on the Pacific coast and his
| representations have heretofore proven
very accurate. Writing to his paper
from Colfax under date of October 20,
Mr.. Wright gave his estimate of the
political situation in the following
language:
Colfax, Wash, Oct. Whitman
county may give small majority for
| Turner. The majority will be smaller a
week hence than it would be if the elec.
tion were held today, and there will be
steady shrinkage from now on until
| election.
This big county has always been a
| railroad commission stronghold. The
| bulk of the population is engaged in
| wheatgrowing and the McCroskeys.
| AndersOns and other democratic politi-
clans, who have grown rich in the bus.
| ness, have always professed to believe
| that a railroad commission would force
| the roads to haul their product to mar
ker at fraction of the present cost.
They have been so successful in their ad-
vOcacy of this belief that when the Ta-
coma convention proved such a dsap-
pointment to the east side republicans
they became self-appointed bellweathers
to lead the republican flock into the
democratic corral
For time they were in a fair way to
succeed. [ visited this part of the state
few days after the state convention
and the situation from republican
standpoint was alarming | came back
here again in September and found a
much better feeling, and now instead OF
their being an open revolt led by dissat-
istied republicans, it has become demo-
cratic move almost exclusively, and the
power OF the democrats is steadily wan
ing.
McCroskey q Tax Dodger.
great many factors have contributed
to this change OF sentiment. Mead has
made good impression wherever be
has appeared in the county, and large
number OF McBrides warmest support.
ers have wheeled into line and are doing
everything in their power to elect the
ticket. Over in the town of Garfield.
which is probably the strongest railroad
commission precinct in the county, Nc
CrOskey himself has hurt the cause. He
has valiantly fought the railroads be
cause rates were too high and the roads
did not pay a just proportion of their
taxes. Recently the people of Garfield
wished to add few acres to the GENE
terry, and as one of the famous McCros-
key farms adjOined the old cemetery, it
became necessary to purchase three
acres from him, although the land was
assessed at valuation of so per acre,
the best bargain the people of Garfield
could make was $4OO for the three
acres.
Another OF the McCroskey farms came
down to the city limits on the other side
of town and five acres were needed for a
site for a school, This was also so per
acre land on the assessment roll, but
$3.50 per acre was the lowest price at
which McCroskey could part with it, and
when the deal was concluded he plated
few more acres adjoining and sold them
Off-nOt at $40 per acre, but $3.50 and
5000 per acre.
These transactions disclosed that it
was the McCrOskey's as well as the rail-
roads that were lodging their taxes, and
even the commission men are disgusted
Will buCu
Begin to Understand Mead.
1t must not be inferred that the com
mission movement has run it's course on
this side of the mountains or that there
has been any lessening in the interest
shown in this fad. The daily gains in
strength that are now being registered
for Mead are not due to any disloyalty
to the commission scheme, but to the
fact that the people are beginning quite
properly to understand that Mead will
be in position to give them what they
desire and Turner will not, even we're he
so inclined.
MIR. Cosgrove of Pomeroy, has been en-
tightening the Whitman county voters
as we'll as those of his own county on
the Railroad Commission matter. If
there was one man more than another
east OF the Cascade Mountains who was
entitled to the nomination OF governor,
that man was Cosgrove of Pomeroy,
| and had he received the nomination
there would have been no question where
he stood on this burning question OF
Railroad Commission. But Cosgrove
| was turned down cold at the Tacoma
| convention. AS the charge has been re-
peatedly made that the convention was
absolutely COHITOlieu ny uu6 TdliFOdus,
the natural supposition is that Cosgrove
was turned down by the railroads be-
cause OF his strong commission ideas.
AS matter of fact, be was beaten out
of the nomination by Mcbride himself,
who, knowing that he himself was a
beaten man, refused 20 make way for
Cosgrove until it was too late and other
combinations had been effected.
Not Satisfied With Promises.
| The Whitman county voters, like
those OF Walla Walla, realize the hope
lessness of securing a railroad commits
| sioh by the election OF Turner, and this
of course helps Mead. They are not even
satisfied with Turner's promises regard
| ing the commission. On the west side OF
the mountains he has favored an cleo
tive commission, while the people here
will listen to nothing but an appointive
commission.
The republicans throughout Whitman
and number of other east side counties
are obliged to depend on the Spokane
Spokesman Review for the news OF the
day and the Review has been merciless
in it's fight against the republican candi
date This ia not the first time thif