The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-12
COMMISSION COMES FIRST
DEMOCRATS ENDORSE TWO RE-
PUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN
MEAC'S COUNTY.
Action Is Greatly In Contrast to hat
Taken by Mead and His
Party.

EELLINGHAM, Wash. oct. T.
tSpeciaD-Tke action of Judge George
Turner and his compaign managers In
the legislative contest in the 41st SEN
atorial district in this county demon
strates beyond question that they
place the railroad commission cause
far above any thought of party success
or any thought of electing Judge Tur-
ncr to the United States senate. In
that district there are two republican
tickets in the field, the Mead-railroad
faction of the party supporting the
ticket headed by T. y. Hunter for
state senator and the railroad commits
sion faction supporting the ticket that
is headed by Fenton Merrill.
The republican forces being cIoven
from top to bottom by the fractional
fight an excellent opportunity was Of
fered for the democrats to nominate
and elect a full democratic ticket.
Three democratic legislators would
have been three votes for Judge Tur
ner for United States senator provided
he were a candidate.
But the democratic state managers
realized that for the railroad commits
sion forces to divide their strength
between two tickets in the district
would leave open a chance for the rail
road ticket to win. SO J. w. Goodwin
Of Seattle, chairman of the democratic
state central committee came here
from Seattle to urge the democrats to
endorse the republican commission
ticket and thus make positively sure
of the election of three members who
are in sympathy With Judge Turner
on his railroad policy, regardless of
their party affiliations. The democrats
here We're rather reluctant to do this.
but when it was pointed out to them
that the present campaign is one for
principle and not for the spoilS of of
iit', iIi'N zen llio TIE Iltct ana dttol u
ingly endorsed the railroad commis-
sion nominees
The action of Judge Turner and his
managers in the fight is in striking
contrast with that of \. f.. Mead and
his political advisors. While Judge
Turner and his state committee are
doing all in their power to aid in the
less of politics. Mr.. Mead's political
sponsors and his campaign committee
are doing all in their power to contrib
ute to the election of the railroad nom
inees regardless of the fact that the
nominees of both factions are repubi-
cans
Local supporters of the Merrill ticket
are anXiously waiting to see what
attitude Mr.. Mead will take PERSONAL
ly with reference to the fractional con-
test. Mr.. Hunter was d member of Mr..
Mead's steering committee at Tacoma
and Mr.. Mead is under obligations to
support him as against Mr.. Merrill
But on the other hand should Mr.
Mead come out against Mr. Merrill and
the rest of the railroad commission
nominees it would cost him thousands
sion republicans in other portions of
the state. ~e sz'-~'r H--A.sr-
men are not openly opposing Mr.
Mead But should the local republican
organization. and the local campaign
committee of which Harry Fairchild
Is chairman, come out openly in the
support of Mr.. Hunter. they would &C
cept it as the action of the guberna-
torial candidate and feel compelled
retaliate by refusing to support Mr..
Mead
Whatcom county is normally republic
can by over 2000 majority and political
leaders claim that Roosevelt will carry
II this year by from $500 to $500. 1t is
quite generally admitted that Mr..
Mead will run from 500 to 1900 behind
his ticket. and this detection will be
even greater if he falls into the tao
teal error of taking hand in the To-
cal fractional fight.