The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-05-26

he managed a successful campaigns
1t was at the last session that
stevenson reached the zenith of his
power He held the state senate abso
lutely in the hollow of his hand. He
not only elected Ankeny, but he dictat
ed every measure which was passed or
killed He ordered the defeat Of the
foreign banking bill, and it was de-
feated; in a moment Of pique and
spleen he commanded that the anti
gambling bill be passed, and it was
passed. Men who had taken gamblers
money to vote against the bill, voted
for it when Stevenson issued his fiat.
His O. K was absolutely necessary be-
fore any measure, great or small, could
pass the senate, and his command that
a bill be beaten was final.
Back Broken by Farrell.
In the closing days of the session it
began to be whispered that ]. d. Far
rel, the personal representative of Jas.
J. Hill, had determined to break the
power of Stevenson. Hill was then
in control Of both the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific roads, and Stew
ensOn was in the employ Of both. Why
Farrell determined to slaughter him
nobody knows, but those familiar with
tn situation believe that it was because
Stevenson was primarily represent
ative of the Hartman interests, though
he was the agent likewise of the Hill
interests.
The breaking process was swift and
sure. Stevenson had promised that
Senator j. J. Smith of King county
should be nominated for governor. The
enson controlled. were cOgnizant of the
promise, and We're pleased over it, be-
cause Smith was one of their number.
Farrell waited until two months before
the state convention. and ordered Sen
ator Smith to withdraw, telling him
that the railroads would not support
him. Smith baked at first, but finally
he was bulldozed out Of the fight. Then
it became apparent that a new hand
was at the helm-that the power of
Stevenson to select a railroad candi
date was gone.
w W n
six weeks before the state convention
he resigned from the employ of the
Great Northern and the Northern Pa
cifc. retaining only his connection with
the O. r. & N.-the Hartman road.
But he didn't stop fighting. He raj
lied the holdover senators, of whom DR..
Smith was one, to his support, and at
the state convention they Iabored with
might and main to force the nominal
ton of Baker also a holdover, for gov
ernor-and they failed. The master
hand of Farrell controlled, and Mead
was named. Stevenson was able to rail-
ly only a handful of votes.
Always "Produced Results"
When Stevenson's political epitaph
is written it should be in these words:
Here rests a man who always pro-
duced results Whatever the cause of
Mr.. F'arrelIS determination to break
SteVenSOn'S back, he can not say that
Stevenson did not at all times protect
the interests of the railroads. 1t was
true that he sought to build up a per
sonaI machine which should in a sense
be independent Of the railroads; but
always he saw to it that no Iegisla-
ton of any sort or description aimed
at the railroads was allowed to become
a law.
StevensOn's real weakness was his
unwillingness to remain a lobbyist.
He sought to become a political boss
a man who should hold the destinies
of the state in his hand His organi-
cation of the last senate was so COM
plete and thorough that it is altogether
probable that Mr.. Farrell became fear
full of him. and determined to break
him before he should become too pow
arful