The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-01-13
HE HAS DEFINITELY DECIDED TO
ENTER THE CAMPAIGN FOR
THE GoVERNoRshlP.
Il Is a Question Whether the Rail.
roads Are With the Sookane
Mans Candidacy.
TO BACK RIDPATH's FIGHT
K. A. Wells and E. c. Whitney VII

TO BACK RIDPATH's FIGHT
K. A. Wells and e. c. Whitney Will
Manage Campaign for Governor.
The campaign Of Colonel w. M. Rid
path for the governorship will be man.
aged by S. A. Wells and E. c. Whitney,
who represented the fourth represent
tative district in the legislature last
winter. says the Spokesman Review.
This fact. together with the further
fact that Colonel Ridpath has definite
ly decided to enter the race. became
known yesterday Colonel Ridpath
himself declined to talk politics. but
Mr.. Wells was more communicative.
4 reporter saw Mr.. Wells and asked
him this question:
Mr.. Wells, it is repaired that you
and Mr.. Whitney are to manage Col
onel Ridpath's campaign. Is that story
true?"
well, l wouldn't say that we are to
manage it," was the reply. but we ex-
pect to assist Colonel Ridoath. We
feel that Spokane is entitled to the
governorship. We also feel that Col
onel RiGpath IS the strongest man who
! can be brought into the fight to Sc
cure Spokane the recognition to which
she is entitled"
along what lines will Colonel Rid
paths campaign be fought Out?" was
asked
NATURALLY, the first thing will De &c
secure the Spokane county delegation
to the state convention" was the reply
and then TO follow the usual plan OF
making the best combinations possible
with delegations from other counties
i I believe that if Spokane county viii
stand behind Colonel RiGpath he viii
unquestionably receive the nominal
ton"
Are Railroads Behind It?
! It is not clear yet by any means
whether George II. Stevenson anc
other railroad politicians associated
with him are behind Colonel Ridpath's
| candidacy. 1t is claimed by many ir
a position to know that the anti-Mc-
| Pride leaders in the state have con-
cluded to leave the fight in Spokane tc
! United States Marshal Charles 3. Hop
| kins and Charles Sweeny. 1t is also
claimed that Mr.. Hopkins slate does
not have Colonel Ridpath's name on
| it.
Men who sought to know what they
are talking about say that Mr.. Hop
| kins' plans involve the sending of
| Mr.. Sweeny to the national cOnven-
ton, the nomination Of W. NJ. Shaw
for the state treasureship, and of r. d
Sanders to the lieutenant gOvernOrship
So far as Mr.. Sanders is concerned
Mr.. Hopkins is not warmly supporting
him, but he will offer no opposition, il
is claimed, so long as Mr.. Sanders
candidacy does not interfere with his
other plans OF course if Mr.. Hop
kins is committed to Shaw and San
| ders or to either one of them. that
| means that he can't line up for Col
onel Ridpath, even if he wanted to
and nobody thinks he wants to.
On the other hand, Colonel Rid
| path is a close friend of Senator An
heny and of George Stevenson. II
| they fail to aid him it will probably
sever a friendship of many years
standing. If they have made other
plans for Spokane county, Colone
Ridpath's candidacy will embarrass
them exceedingly.
The railroad leaders, particularly
| Stevenson and his cohorts, neither like
nor trust Mr.. Hopkins at any stage OF
the game They realize, however, that
they must work in harmony with him
or concede Spokane county to Gov
| Mcbride without a struggle. There
fore. the problem confronting them is:
Shall we throw down Colonel Rid
path, or shall we support him and
break with Hopkins, or can we force
Hopkins, through senatorial influence
to tie up with Ridpath and break witt
/ Shaw and Sanders?" It's a pleasant
lproblem.
Ridoath and Sanders.