The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1904-10-14
A BUNCH FOR TURNER
n. b. Hunt Thinks the Eminent
Gentleman is False.
Wants TO Know About n Cer,.tn
Note Given by Mr.. Turner toa
Whitman Legislator.

Pullman, October IO.-Editor Gezette.
MIR. Turner has come and gone and
lett behind some sayings that | wonId
| like space in your paper To commant
| upon. He builded a very high and
grand pedestal of self esteem for himself
and endeavOred to make it 40 bright
that It would dazzle the eve OF the voter
thereby hoping its imperfections would
not be discovered
Mr.. Turner says that bis record il
clean. | would like to submit that there
ls an old Persian adage that, brought
down TO the present time, would read
something like this "He who toots his
own horn, blows at his own funeral"
whether this will hold good at this time
can be told when the votes are counted
| think it will
Now as to his past record. Not many
years ago Mr. Turner was a candidate
Tor the office of United States senator
and one OF the legislators from this
county stood alOOf and would not sup
port him Tor some time, but Just at the
Wlnd-up came around into line. This is
not singular, but when said legislator
returned home he had a note signed by
Mr.. Turner, and being hard 40 was
compelled to pledge it for security.
Thereby it passed into other hands and
suit was instituted for collection. | do
not say this note was given to the legis-
lator to influence his vote, but it looks
queer. Will Mr.. Turner explain?
lie says that any man who votes the
republican ticket is either a fool or an
idiot. | would like TO ask the gentleman
what the man is who will get up before
an intelligent audience and tell them
that II he ls elected governor he will
compel the Legislature" to pass rail-
way commission bill. Ia he not worse
than fool? Does he not know that he
cannot make that promise good; and
does he not know that everyone who
hears such statement knows that he is
telling wiful falsehOOd? What must
be the straits of man who will use
such rhOdOmOntade2 Does he think he
will gain votes thereby | think he will
lose them, and he certainly insults the
audience he is addressing.
Nor is this all. In his speech at
Pomeroy, az reported in the Spokesman
Review. which paper is supporting him
by every means, both honorable and
dishOnOrable, he says: "When | have
been elected governor | will recommend
to the legislature the passage of a rail
way commission bill and if the legislature
does not pass such bill, will send in a
recommendation about every other day,
and will use the political patronage
placed in the hands of the governor to
force the passage of that BILL" What
does this mean? Would he use the pub
lie trust to bribe and corrupt the legis-
lature? The man who buys votes with
money is beneath the notice of honorable
men; he has fallen very low in the scale
of American citizenship. What then
shall be said of the man who, having
been elected governOr-the highest office
within the gift OF the people OF the state
will then use the power thus placed in
his hands to corrupt the legislature2 Ii
he will do that, will he not also use it
for his own private ends to elect himself
United States senator, for example, or
put it up to the highest bidder that his
pockets may wax lat?
The only safeguard OF republic is the
honesty aud integrity of it's citizens. and
when man who is running for the Office
OF governor comes out openly and says
that if he is elected he will use all his
power, all his influence and all the
patronage the public has put in his
hands, for the purpose of bribing the
puDnc servants, lS lt not time Tor US TO
call a halt-tO look around and see
what we are coming to? 1t is an insult
to American citizenship that such a
thing should have been spoken. What
then, if it is advanced as a reason for
Mr.. Turner's election? Ia conclusion,
will simply ask the voters if they want
such a man for governor. | do not
imagine they do. Yours, n. 5. HUNT.