The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-12-30
pol ITicIANS THINK M'BRiDE
HAS EFFECTED COMBINE
WITH SPOKANE MAN.
Foster Men Are Confident That Ia
coma Senator Holds the Key
to Entire Situation.


latest developments in the senatorial
situation is the announcement from
OLYMPIA that Governor Henry Nc
Bride has entered the lists and Will
be something more than receptive
candidate for the toga now worn by
Senator Foster 1t is reported that the
friends of the governor have secured
a suite of rooms in one of the promi-
nent buildings at the capital. and in
addition thereto a residence for the
accommodation of legislators and
their fomilies.
Positive announcement of the can
didacy of the governor for the United
States senate has not yet been made,
but it is understood that it will be
made at the proper time.
No person at ali familiar with the
situation believes for moment that
Governor Mcbride is going to throw
himself heart and soul into the sena-
torial fight expecting to win. The ul-
terror motive responsible for the sud-
den determination of Governor Nc
Bride to intrude on the battlefield is,
it is believed, merely move on the
part of the governor to aid Sweeny.
Governors Sympathies With Sweeny.
1t is we'll known that of all the
candidates in the field at the present
time Governor McBride's sympathies
are with Mr.. Sweeny. He has fire.
quently indicated that he Is interested
in the candidacy of the Spokane man,
and it is quite probable that the two
have joined forces and effected a
combination whereby the one will sup
port the other should it ever come
to a showdown. Governor Mcbride
still has a small following of rail-
way commission men and he is rely
ing on the support of that element
in the event of his name being pre-
scented to the legislature in the fight.
On the other hand, Sweeny Is
claiming the support of the railway
commission men, and on the occasion
of his recent visit to the coast counties
he did some quiet missionary work
among the lumbermen.
Believe Combination Is In Effect.
That combination has ben effected
between the governor and Sweeny is
taken for granted among local poll
ticians. The two men were in Tacoma
at the same time and both were reg
istered at the Donnelly hotel, although
the name of the governor did not ap-
pear on the register. Mr.. Sweeny
stated that the visit of himself and
the governor to Tacoma at the same
time was purely a coincidence, and
the governor, who was accompanied by
Major ]. Howard Watson, his pri-
vate secretary, was not interviewed
on the subject.
That Governor Mcbride has al
ways been a receptive candidate for
senatorial honors has been common
gossip ever since the defeat Of the
railway commission forces in the last
state convention, which carried down
the governor and his entire following.
Within an hour after the combination
had been effected that made impossi-
BILE the nomination of Governor Nc
Bride, the probability of his figuring
in the senatorial fight as an active
candidate was freely discussed and
found sympathy among his support
ers. That the governor and his friends
are interested in the passage of GER
tain legislation at the coming session
of the Legislature is well known and
it is probable in the legislature will
be used as a club to obtain what
they desire.
Fosters Friends Not Worrying.
The friends of Senator Foster are
not worrying over the Mcbride can
didacy, and the probability of his hav-
ing Joined forces with Sweeny is not
considered a matter of great momen,
to the Foster supporters. That Sena-
tor Foster already holds the key tc
the entire senatorial situation is con-
coded. With nearly fifty votes al
ready pledged there is no combination
possible that could beat him. unless
perchance, every other candidate for
the coveted position combined to de-
feat the Pierce county candidate
which is not within the range OF
probability.
Six years ago. with hardly a frac-
ton of the following that is now as
sured him. Senator Foster was elected
and on this occasion he goes before
the legislature with the largest fol-
lowing in a large field and the recorJ
of six-year term that has been pro-
ductive of great good to the common
wealth behind him, as well as inf7uen.
ual committee assignments that