Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-10-10
MIR. MEAD'S RECORD
WHY CANDIDATE MEAD VOTED
FOR JOHN B. ALLEN.
According to the Tacoma Ledger he Snapped
Candidates for Craftsmanship. for Which
he Was Untitled. Democrats on Com.
mite Help Him Out.

Supporters 81 Mr., Mead point with
display of apparent pride to his record
in the Legislature of 1898 and the fact
that he voted in that legislature for John
B. Allen for United States senator.
Eleven years is rather long time to ex-
pect to remember political records, but
there are few things in connection with
the recorded acts of Mr.. Mead in that
legislature which need some little ex-
PLANTATION. One OF these is the statement,
published in the Tacoma Ledger, a
staunch republican paper, on Jan. II
that year, as follows:
Dissatisfaction is expressed at the
appointment of Mead of Whatcom as the
chairman of the ju liciary committee.
Mead came here as supposed Turner
man. 1t is understood that he was prom.
ised the craftsmanship by the Allen
forces on condition that he would sup.
port Hoole for the speakership. Mead's
app0intmet is considered on of the weak
est. and poorest that could have been
made"
This statement explains two things in
Mr.. Mead's record in the Legislature.
One is why he voted for John B. Allen
and the other is how it happened that a
man with no legislative experience was
given the Guardianship of 80 important
~ committee.
As chairman Of the judiciary COM
mittee Mr.. Mead was particularly for
tunate. He had as members of the
committee L. G. Gilman, Frank D. Nash
and John Leo, three of the ablest men in
the house, and three of the most active
members of that body. These three men
did much excellent work as members OF
the committee, and the credit Of this
work is now all being claimed for Mr..
Mead.
There is another act OF Mr.. Mead in
the legislature which needs some ex.
plai,ation and that is his vote against
the proposed anti-pass law. Two anti
pass bills were introduced in the house
This first one was bill number 1873 by
Smith of Douglas county. This bill was
referred TO the railroad committee which
committee reported it back recommend
| ing that it be Indefinitely postponed
The question required on motion tc
postpone the bill and Mr.. Mead voted tc
postpone. The vote is recorded ON page
425 Of the house joural.
The motion to postpone the bill having
failed another method OF killing it wal
found and it was referred to the judiciary
committee OF which Mr.. Mead was chair
man. Thereafter it Was never heart
from, being permitted to sleep the sleel
of death.
AS the session progressed the fact tha
Mr.. Mead's committee had not reported
the anti-pass bill became subject oil jes
among the members. Later in the ses
sion second anti-pass bill was intro
duced and referred to the railroad com
mittee. Making jest of the measure
the railroad committee reported on thu
second bill recommending that cit take
the course of its revered prototype" an(
be referred to the judiciary committee
The record of this action is to be found
on page 63l of the house journal. The
bill was so referred and it also slep
through the session undisturbed by any
display on the part OF Mr.. Mead OF de
sire to recommend the passage OF legisla
ton dispensing to the railroad interests