The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-14
NE CONTRIBUTED LARGELY TO-
WARD CARRYING WHATCOM
COUNTY PRIMARIES.
Escorted to All Kinds of Political
Methods to Down the Railroad
Commission Forces.


nal "Farrell' candidate for governor is
indicated in the most positive and re-
liable manner by the fact that j. D.
Farrell came to Bellingham on the eve
of the republican primaries last spring
TO contribute to the effort to control
those primaries in Mr.. Mead's interest,
and by the fact that he did contribute
materially to that end.
In the spring primary fight the con-
test in Whatcom county was between
the railroad commission faction of the
republican party and the railroad fac
ton Two years ago the fight was
waged on similar lines and the rail-
road forces controlled, leaving them in
full control of all the machinery of the
party for the campaign this year. The
commission forces contested with the
railroad forces for the control of the
city at the first municipal election af-
ter Whatcom and Fairhaven were con-
solidated in Bellingham, and the rail-
sion forces electing A. l.. Black the
sion forces electing \. l.. Blaock the
first mayor of the new city.
Mr. Blacks success in being the
first man to stand successfully against
the railroad forces for several years
gave him a great deal of prestige and
as the spring campaign approached
his friends urged him to permit the
use of his name as a candidate for
and the commission faction of the par
ty rallied strongly to his support.
Lobby Gets Busy.
The railroad leaders perceiving that
they must bring out a candidate of
resist the commission movement i'm
mediately sought a candidate for the
same honor. They called conference
which was held about April l in the
office of c. w. Howard, local attorney
for the Great Northern railroad and
attended by Mr.. Howard his law part
ner Il. G. Newman, H. A. Fairchild.
chairman of the republican county CEN
trail committee and recognized leader
of the railroad forces, Harry Thomas
and Ed Thomas, business manager and
editor respectively of the Bellingham
Reveille, a publication controlled by
the Great Northern interests, Repre-
sentative L. n. Griffin, T. w. Gillette
and E. w. Purdy.
At this conference. it was agreed to
bring out F.. F. Handschy, the present
county treasurer. as a candidate for
congress. and a committee was APP
pointed, Of which Mr.. Fairchild was
chairman, to see Mr.. Handschy and
urge him to make the race. But Mr..
Handschy, realizing that it would be
Impossible for Whatcom county to get
congressional nomination at the
hands of the railroad forces, declined
to consider the proposition.
Agreed On Mead.
Thereupon a second conference was
held and Mr.. Mead was agreed upon as
candidate. Mr.. Mead had served one
term in the Legislature and two terms
as prosecuting attorney and his course
and conduct in those offices left moth
ing to be desired by the railroad hench-
men. AS means of inducing Mr.. Mead
TO enter upon the very unpromising
campaign proposed. the railroad man.
ayers agreed that if he would permit
the use of his name. while its use was
essential. they would then make an eff
fort to give him the nomination for SUI
perior judge at the fall convention The
railroad forces had already brough,
northwest in the person of Frank H
Brownell of Everett. who was a favor
lite protege of the Hill interests, and the
Whatcom county railroad leaders rea
lied that there was no hope of Sc
curing congressional nomination TO,
their candidate from the railroad forces
AS congressional candidate Mr.
BLACK made his campaign as a repub.
iran on the republican state platform
OF 1902 which included the railroad
commission plank. Because he stood or
that issue and opposed the control OF
the party in the county solely in the
interest of the railroad lobby. Mr.
Eltck met the violent and bitter opposi
ton of the railroad leaders.
Used Coercion and Fraud.
In the primary fight misrepresenta
non, coercion. and the votes of narsons
not justly entitled to vote were usef
against him, and these it was that ac.
cvmplished his defeat and the endorse.
ment of Mr.. Mead by the county con.
Vention
j. D. Donovan. general manager o.
'he t. b. Il b. c. railroad and the Bel