The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-14
Done to Change Votes.


resume operations"
Done to Change Votes.
Absolute proof that this move on the
part of the company was made for the
purpose of influencing votes in the pri
mill, instead of closing down for an in
definite period opened up again four
days after the primaries had been held.
This fact is chronicled in the Reveilee
of May 3. in this language:
The B. b. l. mill will reopen it's
plant with a full crew in all depart
mentS tomorrow.
Additional evidence to the same eff
feet is contained in the fact that even
while the mill was closed down for
an ''indefinite' period for the purpose
of influencing votes in the primaries,
the company had chartered several
vessels to come to Bellingham to load
lumber yet to be sawed after the mill
resumed operations again. This is
proven again by news items in the Re-
veille of which the following are sam
pies.
The steamer Rainier left San Fran
cisco last Monday the second day af-
ter the primaries) and is expected to
arrive some time between now and
Saturday at the B. B. l. mill."-Re-
veille, May 5.
And again:
The ship Lucerine is expected at the
a South American vessel and it will be
her first visit to the bay. She is now
up Sound -Reveille, May 5.
Even before the mill closed down the
steamer Rainier had been chartered to
return there for a cargo of lumber
which was yet to be sawed after the
mill reopened after it's ''indefinite' po-
litical close-down. This is shown by
the following news item in the Reveille
Oh April q, three days before the pri-
maries and on the day after the mill
closed down. The item says:
The Rainier will make "a return trip
to the B. B. |. mill the last of next
week.
The commission leaders called the
attention of their workers to the an
nouncements of the coming of vessels
as indicating that the close-dow was
a cause of -four flushing" on the part
of Mr.. Donovan in Mr.. Mead's interests
but they We're without a newspaper or.
gan of general circulation and unable
to get the fact effectually before the
voters in general.
Donovan Speaks for Mead.
The B. B. l. mill was not the only one
which closed down for the purpose of
influencing the voters in the prima-
ries. No less than four other of the
leading mills of the county closed at
the same time. and in all some 1000 men
were thrown out of employment. AS a
means of impressing upon these idle
men that they would not be returned
to work unless the primaries were con-
ovan gave out an interview which was
published in the Reveille on May 20,
the day before the primaries in which
he said:
The result in next Saturdays pri
maries may mean more to this coun-
ty than a presidential election 1t may
prove better to have many miles of
road fairly taxed rather than rob and
ruin the few miles We already have
Governor McBride's ambition has
closed his eyes to Justice and to truth
His slogan is rule or ruin and it speaks
| i'll for our future policy if our people
endorse that policy. A vote for A. L..
Blacks candidacy is vote for Nc
Bride. \ McBride's victory means the
paralysis of railroad development for
years"
Again on the following day, the pri-
mary day. Mr.. Donovan in commune
cation to the ReVeille said:
The directors and officers of the B.
/ &. I. Co. and the B. 3. & B. c. r. r.
! c.. are citizens seeking to advance the
best interests of this county and they
are supporting Mr. Mead because he
has a good record and is not the tail
to the Mcbride kite Il Again |
repeat. vote for Black is a vote for
Mcbride and a slap at the railroad
builders.
/ With all the leading mills in the
county closed down and theo10O0 or
more idle men in Bellingham and men
| being paid wages for the day for vot-
ing the Mead ticket. with no require
ments of citizenship or registra ton re-
! quired in order to vote, it is easy to see
how the vote cast at the primaries eX