The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1904-11-04
THB SAME OLD STORY
Fourteen Years Has Not Altered
Hon. George Turner.
Makes Combinations in Pierce With
the Rif-Rsff, just AS He Did
in Spokane In 1890.

TACOMA, Nov. 1.-The democrats con.
tidently assert that Mead will be de-
feated in Pierce by from 500 to 1900
votes. These claims are unreasonable,
but it is easily discernible that the dem
ocrats are putting up a harder fight in
this county than in any other county in
the state. hard fight does not nee
essarlly y mean success or anything ap-
preaching it, but in this particular case,
the democrats have following OF more
formidable proportions than they have
ever before lined up in the county.
This following has been massed by
main strength and money, there being
more OF the latter available than in any
former political fight ever made in the
county. This is due to the fact that
| Tacoma is the only city of prominence
In the northwest where gambling is per-
mitted
When rigid enforcement of the state
law closed gambling in Spokane, the
| knights OF the green cloth, with all their
retinue of buncO men, maquereaux,
| bouncers and other hangers-on, came
over to the coast. Then Mayor Bali
niger closed Seattle and a family row
over pool room privileges closed Port
| land.
Tacoma thus became the Mecca for all
of this riffraff of outlawry, and they
have focked here in swarms from east,
| north and south The city administra-
| tion is in the hands of the democrats,
and from all over reports that are in cir
culation, never before has vice been
| levied on 30 heavily for campaign funds.
Every thing from the slot machines to
the big faro games is now turning the
profits into the fund that is being used
to defeat Mead. Naturally all of the
vast horde of gamblers and other out
laws who are here are not in financial
| condition that will warrant them in con-
trlbutlng cash to the cause, but numeri-
| cally their strength is of proportions
| that cannot be regarded lightly, and the
small frv and hangers-on will be handled
and ytt by the sa,oonmen and boss
gamblers IN any manner that is agree
| able to the democrats.
The saIOOnmen and gamblers are
never strong enough to carry an election
without assistance from some OF the re-
spectacle elements of society, in fact are
frequently turned down when they have
such assistance. 1t is needful, however,
and in the fight for Turner the Jingle OF
the gamblers and liquor sellers gold
chimes harmOniOusly with the supplica-
tlons OF the Rev. L. ]. Eshelman and
other religious workers, who are out la.
boring for the Turner ticket.
large number of Tacoma business
men have organized business mans
club which started off with a member.
ship OF 800 and is expected to reach
1000 before election day. Their work
already has been so effective that some
conservative republicans estimate that
Mead has gained 1000 votes in the
county within the past ten days.
Another feature OF the situation which
ls causing the republicans some alarm ia
the fear that in the probable redistrict-
ing OF the state next year Pierce county's
apportionment will be made on the basis
OF her vote for governor. With such
contingency not only possible but ex-
tremely probable it is a very important
matter for Pierce that she should pile up
the largest Mead vote possible.
The democratic objection to Turner is
less pronounced in Pierce county than in
King, but there are a number of ultra
Bryan men as well as oid-line democrats
who will repudiate Turner on account OF
his variegated political career.
Turner's lieutenants are having some
difficulty in lining up the labor vote and
1T will not be so unanimous for the Spo-
kane millionaire as that of the gambling
and saloon fraternity. There is also
difficulty encountered in making the
members of the Lumberman's Associa.
tion believe that their salvation is de-
pendent on the election OF Turner.
Viewed in it's worst possible light, and
it seems hardly probable that Mead will
come out of Pierce with less than 1000
majority, and there is an excellent DOS
sibility that this figure may be doubled.
Evidently Mr.. Turner and his crowd
have not changed their ''associateso
during the past IA years as was sup
gested by the Spokesman. Review on
September Z. 1890. On that date the
Review published the following editorial:
Nothing short of years of private life
and better associates can restore the
shattered political fortunes OF George
Turner. He has volunteered fight that
has gained him nothing and lost him
all. 1t would have been well for his fu-
ture if he had hearkened to the counsel
of his friends"
On the previous day the Review spoke
of George Turner's political crookedness
in the following language:
The Turnerltes base their hopes at
today's primaries on the democratic
vote. OF course, no self respecting dem
ocrst would think OF voting under false
colors, but about the city can be found
several hundred OF the riff-raff, men who
are here today and away with the wind
tomorrow. These fellows can be bought
and it is their influence that Turner re-
lies upon."
At that time George Turner was sup
posed to be a republican and the Review
republican paper. The same man was
editor then who is now enlarging on "the
distinguished ability" of Turner in the
columns of the Spokesman Review.
| Writing on November 6, just after the
election, the editor of the Review said:
In this connection it seems proper to
review the circumstances which culmin-
ated in the defeat OF Tuesday. Prior to
the illstarred candidacy of George Tur-
ner the republican party was strong and
free from dissension. Turner was given
a fair show. He went before the party
and was beaten in free and honorable
manner. The Review at the time
pointed out that Mr.. Turner candi-
daey was largely supported by a CO.
terie OF rule or ruin politicians, men who
must crack the whip or drive their party
| to ruin. Time has verified that utter