The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-08-07
GOVERNORS LETTER To THE WARDEN
Points Out That It Is the Duty Of KEGS to at Once Discharge
Employees at Prison

| SeI'IHS TIE SONeInHleHt III puDIIc CD
pacity. am surprised that men oc-
cupying the positions that they oc-
cupy should attempt such a fraud up
on the election list of this city and
this state. I am amazed at it."
! I am not convinced that these men
were actually guilty Of a crime against
the laws of the state; but even con-
ceding that there was no criminal in
tent upon their part, were they justi-
fed in attempting to claim a residence
in the city of Walla Walla in a pre-
cinct where they actually were not
living? The constitutional provision
that no one shall be deemed to have
gained or lost a residence by reason
of public employment, not only is
safeguard against repeating" in cleo
tions but it is a guaranty to a voter
that ne shall not lose his residence by
reason of accepting public service else
where. In this instance the men have
voluntarily abandoned their right of
residence in the places from which they
were appointed. They can gain res
idence at the place at which they are
employed and actually living, I do not
think can be gainsaid. The doctrine
that bodily residence in a place, coup
led with an intention to make such
place a home, will create a domicile
or residence, is generally recognized.
But here these men, while actually
bodily resident in their quarters at the
penitetiary, have sought to create
residence in a place apart from there,
and by methods that do not indicate
good faith.
They might have thought they had
| justification for doing as they did.
nevertheless their actions with regard
| to the election laws Of the state were
reckless and impudent, and showed
disposition to trifie with the provis-
| ions of the statutes. Such conduct
and such an attitude on the part of
men occupying the positions of grave
responsibility they do cannot be toll
Grated. If any class of men should
SHOW respect to the laws of the state
it is that class having authority over
persons who are punished for trans
gressions of the law.
Furthermore, had these men been so
firmly convinced of their right to vote
in Lewis precinct, it seems to me they
would have offered themselves at the
polls on election day and sought to cast
their ballots. Their failure to do so
indicates to me that there was I'M
certainty in their own minds as to
the recititude Of their course.
The subject is not one which requires
the passing of a legal opinion. Ev-
cry intelligent man ought to know
where he lives, and these men must
have known that they were not living
in Lewis precinct because on their oc-
casional night off they spent night
there When they abandoned their
right to vote in the places from which
they were appointed they abandoned
any claim to residence in the place
where they were actually living, and
sought to go into a different precinct,
the residents of that precinct naturally
resenting the act. They had a right to
resent it.
1t is a matter Of extreme regret to
me that this thing mas happened. 1
have always heard the men named
spoken of in the highest terms as men
and officers of the penitentiary. This
is particularly true of Messrs. Wood,
Scott and Donohue, whom you ap-
pointed on my recommendation. New
ertheless 1 feel that 1 cannot defend
their conduct. 1 am compelled to ad-
wise you that it is your duty to dismiss
from the service Of the state not only
these men, but every employe of the
institution who has sought to gain
voting residence in Walla Walla by no
more conclusive evidence of intent
than the mere hiring of a room in the
city and visiting it occasionally.
Very truly yours,
ALBERT E. MEAD,
Governor.
|