The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-01-20
STORY COMES FROM OLYMPIA
THAT he MAY ENTER sENA.
ToRiAL RACE.
Explanation Of the Way the Waila
Waila Delegation Is Voting
at Olympia.

| 1t has been matter of much specu-
lation among the politicians of Wal
la Walla, and a considerable number
more who are not politicians and who
do not understand the game as it is
played, why the Walla Walla lelega-
ton in the state legislature are voting
for Sweeny for senator. Many have
believed that Ankeny and Sweeny had
entered into a combine that would
land Sweeny into Fosters shoes and
get him out of the way so that the
walla Walla senator might have a
clear field in 1909 so far as an east
side candidate was concerned. This
was to some very plausible explana-
ton, but to those who follow closely
in the trend of political movements
in the state of Washington, that kind
of dope" would not go. Some Wal
la Walla people asserted that there
was BLACK man" hiding somewhere
in the wooipile, and that B. D.
Croker, who votes in Walla Walla,
but works for Uncle Sam at Tacoma,
might bear watching. AS proof Of the
assertion made by the Walla Wallans
is the following story that comes
from the Tacoma News correspond
ent at Olympia: 2 s#t
"B. D. Croker, according to story
current today. is to be brought for
ward as a, lark horse in the sena-
torial fight.
Should Sweeny get the entire east
side-democratic votes included-as
it now seems probable ne will, he will
still be more tnan a dozen votes short
of election. None of the delegates of
King county can go to him, as they
are being more firmly bound to. Piles
with each succeeding day.
Aside from the fact that the Pierce
county men are pledged so that they
political and personal honor, there Is
no disposition in that delegation to
forsake him. Nor do the Foster men
of the northwest, eyince any desire to
aid Bweeny. The Wilson men OF the
same section do not particularly like
the Spokane candidate. Further.
Sweeny is not in a position to make
candidates now in the fight nor any
that may in the future be announced.
Should he do so he must concede the
election four years hence to some
west side man. This is the only basis
for a trade. But that would elimin-
ate Ankeny and the southeast will not
contemplate that. In fact, Sweeny
support for Ankeny, is the considera-
ton for the alliance with the south
east. So the highest possible Sweeny
strength can not be much greater than
IS votes. 1t can scarcely. get to that
figure. From this showing it does
not appear that the east side can
elect its man.
"The west side has never found
common meeting ground Remember
ing the jealousies that have and do
now exist, it is not probable that any
friendly understanding can be
reached.
Chance for q Dark Horse.
I'm the event Of the east side re-
manning intact and not going to Fos-
ter in such numbers as to insure his
election, the only possibility is the Sc
lection of dark horse
THE east side is not favorable to
a railroad man or to any King county
resident. King county promises are
not trusted east of the mountains,
because King county is known to be-
VIGOROUSLY treacherous. Nor can all
the east side men be delivered to Fos-
ter. as there are members of the
southeast who would protest.
Senator George Baker believes
that his defeat for the nomination
for governor last May was due to Fos-
ter interests. He can break the
southeast agreement. For, while that
agreement reads that all the MEM
bers Of the combine must abide the
caucus, yet it also provides a way
of escape. 1t contains clause that
permits any one of the delegates in
the organization to state in the eau
Gus his grievance against the eau
Gus nominee and if the grievance be
sustained by the caucus, the legisla-
tor is to be released from his promise.
Baker would be sure to state his COM
plant against Foster and the entire
east side would be broken in a, num-
Der of other places.
Croker Geographically Handicapped.
But, although the east side can