The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-14
SENATOR ANKENY EXPRESSES
HIMSELF ON EDITOR LOR-
TOMS STATEMENT.
Expresses Confidence in Croker,
Stevenson and Baker-He Says
Editor Was Alone Responsible

cemDer IL, the Observation-Disclosures prints
the following special dispatch from
Walter E. Clark, it's special CORE
spondent at the national capital:
Every mail during the last two or
| three days has brought to Senator An
keny and to A. F. Slater, his secre-
tary, many newspaper clippings and in
formation in other forms in regard to
the situation caused by the dismissal
Of Eugene Lorton as managing editor
of the Walla Walla Union
| zSeveral copies of Mr.. LOTIONS SEN
sational statement involving Senator
Ankeny, his private secretary and the
Ankeny leaders. George H. Baker, B.
D. Croker and George Stevenson,
clipped from newspapers or conspicu-
| ously marked in the newspapers
! themselves, nave appeared in Mr. An
keny's mail.
| If the senator and his secretary are
seriously disturbed over the situation
/ precipitated by Mr.. LOTIONS state
ment, the fact does not appear on the
surface.
| While disinclined to make any for
NAL statement in reply to the Lorton
communication, Senator Ankeny freely
answered questions in regard to the
episode in conversation with your
correspondent this morning. Mr. An
keny was seated in his committee
room at the capitol
Does Not Doubt Loyalty.
Mr.. LOTIONS assertion that the sem
ior Washington senator is owned, body
Croker and Stevenson and that they
stand ready to sacrifice him at any mo-
ment when it may serve their own adj
vantage to do so, seemed to amuse Mr.
Ankeny.
You may say said the SENATOR
with wave of the hand, that there
is nothing in this incident to change
my relations with Mr. Baker and Mr.
Croker and Mr.. Stevenson. Nothing
has happened to cause any change, and
1 do not doubt their loyalty.
IF Mr.. LOrton knew of so much rot
| silent so long?'
Senator Ankeny protested, however,
that it was a waste of time to go into
full discussion of the allegations
made by Mr.. Lorton, and repeated
that he did not wish to give any for
NAL interview for publication, except
to express his continued confidence in
/ his friends, Baker, Croker and Steven
| son.
Mr.. Lorton says the publications
leading to the libel suit threatened by
Councilman Glasford We're approved in
advance by the Ankeny workers., it
was suggested to the senator
THAT is not so,'' was Mr.. Ankeny's
brief reply. 1.-THE managing editor
was alone responsible. 1t was not a
good piece Of work. There was no ex-
cuse for attacking a respectable man
| in that way"
| Confidence in Slater.
| The senator expressed the most COM
plete confidence in his private secre-
tary and was impatient over the
charges connecting Mr.. Statters name
with the transaction through which
the gamblers in Walla Walla secured
protection from the officers of the law.
The senator said in conclusion and
in reply to questions that he had not
communicated with Mr. Baker, Mr..
Croker or any other of the Ankeny
leaders in regard to the LortOn Incl
dent. He mad just received a letter
from one Of these gentlemen, but the
sensational public utterances made by
the former managing editor of the
Union, were not, the senator said, even
alluded to, and Mr. Ankeny added that
it was absurd for anyone to say that
any of the senator's leading friends
herein mentioned had anything to do
with Mr. LOTIONS dismissal from the
paper.