The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-09-05
PROMINENT LEADERS OF THIS
STATE ACCIDENTALLY" MET
IN PORTLAND SUNDAY.
Senators Ankeny and Piles, Governor
Mead, D. B. Croker and Oliver
CornwelI Were There.

There was something doing in
Washington politics at Portland Sun
day afternoon, is the story that comes
from Portland. Just what it was no
one so far outside of those who ara
best posted on the dope" has been
able to figure out. At the Hotel Ore
gon was gathered Senator Levia An
keny, Senator S. H. Piles, Governor
Albert E. Mead, George H. Stevenson,
Harry A. Fairchild, B. D. Croker, ex-
State Senator Oliver A. Cornwell.
Thomas Payne, State Senator E. M.
Rands, F. Slater, private secretary to
Senator Ankeny, and quite a number
of lesser political lights who ara
known to be identified with the pres
ent administration.
In printing the story of the gath
to say:
There are many things which might
ing of all these political lights in Port
land, but queries merely ELECTED rails
ed eyebrows, a polite Il had not heard
of it," To all intents and purposes
these leaders had gathered in Port
land by accident" the two senators
and E. M. Rand coming from Van
couver, Wash, where they had been
for two days inquiring into the needs
of that particular locality. A. F. Stat
ter arrived yesterday morning from
Walla Walla and went out of town late
in the afternoon. B. D. Croker ar
rived in Portland yesterday morning
and left for Spokane last evening. Mr..
Cornwell also tarried not, but hasten
ed back to his nome in the Garden
City. Senator Ankeny and Senator
Piles and the rest of them left this
morning for the Sound country, Ito
continue their tour of the state"
Perhaps they had gathered mere be-
cause it was the last of Seattle week
at the fair. At any rate, so said Sem
ator Piles, but the bee which had been
buzzing still smelled rat, and refused
to be comforted by the frank state
ment of the junior member of Wash
ingtons delegation to the national up
per house.
Why did all these leaders gather in
Portland. That's the question. 1t has
been known that from time almost i'm
memorial Washington political leaders
have wended their way simultaneous
Wy to Portland when anything re-
garding political affairs of Washing
ton are discussed. More often than no.
nobody knew they were here until
some time after they arrived, as was
the case yesterday.
Something unusual must be in the
wind, thought the thinker, but as ne
thought the seemingly unruffled sur
face of the northern states political
sea rose before his minds eye, and
with the exception of the ripple in the
southeastern part of said sea. where
things have been stirred up by bit
of unlawful registration of prison
guards at the state penitentiary, Wal
la Walla, nothing indicative of an up
heavel could be seen. And even now
the ripples are dying away and moth
ing is heard of the affair at Walla
Walla.
Senators Ankeny and Piles leave for
Washington, D. c., in the middle OF
November, more than two months
away and therefore it is reasonable
to presume that the "accidentap meet
ing in Portland yesterday did not nave
to do with national legislation for the
benefit of the evergreen state.
Something doing, that's a cinch,"
to quote an inelegant and trite but
standard pharse.