The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-02
.L0RTON ON
BILL K|RKMAN.
What The Boxer Editor
Thought a Year Age
ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN
Tells How The Boxer Politician
Attempts to Garry Favor
With Opposing Elements

About year aog while Eugene Lor
ton was editor of the Union and as
chairman of the republican county
central committee was taking an active
part in the campaign against Council
man Glasford he published the follow
ing editorial roast of Councilman Will
liam H. Kirkman, who is now one Of
his hackers in the fiht being made
against Mayor Hunt by Lorton's little
Boxer dodger:
1.-The Union is not at all surprised at
the attitude of Councilman Kirkman in
attempting to depreciate the stigma
of private corporations, seeking con-
tracts in the city and contributing funds
to secure the election of candidates
for official positions who will be re-
quired to act on their business prOpo-
sitions. 1t is we'll known that Mr.
Kirkman is grooming himself for the
| mayoralty race next year and the in
| ference is dedueible that he would
like to be in a position to accept such
favors without question as to the pro-
priety of so doing.
1--WE do not say that this is a fact,
but the inference is certainly warrant
ed by the explosion he favored the
| council with at it's meeting Tuesday
night Il do not care whether the War
| rem Construction company paid the
campaign expenses of Mr.. Glasford,
or whether the Barber Asphalt COM
pany paid the expenses of his
opponent is the brazen manner
| in which he announced his total
| Indifference toward the matter If
| as a public official, he cares nothing
about such condition when if affects
others, would he be any more particular
| if it concerned himself? Apparently
not. Manifestly, if it were Mr.. Kirk
man who was concerned, his attitude
would be unchanged.
| Mr.. Kirkman prides himself on his
astuteness as politician and he
never undertook political deal that
he did not try to play both sides and
| the middle as well. AS a political
! double crosser he is "peacherino" in
| full bloom In fact, he is a man who
would preach high moral principles
from the house tops and enter the
cellar through the back door of a
saloon, if it were necessary, and con-
duct negotiations for support for him.
! self with the identical class of citi-
zens whom he decried from the steeple
tops. That is his method, as it is his
privilege, and it is well he regards i,
with such ominous favor, for no one
else does, and no one is deceived. We
believe there is no man in the city
who fiavors all of his public acts with
a higher season of policy than the am
bilious alderman from the Third ward
We seriously question if he ever takes
a stand on any question or any matter
coming before him in his capacity as
| councilman from the Third ward which
he has not carefully weighed as tc
what effect it will have on his politica
destinies We do not believe tha
he ever acted upon any matter purely
upon its merits. Talk about people
being prejudiced in their views re-
garding politics, He has it down t.
a science.
His perfect devotion to politica
methods is pointedly illustrated by hi'
action in the paving matter. Whel
Mayor Hunt vetoed the ordinances TO
Spokane. Fourth and Elm street dis
tricts he sat as silent as the Sphin,
while the vote was being taken ol
the question of sustaining the mayor
veto. A week later he votes mo" ol
the same ordinance and explains tha
he is in favor of competition. He ma.
be conscientious, but this kind o
double dealing doesn't have the ear