The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-30
CONSPIRACY AND BLACKMAIL.

No more sensational story OF po-
litical blackmail has developed than
that published in The Statesman To-
day in regard to the attempt Of MEM
bers of the retail liquor dealers asso-
citation to force Louis Kan to dis
charge one of his best and most valued
employees, simply because that en-
ploye. as president of the labor coun.
Gil. signed the union mems endorse
ment of ]. ]. Scniffner for justice of
the peace. 1t is truly the climax in
the efforts of certain men to dictate
the politics of this city and county
in behalf of their own selfish inter-
ests.
AS the story is told, the delegates
from the different unions to the labor
council voted to endorse Schiffner as
candidate for justice of the peace,
running in opposition to the present
incumbent, Judge ]. j. Huffman. This
endorsement was regularly made
through the introduction of a resolu-
ton, voted upon by all Of the dele
gates present and recorded as the off,
cial action of the council.
In addition an order was made that
the resolution be published in the
newspapers, signed officially by the
nCf-
dent, for the time being, happened to
be Fred Hester, a cigarmaker, en-
ployed by Mr.. Kan.
Under the order Of business the
president could do nothing but sign
the resolution, even though he had
been opposed to it, which he was not.
It was the expression Of the council,
and of the majority of the union men
of the city, through their represent
atives. AS such it was signed and
printed.
The action created a stir among 10
cal politicians, and particularly among
those saloonkeepers who had pledged
themselves to support Judge Huff
man. Consideration of the danger OF
the move against Judge Huffman, led
the saloonkeepers to radical action.
They called upon Mr.. Kahn and de-
manded the discharge of Hester, be-
cause he signed the resolutions Of en-.
dorsement. Mr.. Kan refused.
Then it was those representatives
of the liquor interests declared to Mr..
Kan that, failing to discharge his en-
ploye, he would be boycotted by the
liquor dealers, who would refuse to
handle his product and would combine
to drive him out of business.
The bare suggestion that such meth
DDS could be used in order to force
the election of a candidate for office
would be sufficient, in most instances,
to defeat that candidate. The actual
occurrence is sufficiently startling to
cause the voters of this city and coun-
ty to demand an explanation and to
take steps to prevent the elimination
of SUCH a rotten conspiracy.
1t must be remembered that all but
two of the sixteen saloon cases in
Judge Huffmans court were dismissed
and that the other two are under adj
visement. Whether or not there is any
connection between those dismissals
and the solid support given by the sa-
loon men, even to the point of black
mail and conspiracy, is question
which must be determined by the in
dividual voter.
Regardless Of the political effects,
the law should be appealed to in order
to prevent so patent a conspiracy
against the business of a merchant
being successful.
To the unions also comes duty
that Of standing by their endorsement
and their president-of retaliating
upon those men who are seeking. by
force, to nullify their right of suf-
frage and, failing, to intimidate their
chosen officers and cause their loss of
position. No greater. or more danger
Gus, antagonism to unionism has ever
been displayed.