The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-10-06
MUDGETT'SRECORD
FOR THE PEOPLE

The candidate for county treas
urer on the democratic ticket,
George Mudgett, is too we'll known
to need introduction to the tax
payers. Mudgett's administration
of his duties as county treasurer in
the past has always been an ag-
gressive one in favor of the tax
payers. When first elected treas
urer of Spokane County in 1894,
there was turned over to him, by
his republican predecessor, in cash,
about 100000, though the books
at that time showed balance on
hand of $67,000.00. This condition
existed when he was elected, and 1t
became necessary for the repub-
lican ring to cover up their short
comings, therefore the official bond
of county treasurer-elect Mudgett
was raised to $700,000.00, making
him qualify in the sum OF $1,4OO,-
100000. At that time, every banker
in the city refused to sign his bond.
Mudgett determined to appeal to
the voters of Spokane, left the City
of Spokane, and made a personal
canvas, returning to the city with
over $60,0O0.0O more bond than was
required. Republicans and demo-
Gratis combined to disrupt the ring
which they suspected among a solid
republican administration. From
that time on, Mudgett's political OPP
ponents seized every straw in their
great desire to kill Mudgett polit-
ically. He served creditably for
four years, never swerving from his
duty, always at his post in the
treasurer's office, working faith
fully for the taxpayers during Off
cial hours, and many times long
afterwards. This administration
was made conspicuous by the fight
made upon his administration by
the courthouse ring. During his
administration, instead of deposit
ing the funds of the county in the
banks, where $53,000.00 of the
county funds had been lost, he kept
the money received by him dis
bursed upon the county indebted
ness, with the effect that warrants
which had sold when he took Office
at from 60 to so cents on the dollar,
rose to 2 per cent premium. The
taxpayers appreciated this good
work, but could not re-elect him for
third term. as the law prohibited
him from taking office three times
in succession.
A republican was elected to sue.
coed Mudgett, and after two years,
Mudgett, being eligible to run, was
again elected in 1900. His election
was contested, and the contest was
lost. Notwithstanding the decision
of the court in this case, the re-
publican treasurer refused to turn
the office over to Mudgett, and he
was again compelled to go in court,
which placed him in the discharge
of his duties as treasurer, after the
office had been closed by the action
Of the republican treasurer for four
days.
Mudgett was reelected in 1902,
being the only democrat elected in
that year. His opponents had new
er been able to find anything
against Midget, morally or other
wise, though many checks had been
made upon his Office at large ex-
pense to the county, by the repub-
licans, and these checks always re-
suited in confirming Mudgetts ac-
counts as treasurer. When leaving
the treasurer's office, the account
ant appointed by the bond company
to examine the accounts of George
Mudgett, stated that he had the best
organized office and the best kept
accounts of any office he had ever
audited.
At the State democratic conven-
ton in 1904, Mudgett was nOmin-
ated for state treasurer, and not
outstanding the fact that Spokane
county gave a large republican ma
jority and not a single democrat
was elected, Mudgett carried the
county by nearly 1900 majority
He is now the unanimous choice of
his party for the Office of county
treasurer, the duties of which he
is 50 well qualified to administer
During all of Mudgett's admins
he fought Tor the interests
Of the taxpayers to the extent of
spending his private funds for their |