The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-24
Governor Mead Says Commissioner
Is Badly WrongeG Man
ASSURES HIM POSITION IS SECURE
NO EXPLANATION WILL BE DE
MANDED AS TO HIS CONNEc-
TON WITH COMBINATION.

John S. McMillin need not resign
from the state railroad commission
unless he wants to, and there is no in
dication that Mr.. McMillin feels at
all inclined to shirk any of the ardu-
Gus duties Of his office just because
the routine of that position keeps
crowding him into the limelight.
Governor Mead has looked over Mr..
McMillin's sworn statements of his
own infallibility, and has heard from
McMillin himself the story that he is
a badly wronged man in the fight Of
Henry Cowell to secure control of the
Tacoma & Roche Harbor Lime COM
pany. Gov. Mead has been convinced
that Mr.. McMillin is abused and has
assured him that the railroad commits
sioner's job is all his own, says the
Seattle Times.
wi NShIlllll w dlllcu oil CApICSSlOll
from the other two members of the
board. There is a bit of haze obscur-
ing the story of the answer that Mr.
McMillin got from his associates One
tale has it that Mr.. Fairchild assured
Mr.. McMilin that there was no neces-
sity for his retirement and the other
tale has it that neither Mr.. Fairchild
nor Mr.. Lawrence would sit in Judg-
ment on their colleague. Both YER
sions of the story. however, agree that
Mr.. Lawrence took to the woods when
the publication meeting was assem-
bled and did not go on record on the
merits of the case.
Ask No Explanation.
Neither the railroad commissioners
nor Gov Mead asked any explanation
from Mr.. McMillin A discreet silence
hung over the commission and the ex-
ecutive offices. The other two COM
missioners ignored the entire contro-
versy, and it has not even been ac-
knowledged by them that the censored
copies of the papers they read con-
troubles.
But the whole controversy has ap-
parently worried the Roche Harbor
magnate. When the commission sat
in judgment at Walla Walla over the
question of jobbing rates it is of rec
ord that Mr. McMillin became more
and more perturbed. Finally he re-
solved upon a frank avOwal of his
worries to his associates and to throw
his official career into their keeping.
Once for all Mr.. McMillin wanted his
status defined
Mr.. McMillin did not seek anything
except advice relative to his action.
He did not tender any resignation,
merely asking whether the others
thought he ought to do so. He solicit
ed from Gov. Mead an intimation as to
whether his resignation was expect
ed, but did not go away after leaving
one on the desk for future action.
Submits Life Story.
1t is stated that McMillin sat up
most of one night with a stenographer
at his elbow, debating a statement of
his troubles. This statement he sub
sequently swore to. Mr.. McMillin has
a penchant for swearing to affidavits,
and he made the Walla Walla docu-
ment a voluminous report of his bus
mess career.
This document, accompanied by
other affidavits, was submitted to the
railroad commissioners and Gov. Mead
for examination. The governor, it is
certain, took the trouble to look over
the document and to suggest to Mr..
McMillin that no resignation was nee
essary. The two other commissioners
did not advise him to step out. but as
said, it is declared that Mr. Lawrence
at least lodged the responsibility for
advising McMillin.