The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-06-03

they are such people until the votes
are counted and, If they do not resent
this attempt to vote them regardless
of their personal preferences or of
the fitness and qualifications of the
candidates. | shall be surprised. What
will the rest of the state say about
it? Have they no rights? King
county has senator now. viii 1t
say to the rest of the state that they
propose to dictate who the other sem
ator shall be? This attempt to force
the people to vote regardless of their
preferences Is confession of the
weakness of Senator Ankeny and a
confession that he can not rely upon
his record and demonstrated capac-
ity. Are they afraid of this? APP
parently so.
"They also have very seriously. al
though | presume not Intentionally,
effected on Senator Piles. They at
tempt to bring his reelection two
years hence into this contest and
urge the people to vote for Senator
Ankeny on the ground that they
must do so in order to help Senator
Piles two years from now Are they
afraid that Senator Piles will not
make a record that will justify the
people in re-eleeting him when he
al? Are they afraid he will not make
good as senator What other con-
struction can be placed upon theih
conduct? This, in my judgment. is
unjust to Senator Piles His re-
election is not involved in this contest
am satisfied he will be perfectly
willing to allow the people to pass
on his work and his record and that
he does not ask their endorsement
on any improper combination or ag-
reement. HE has stated publicly his
adherence to and belief in the prim-
AIRY law and has approved the legisla-
ton allowing the people to express
themselves.
'Who has insisted on bringing him
into this contest? Are they true
friends who would tie a milestone
about his neck by dragging him into
campaign wherein his election or
reelection is not involved? Has
Senator Ankeny insisted on this?
do not think so, but | am satisfied
that those who conduct his campaign
Mr. Crocker and Mr. Baker. have
done SO. VIII the people of King
county lend themselves to this
scheme Of Crocltr and Baker, VINO
seem to be willing 10 do anything to
ielect Senator Ankeny. not on account
Of the senator himself, but TO make
sure OF their own future? They care
nothing for Senator Piles except as
he can be used 10 their advantage.
mo matter what course this cam
paien may take, ! want to say to the
people of the state aud of King
county that no friend Of mine viii
I be under any promise Of any Kind or
character or bound TO support this or
! that candidate in the next senatorial
election. but everyone Will be absol-
utely free to act as he may deem best
for the interests of our state.
"What is this agreement What
are all of its terms? What made it?
The people of the state, as well as
thepeople of King county. have the
right to have these questions an
swered They should insist on know
ing all the terms and every con-
dition Of It, 1t is but just that it
! should be published in full so that
those who are asked to confirm and
ratify it may know by whom it was
made and who was especially bene-
fitted by it, An inspection of the
newspapers issued at the time of Sem
ator Piles election is very interest
ing and throws much light upon it
and how it was prepared. For in
stance, the Seattle Times of January
%, 1905, says: 1t was through
John Wooding and J. j. Smith. by
the way. that negotiations We've
opened by George Stevenson, George
Baker and other Sweeny men with
C. j. Smith, and, in the same paper
of January 2S, 1905, it says: When
George Baker went to John Wooding
and opened negotiations for trans
fer of the Sweeny strength to King
county candidate the idea was upper
most in his mind that a compromise
King county man could be selected
Baker did not want Piles, but he had
still less use for Wilson. Baker
wanted conference with George
Stevenson to arrange the deal