Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-09-14
IRWIN VINDICATI0N
METHODS OF JUDICIARY CAM.
PAIGN COMPARED.
Pre- Sent incumbent is Nominated bv
aSm0li Majority by the Most Ques-
fiOnab!e Methods Known TO pOIit.
zeal ITiCkSterS. Ben SheekS Pre-.
TERED Defeat TO Such Methods,

The Nidette pretends to see in the
result of the judiciary primary a
complete vindication for Judge Irwin
in view of the character of the
campaign against him." The sup
porters of Sheeks are perfectly will
ing to contrast the character of the
campaignes for and against Irwin.
and If the latter enjoys Il vindica-
tion secured by the means EMPLOYED
he is less choice in the matter than
many of his friends supposed.
The nomination of Irwin was pro-
cured only by the strenuous exertions
OF w. II. Abel, and through methods
decidedly Abelesque That worthy
was credited with saying at the out
set OF the campaign that he had
$4,000 to spend in electing his ia
vorite judge, and in all probability it
required all of 1T. 1t costs money to
visit logging camps with an automo-
bile loaded with whiskey for the men
and handy checkbook for the fore
man, and that is the way, it is said,
the Irwin votes were secured at Por-
ter and Oakville, the camps at those
places being visited-in a purely
social way-by w. II. Abel and Ed.
Dolan the day before election.
This style of electioneerng might
be considered legitimate in some
quarters for some offices, but it is a
style that was strictly forbidden by
candidate Sheeks who preferred de-
feat to advancement to the bench ex
cept by the unbribed votes of the
people. Whiskey and checks were
not the worst methods employed in
securing this 'vindication. Trades
and combinations of every imaginable
nature were made or attempted. The
boss cemented a divided vote in Mon
tesano by the promise of a costly
| court house, to be erected without
delay, and by other methods that will
be made public as soon as investiga-
ton furnishes undisputed proof Per-
maps on looking the matter over, the
Vidette will be content with the nom
lnation and let the vindication go.
On the other hand, the opponents
or Irwin made a clean campaign
Notwithstanding that some of his ad-
mlrerS were disposed to find fault.
large majority of the members of
the bar, supported by their injured
clients, made their charges in the
open; supported it by making public
court records and they were never SER
iously disputed. The letter of Judge
Irwin published on the eve of election.
containing weak denial of the re-
cord in the Stevens case, would have
insured his defeat but for the work
of Boss Abel. Many of his support
ers had believed that if he would he
could demolish the allegations made
against him. and We're previously
disappointed to find but a half-heart-
ed denial OF responsibility in the
stevens matter, and not solitary
word concerning the wrong done
Henry A. Kalb, or the other cases
cited.
That the opponents of Judge Irwin
referred to but few instances of
his laxity and favoritism, was not be-
cause more did not exist. In fact,
the records are numbered with cases
of similar nature, the particulars
of which will be published later, for
the purpose of throwing the light of
publicity on the proceedings of the
superior court, and to assist in the
abolition of the present curse of Che
halls county politics-Abelism.