The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-20
DUMG LAWYER
|F|CHTs COMBINE
|etrict Attorney Pugh, With Fight
Ing Spirit Of Heney, Shows Up
Great Northern's Methods.

SPOKANE. Wash. April 20.-Up In
he northeast corner OF the state OF
Washington there Is a young man.
That's not all. He's a fearless. en-
getic, capable young man. ruggediy
bonest.
Nor Is that all by any means. He
struggling alone, with the stub
orn hghting spirit Of a Honey, 10 tear
ne hngers OF a great, powerful rail-
rad corporation from the throat OF
~ state. That's why the young man
important TO the nation.
The young mans name is Fred G..
Rugh. He is district attorney OF
pokane county. His antagonist Is
he Great Northern railroad.
"a To realize what that means. you
must know that Washington is no bet
Ter on than California or Oregon Ia
<he matter OF railroad domination OF
POLITICS. The railroads were busy In
Oregon even before the state was in
be union. Ever since that time they
ave constantly and consistently tight
ned their grip. And always the Hill
interests have been first and foremost.
The railroads have openly maintained
thoroughly organized lobby at the
tate legislatures. comforting with and
m0vising lawmakers on the floor OF
|Ulther house. No man could be COM
missioner, governor. or, practically
|onything else. without railroad con-
cent.
y Pugh may change all this. He
hopes to. He Is only In the prelimin-
ories Of the fight. Just now he Is
lDcked In professional combat with
half q dozen OF the ablest lawyers II
has been possible TO muster against
MIN. before a grand jury, called at the
instance OF the Washington State Bar
association.
People Have Been Helpless.
An inquiry, ensibly in the inter
iosts OF the raIlload. has been con-
oerted into an investigation OF the
xaEfoad itself, in the interest OF the
people, who for years have watched.
helplessly, corrupt influences at work
n the states legislature and judicial
machinery.
This is how It happened:
Several weeks before the opening
of the grand jury investigation, NJ. j.
Gordon, counsel in this city for the
Great Northern, was accused by high
oGlcials of the legal department OF the
railroad of being short In the neigh
borhood OF $4,000 in damage-suit set
t1ement accounts. Gordon immediate
ID resigned as railroad counsel Al
most on top OF his resignation came
\ report that the railroad had decided
not TO prosecute.
People wondered why. Pugh deter
mined to find out. Bit by bit the facts
were revealed that Gordon had offered
= campaign contribution OF $500 10
FORMER Supreme Judge Milo Root in
The last election; that he failed to de-
liver the money and that Judge Root
had written him repeatedly urging
|fhat the money be sent. This bunch
" Roots correspondence, together
nth written requests for transporta-
Ion over the Great Northern, while
4 was supreme Judge. was pubiished'
In addition 10 this. II was establish
"a that Gordon. as railroad counsel
kocured reconsideration In the state
.nprene court, of freight shipment
tase. after q decision had been award
"a to the plaintiff. II was shown that
(3ordon himself wrote the revised de-
cision, sent copy Of 1t To the railroad
oflces III ST. Paul for endorsement,
and that when the endorsement was
made by wire, the opinion was taken
into the supreme court through Judge
Root and became the law OF the state
on that particular point.
Judge Root. admitting the $500 cam
paign fund incident and explaining
that It. is common practice for victor
fous attorneys TO write and file opin-
ions In and for the courts. In the heat
or the charges against him, also re-
signed.
After reviewing these and other
minor disclosures that indicated at
least q working understanding be-
tween corporation counsel and mem
bers of the judiciary, the state Bar
association secured the calling OF a
grand jury.
A nominal charge of embezzlement
vas fled against Gordon, and the fight
was on. While, on the face Of 1t. Cor
don was under Investigation in the in