Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-04-09
POLITICIANS WONDER
ABOUT ,POINDEXTER
COMING CAMPAIGN HINGES ON
WHAT PRESENT SENATOR
MAY DO.

If Senator Miles Poindexter an
nounces within the next few weeks
his return to the Republican party
and his candidacy for reelection, as
is now generally anticipated, Wash
ington's warmest political fight of
recent years promises to begin imme-
diately.
While hosts of prospective Repub-
licau candidates for governor have
ben brought forward, put through
their PAGES before the public, and
then taken back under blankets, the
senatorial situation has lain dormant
for many months, uncertainty as to
the political status and ambition of
Senator Poindexter furnishing the
reason There have been varying re-
ports that the Spokane member of
the upper house Of congress would
return to the Republican party. on
which ticket he was elected, would
return to the Democratic party, of
which he was a member upon his ar
rival in this state or would remain a
Progressive, all these predictions
being based upon his candidacy for
reelection.
Might Run for President.
Another story whispered more re-
Gently among Poindexter's closest
| friends was that he might seek the
Bull Moose nomination for president,
Iconceding that he probably could not
sbe reelected senator and preferring
Ito be beaten for president than for
ssenator, and then retire TO Washing
Ston, d. c., to resume private practice
Eof law. .
For long time one guess looked
Just as good as another but recent
straws point strongly to determine
! tion on the part OF the senator to at
tempt return to G.. 0. p. ranks and
recapture of the senatorial nomina-
tion Of that party.
The Whitney elections bill. passed
by the recent legislature, stands at
the present time as the strongest OBJ
stacle in the path of Mr.. Poindexter's
ambition to succeed himself. This
bill, after providing for legal county
and state political conventions, and
the fling of the state platform Of
each party with the secretary OF
state, requires each candidate for of
fec to pledge support to the platform
/ of his party.
Would Bar Poindexter.
This. it is contended. will effec-
tually bar Poindexter because it is
argued that the kind Of platform
the Republicans are most apt to
, adopt will be not only very distaste-
full to the senator but directly con-
trary to many causes he has espoused
during his term. Incidentally, Poin-
dexter has recently been widely
quoted as declaring the Whitney bill
and those restricting the initiative
| and referendum /; and recall as de-
! cidedly reactiohary. the Senator
espousing the cause of, those who are
seeking to subject these measures to
the referendum, which would make
them imperative until adopted at the
general election next year. II valid
referendum petitions are filed against
htese measures, thus keeping them
imperative, Poindexter's politicai
way will be smoothed out consider
ably.
AS far as Democratic state politics
are concerned, there isn't much talk
vet George Turner, it is reported, Is
to seek the nomination again. and
likewise George F. Cotterill, while
Judge Stephen ]. Chadwick's popu-
tlarity has prompted considerable
talk of him '..-.-,'. '