Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-10-20
ATTACK ON LISTER
ACTS AS BOOMERANG
EXPENSES FOR MANSION Or
DERED BY COMMISSION,
NOT BY GOVERNOR

Democratic state house officials
are chortling over the desperate at
tempts being made by the Republi-
can party to discredit Governor Lis
ter and to stem the tide which is
setting in all over the state sweep
ing the governor back into office.
In letter made. public Thursday
by c. L. Whitney of Walla Walla,
Governor Lister is charged with be-
ing wasteful and extravagant with
the public funds, and Whitney bases
his charges upon data furnished him
by the state auditor. C. w. Clausen.
Whitney, using Clausen's data,
points out what he considers waste
fulness ard extravaganza.
The Republicans, in their efforts
to discredit the governor, and this
fact is causing the chortles, inciden-
tally missed the man they shot at
and hit one of the Republican state
officials seeking reelection, the state
auditor, and at the same time Ed
Meath, state treasurer. To increase
the amusement. State Auditor C. w.
Clausen furnished the ammunition
which is booming upon his luckless
head.
There is In the state what Is
known as the state building commits
sion, composed of the governor, the
auditor, C. w. Clausen, candidate
for reelection, and the state treas
uror Edword Mooth
Commission has Charge
This state building commission, be
1t known, has charge of the COVER
nor's mansion and the grounds sur
rounding the mansion.
Clausen furnished a man, named
C. L. Whitney, with what he thought
would be good campaign material to
use against Lister, and included in
a long list of what Clausen thought
would be damaging evidence ap-
peared several items which, II Clau-
sen conformed with the law, as state
auditor and approved, reflect upon
him. One Of these, the largest in
actual money value, Is that charged
for the construction Of q garage at
the governors mansion. The sum in
volved is $6729.8O. Clausen notifies
Whitney that this is a sample of Lis
ter's extravagsnces. and would lead
the public to believe that Governor
Lister took this money and went and
spent 1t.
As matter of fact, and here is
where Clausen will have to do the
explaining, the funds we're spent by
the state building commission, upon
and at the motion of Treasurer
Meath, seconded by Clausen as a
member of the board. Clausen and
Meath authorized this expenditure.
Clausen playing the leading part in
the deal.
A careful examination Of the other
items shown in Clausen's letter re-
fleet upon the state. auditor In a SIM
liar manner. Furnishings and house
hold goods which went into the gov
ernor's mansion are purchased
through the state building commits
sion, or at least the commission is
supposed to know what states prop
critics are being purchased with pub
lie funds, as it signs. audits and ap-
proves all vouchers.
Clausen must Explain
Just how Clausen is going to ex-
plain his connection with the expen-
ditures for Improvements at the
mansion, which he approved, Is
something which is causing more or
less conjecture here today. If he
maintains the position that these ex-
penditures were not justified, the
Democrats are asking him why he
voted for them, and if he only voted
for them in an effort to make cam
paign thunder for the Republican
party, going on record as squander-
ing public funds to make campaign
material, or, If justified, why is he