Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-11-02
CREDIT FOR PARK
OPEN 70 QUESTION
SUPPORT OF PARK PROPOSAL BY
CARLYON OF A NEGATIVE
CHARACTER

Editor Standard:
The communication in your recent
issue from the undersigned in regard
to Senator Carlyon has evidently
struck tender spot, for the same
morning newspaper of Octobe; 2Sth
comes back with an accusation that
/. 1t was prompted from "Black Top"
sources.
Both the newspaper and the zen
ator apparently analyze everything
from pecuniary point OF vision;
and is the thought of "Black Tcp"
influence prompted because OF any
obligation they may have on account
of cement" influence? The kettle
likes to call the pot black, and per-
haps familiarity with influence" indi-
Gates the thought that anyone who
. thinks differently is also under "in-
fuence."
1t is an amusing thing to the old
timers. familiar with Olympia his
tory, to have the said morning news
paper give the credit to the former
dentist (who now has no visible
business. and for many years has had
none) for arranging dismissal OF
the federal suit involving the Priest
Point Park site and its transfer to
the city" Perhaps il the writer OF
the article had lived here during the
period Of time he would not vouch-
safe on field upon which he seems
to be SO utterly uniformed. As .
matter OF fact, the ,acquisitionAof the
park came al ahoNt y N Y iallss IidAIa.s Y;
IGsW1S ~ ~ kfo9iN -
claim that had been sold e the 9alr !
sty for taxes. An agitation. ofl1i-
mated by T. L. Brown (now fdsceased)
and fostered by +. j. Kegley and
Elias Payn (both now dsad) and
George Talcott. F. @. Blakesee and
Others, commenced along In the years
1902, 1908 and 1904, TOR obtaining
this magnificent site for park BY q
purchase from the county. It was In
the year 1904 that the so-called
s.'Scobey Ring" or old republican ma
chaine. was defeated ID the county
election and ret OF county oflcsrs
elected by the opposition, only 10 be
followed In December by : city cleo
ifion in which r. H. Carlyon, who was
then insurxing against the repulican
party which he now assume to boss,
was elected mayor by the same oppo-
sition. A council opposed to the old
republican machine was also elected
and q city attorney and other oficerz
OF the opposition likewise. The old
board Of county commissioners held
their once until about the 18th o.
14th Of January following and waa
opposed to the city's acquisition oi
the park, while the newly elected
board Of county commissioners were
known to favor selling 1t to the city
There was scheme on foot by some
half dozen individuals to buy the
property for private purposes and
plat It,, among whom wes DR.. Car.
lyn. Although the doctor had been
elected mayor. he was not in favor Of
acquiring the land for park purposes
but, as has been said, wanted 1t fol
private speculation, together with his
associates. The old board Of county
commissioners that was to leave
once approximately by the middle o.
january, commenced proceeding te
sell the land. The former owners
through the late g. M. Savage. an at
torney, secured an Injunction made
returnable after the day Of sale and
enjoined the sale Of the land. which
had been noticed to take place JUS
before the old board went out OF Of
nee. In the meantime the now city
administration had come into ONCE
about the flrst OF the year. The old
board Of county commissioner
promptly moved, through specia
counsel. F. G. Owings. to dissolve thu
Injunction which was pending in tn.
United States district court. Tit
gentlemen named, who had beer
agitating the acquisition OF the lant
:. for the park. appealed to the new city
administration. headed BY DR.. p. H
Carlyon, a. mayor, to intervene OF
behalf Of the city and prevent thu
dissolution OF the injunction and
thus save the day. 20 that when th'
new board OF county commissioner