The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-08-30
The Story of a Senator
usIns . Plain. UnpreJudced Unvsrnshed Chronicle Of
Miles polndester--Inst aiinent No. ~

buCheU OU Seuttte TT
Burke and Wilson IN
Stdndpdtters Badly b
-----
BY Robert B. hermann
To get tho proper atmosphere for
this phsse Of tho life OF Miles foin
first campaign for elec'
ton 10 tho United States senate
II n necessary TO turn backward
the hands OF time for dozen years
or 30. Conditions have changed no
since that II may take little whils
10 soelimatc oneself.
That was tho year. you may re.
member, when a nationwide meat
boycott was contemplated-beon,se
Porferhouse steak could no longer
bc bought for iess than 20 cents
pound. That was the year when
Jack johnson and Jim Jsffffes
fought for the worlds champion
ship at Reno. when Taft was cut
ting loose from Hooseyoltian policies
while HIS patron was over In Africa
and Germany. cumming with Hons
and tho kaiser; when Aidrfch was
oyerthrown IN the senate and Can
non In the house. and tho founda
ton was laid for tho spin In tho
republican party which was 10 car
ry Woodrow Wilson 10 the White
House three Year, later
Got the picturef All rfghu
sEATTI.EITEs PLAN
POLITICAL STROKE
Along about this tims--ln the
late winter and early spring Of 1910.
to be sxact--a little group OF 30
attic men were meeting every day
over tho luncheon table. IA q little
restaurant whore wolfe's cafeteria
now stands. discussing political
prospects. They weren't discussing
their own personal prospsct--,hey
were thinking Of thu fate Of the
nation. They were trying 10 decide
on q man 10 run for the senate
that fnii-a man who would truly
Represent tho progressive spiri'
which was Just beginning 10 typify
Washington al that time.
In this group wero Austin ".
Crffitha. now running against
polndsxter for tho senatorial nomi'
nation: J. w. Bryan. now runnins
for congress: Joe Smith. Tom Mur'
phin~. Jim johnson. w. H. Fiei'
and Possibly two or three oshers.
Thsy were republicans but insur
g~nsa And they wanted 20 send "a
the senate n man who would heir
fire.. a boss ridden country. They
discussed all the candidates then IN
sighs--JudEs Thomas Burke. John
l.. Wilson. Gen. James Ashton.
judge John r. Hnnphsier. Robert
T.. Mccormick and couple Of 9th
err Whose memory has been com
pietsiy dinmed-and found them al
wanting. All wcr. too REGULAR"
30 II was more OF lea. to be expect
81 that thsir game should eventual,
turn 10 Miles poindextsr. tho youns
congressman from Eastern washing
ton. whose valiant stand against the
Cannon machine in tho house Of rep
resentssivss had won him national
prominence.
DECISION Is
MADE IN APRIL
Ito was from east OF tho noun
;ains. which was considered some
thing ~ an obstacle 10 getting west
.rn Washington votes. but IN every
other way no waa an ideal candidate
Ills election was already bcins
urged in spokane BY Rufus ". WI
son, who. by tho way. seems TO have
taken this step entirely wfthou, au
shorixation. Just NJ the Griffith,
group did IN Seattle. and an Ser
Posndcxtsr mo relation OF Atiiesl die
in Brcmorton.
Things finally came 10 head with
a meeting az the old Arlington hotel
the night Of April 10. 1910. Most oi
1.-The original luncheon club" mer
were there. and. in addition. tho man
aging editor Of The Star.
Al this meeting King Count,
poindexter club was formed. with
oriffi,hs ms president. Hutchinson n,
vice president. ard Smith as sccre
tary and treasurer. Smith soon az,
erward was succeeded by Murph'ne
Tho most fnr.rcachinR effect oi
this meeting was the immediate an
nounc~tncnf, made cdl,oriaily by Tn.
Star and It's associate papers In Ta
coma md Spokane. that u would sup
port Poindcxter for senator.
THE reason" The star explained
-iH that Congressman poindexter |,
an opponent Of the Aidrich Cannon
regime I'm congress. Political or geo
graphical considerations arc given M
consideration by The star. Tho fac
that Mr.. rolndcxtcr Is n republican
or that he n a resident OF Spokane
has no weight. The star 4. support
ing him. and will continue 20 support
him, because Of the record he ha,
made In congress. down TO the bright
day OF insurgent retribution. whcf
ho was one OF the nine who did no
lack tho courage TO vote 20 depos.
tho whipped but stili snariins
speaker.
King county has three candidate,
for tho United states senate. Tn,
Star will oppose the King count,
candidates collectively and individu
ally.
Tho election Of United States
senator has ceased TO DO local IL
sue or a matter Of city or county sen
timent. II IL not even nm east. west
of.the-mouniains question. but 4
question OF the whole state.
JUST TARIFF
IMPORTANT
Tho Aldrich. Payne tariff bill wa
forced thru conaresa NV sprtro,a syr