The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-02-03
Random Observations.
George Turner Returns to Kepub.
lican Brilliant Record In
Public Liie--Buildlng Activities
In Spokane.
BY Frank NJ. Dallam, Sr.
Spokane, Washington, Jan. "a, 10

--AHlOnS tHe ola ITleIluS WIN WHO'LL
we have come in contact since So
journing in Spokane is ex-senator
George Turner. Time has touched the
senator with a gentle hand, and he
carries his accommodating years with
the jaunty air OF one in the heyday Of
earlier manhood. CorpOreally he is
remarkably well preserved, and his
intellect is as bright, clear, keen,
alert and vigorous as at any time dur
ing his long and distinguished career
in public and private life. Always
disnified in department and never
given to insincere effusiveness, some
people have been led to speak of Geo.
Turner as cold" and "unapproach-
able" but such estimates of his char
acter based upon exterior appear
ances are unjust to the man clothed
in dignity that both fits and be-
comes him. In fact he is neither cold
auStere or repellant. Those who enjoy
ohe privilege of knowing him person
ally find him to be frank, genial
aindly courteous and most likeable
Gentleman. He is warm, generous and
sincere in his friendships, citizen
with highly developed public spirit,
and with a judicial mind and profound
intellect that will measure up with
that of the ablest men Of the country.
Senator Turner, came to Spokane in
the early SOS, when this state was a
territory, as a federal Judge, having
been appointed to that position by
President Harrison. and has made
Spokane his home ever since, taking
MS place, after the expiration of his
term of office. as one of the leading
lawyers of the commonwealth. He
early took prominent part in poll
tics. After serving as judge his next
appearance in public life was as a
member OF the constitutional con
laaationsaar.s Asss sbreass stsase ashes ~ 4lssssa.
his ripe judicial knowledge. an abso
lutte honesty II intent and purpose.
with an ever present desire to formu
late an organic document that would
represent fair, Just and progressive
ideas of government. That constitu-
tion was formulated to meet condi
tions as they then existed according
to the light of the architects, and if
there were imperfectiOns those i'm
perfectiOns grew out of no ulteriOr
motives on the part of those who took
a leading part in formulating the in
strument With all due respect for
the numerous other able members of
that body it can be safely said that
Senator Turner was by odds the most
capable, brilliant and outstanding
legislator in that assembly.
Up to that time and for period
subsequent to the convention, Senator
Turner was one Of the leaders of the
Republican party in Washington
Strange eruptions soon broke out in
the political world and cross of gold
flashed athwart the political horizon,
before which many erstwhile repub-
licans bowed down in alteration, or
at least they were daZzled by its gilt
tering promises and possibilities. To
the regret of host of his personal
friends Senator Turner looked upon
the cross as the oriflame that was to
lead the country out of the slough of
despond, he followed the ignus fatus
of sixteen-tO-one. and after the disap-
pearance of that halucinatiOn he cast
his lot with the democratic party,
stepping into the United States SEN
ate, position for which he was most
eminently fitted. and to which the re-
publican party would have eventually
promoted him had he remained
member of that organization.
This screed is not written as even
an outline of Senator Turner's public
activities. 1t may be mentioned that
after his services in the senate he
was called upon to take part in some
delicate and important interna tional
conferences. and since then has been
conspicuous in both private and pub
lie walks of life. A proper biography
of this esteemed gentleman should be
written by an ADLER and less biased
scribe. for our admiration of the man
from our earliest acquaintance to the
present day has been so pronounced
that we never had the heart to criti-
else him when candidate for office
on tickets we opposed. withheld sup
port with pangs Of regret at times
when he stood for office, and hence
one so influenced would make a demi-
god of even a man of clay.
What We started out to chronicle
was a statement made by Senator
Turner at our first meeting. a state
ment that has given us more pleasure
than anything that has occurred in
the way of politics for many a day.
Senator Turner announced without
reservation that he had abandoned
the democratic party and returned to
the republican fold. His action. he
stated. was based upon the attitude OF
the few insurgent republican sena-
tors and the democratic senators who
We're trying to throw every impedi-
ment in the way of President Hard
ings efforts to bring about world
peace through the instrumentality OF
Il