The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-10-27
NOW SANS
OUT OF JAIL
Gardner Turns Over Rec
ords but the Committee
Scrap is not Settled
Rv Richard Hamilton

lawyers, when GoVernor Hartley
decided Tuesday to permit COM
pliance with the order of the SUI
nreme court for surrender of the,
road records to the majority" of
the state highway committee. The
relief was chiefly because the con-
flict between the executive and ju-'
dicial branches of the government
was officially erased, leaving the
supreme court with its crest and
dignity uncovered.
The immediate results of Mr..
Hartley's action were: IL days, for
contempt of the supreme court;
The "majority" of the state high
way committee was recognized as
the final custodian of the road rec
ords; Director Gardner, department
of efficiency, retained the road
records for further investigation
to determine if there has been
MISUSE or mismanagement of the
road funds; the. supreme court re-
tains its dignity and judicial au-
thority. M
1t is easy to understand why
business was relieved. 1t was fear
ed that successful definance of a
court decree would establish a
dangerous precedent, which some
future governor or radical leg
islature might have seized upon
as an excuse for multiplying or ov-
er-riding the supreme court. Such
possibility would naturally de-
moralize business and probably
scare away investments by outside
capital.
Lawyers were relieved because
they, despite irritating defeats
now and then, appreciate the i'm
portance of strong court. They
know that court DEGREES, fair or
unfair, must be sustained to pre-
serve Constitutional Government.
The development did not alter
the political phases very much.
The committee will continue to be
divided. Mr.. Hartley and Mr.. Card
ner will continue with the audit
or investigation of the records and
the findings will doubtless be de-
bated with avidity. 1t is safe to
say that the political quarrel will
continue, sometimes hot, some
times cool, until the voters speak
in the 1928 elections. X
Miles Poindexter. u. S. ambass-
ador to Peru, South America, sur
prised and interested the politi-
clans by declaring himself a can
didate for the republican nomina-
ton to the U. S. senate. Mr.. Poin-
dexter, it is generally agreed, is
facing two uphill fights in his at
tempt of a Comeback" to regain
the seat he lost to Senator Dill
in 1922.
1t is apparent in Olympia that
Mr.. Poindexter's declaration will
not deter Chief Justice Kenneth
Macintosh from his intention of
going after the republican nomi-
nation. 1t may, however, cause
Congressman John Summers, of
Walla Walla, to do the same as he
did in 1922-taIk about the senate,
think it over, forget it, and be\
isfed with reelection to the 10y sr
house of congress.
So, at this time, it looks as if
Mr.. Poindexter and Mr.. Mackin-
tosh will be the outstanding rivals
for the republican nomination
and that looks like a merry fight.
If Mr.. Poindexter should win
the nomination, which is not con-
ceded by any means; he will doubt
less face his cocky foe, Mr.. Dill.
The democratic senator seems to
think his political mission on earth
is to keep Mr.. Poindexter on the
lame-duck list, protesting to re-
gard him as set-up, put up by
the political gods for no other
reason than to be knocked over by
Mr.. Dill. That may be lot of
apple sause, of course, but Mr..
Dill insists, as he has made plain
from time to time, that it would
be his duty to run again if Mr..
Poindexter should be a candidate.
Anyway, Mr.. Dill figures he has
enough son" Mr.. Poindexter to
give him neat shellacking, as
the boxing writer's say, whenever
ne steps into the political ring.
So the dope at this time is that
Mr. Poindexter is daring the po-
htical gods by choosing to be a
candidate. Many editorial observers
and political guessers, including
the writer, figured that Mr.. Poin-
dexter was not receiving enough
encouragement to come out as
candidate. Nevertheless, he is out.
Some figure that he was finally
persuaded by the Humes case, be-
uevlng that the Hartley people
would go out to s'knife" Mr.. Mack
mtosh. 1t is true, too. that some
oi the Hartley leaders are peeved
az the chief justice, but it is hard
telling whether the sentiment will
endure and, if it does, whether it
can be passed on to guide the av-