The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1928-02-23
RIVAL SOUGHT
FOR HARTLEY
Political Gossip Thickens
as More Candidates
Enter Ring
Rv Richard Hamilton


under way to center on a repub-
1;can rival to Gov. Hartley, and
The plan is to substitute Land
commissioner Clark Savidge for
r. L. French as the candidate of
the Hartley opposition. The plan
IS being handled by the big lead
ers. the men who supply the cam
naign funds and who declined to
nut their money behind Senator
Morthland, Yakima. They are will
inc to back Mr.. Savidge and figure
that Mr.. French will, once depriv-
ed of financial backing, be forced
to give way to the land commits
sioner. This proposition will soon
be submitted to both Mr.. Savidge
and Mr.. French.
Perhaps the plan will work out,
but the writer is inclined to be
doubtful. First. Mr.. Savidge has
little relish for hard fighting, pre-
facing every statement with an a.
pology. and he is content with the
lesser job of land commissioner.
Of course, the offer of ample cam
paign funds and support, of big
men might bolster him and sti1nu-
late his ambition, which, however,
would be surprise to those who
view him at close range.
On the other hand, this job of
squeezing out Mr.. French is no
cinch. He is stubborn and resentful
of the inference that he is not a
strong candidate. Moreover, he
wants to be governor. But, even
the most stubborn frequently wilt
when campaign funds are denied,
SO perhaps Mr.. French will even
tually quit his candidacy.
Candidates are becoming more
and more plentiful and several
contests for state offices are al
ready lined up, aside from the
governorships Here is review of
recent doings and the prospects at
this time:
Lieut.. Gov. Lon johnson and
Senator Paul Houser, Seattle, are
out for the joint office of lieu-gov.
and president of the senate, Mr..
Johnson is running on his record,
declaring himself as an independ-
ent. Mr.. Houser is running as a
Hartley man, depending on the
governors strength to pull him
into the lieutenancy. Mr.. Johnson
and Mr.. Houser were brother pro-
gressives at one time, but now they
are far apart, the Seattle senator
being rather bitter toward the Col
vile man.
Attorney General John Dunbar
is also declared candidate for
reelection, rushing out because of
attacks by Mr.. Hartley and to
head off Representative Zent, Spo-
kane who is also al candidate for
the office. Mr.. Dunbar is also
standing on his record, declaring
he will not bow to Mr.. Hartley or
any other governor. Mr.. Zent pro-
fesses independence, but he is gen.
orally tagged as a Hartley man
that IS to say, a candidate seeking
to gain votes by pre- empting a
place on the so-called Hartley ticket.
The Dunbar campaign is al
ready under way, with his chief
assistant, "Red" Donley, Colyille,
making speeches in support of the
attorney general. Mr.. Donley, who
has a sharp tongue and inclined
to use it, intends to go up and
down the state taunting the gov
ernor and supporting Mr.. Dunbar's
record.
Then, again, Insurance Commits
sioner Fishback, the only non-com-
batant state officer in Olympia, is
candidate for reelection. Mr.. Fish
back, who weighs $50 pounds, is
fighting nobody. And, the way it
looks, nobody is going to fight Mr..
Fishback. So he seems to be in
line for reelection to his 9TH term.
Mrs. Josephine C. Preston, sup
erintendent of public instruction.
Is again a candidate, and she is
starting early in anticipation of a
hard fight. Heretofore, Mrs. Pres
ton, veteran of many politica1
wars, has managed to give her
challengers neat shellacking, as
the sport writer's say; but it looks
as if she might have more trouble
this time. On one hand, many edu-
Gators, notably members of the
Puget Sound Schoolmasters' club
are out to induce DR.. N. d. Show
alter, erstwhile president of Che.
ney normal school, to become a
candidate and he is considering the
matter. And Mr.. Showalter, it is
conceded, would be a worthy foe
man. Then, of course, Mrs. Pres
ton will not receive much helI
from the Hartley people. So, fol
the moment, it looks as if Mrs
Preston is confronted by the fight
OF her political life.
Mr.. Z. ". STRAIN was hostess tt