Mukilteo, Washington - The City Of "Firsts" - Scene Of Indian Treaty - M. H (part 4 of 14)

Ordinarily, with the biennial election system, the odd numbered years were times of political quiet, needed breathing spells between the heats of battle. But 1889 was to be the one great exception in all the history of Washington and the great struggle of a presidential campaign had scarce subsided before the campaigns incident to statehood began.

Statehood Approaches

The special election for delegates to the constitutional convention was called for May 14, and before that time the commissioners met and redistricted the county into twenty election precincts. Among the new ones created were Highland, to vote at Gregory's store; Lake, at Crooked Lake Schoolhouse; Gold Bar, at the residence of F. Sparling; Bear Creek, at Earl's; Fernwood, at C. L. Morton's; Mountain and North Fork. Port Susan was made a part of Florence precinct.

No sooner had these preliminaries been arranged than both parties set to work to make their nominations. Skagit and Snohomish counties were districted together and the republican convention was called to meet at Snohomish. The convention was organized with H. C. Comegys as chairman, and a new and popular young man, C. T. Roscoe, as secretary. Skagit delegates had not arrived and 5Snohomish delegates were prepared to go through their program undisturbed, when

Clayton Packard, the editor of the Eye, a man of much influence on that account but who had never been admitted into the political Holy of Holies, appeared on the scene with a perfectly good proxy sent him by wire by the Skagit County delegation. This was a bomb shell. Ferguson at first objected to the use of the proxy as irregular, but conceded that Packard might use the proxy, but only as to the Skagit County candidate (Mr. Hayton), who was nominated. Vestal contended that Packard was on the same footing as any other proxy holder and wes entitled to cast the vote of Skagit County on any proposition. In the meantime Packard got into communication with his Skagit County friends and received a second telegram instructing him to withdraw Skagit County from the convention unless the proxy was fully recognized. The convention proceeded with its business, electing H. G. York as permanent chairman and nominating H. C. Comegys as one delegate. The Skagit proxies held by Packard were then thrown out and Schooley of Florence was named for the second delegate.

The democratic convention was held at Stanwood with Judge Neely of Skagit County as chairman and H. Clothier of Mt. Vernon, secretary. J. I. Griffith of Snohomish and H. Clothier of Skagit were placed in nomination. The campaign was brief but intense. Both sides tried to encourage party feeling. The republicans, under the leadership of J. B. Ault, formed a Harrison Club at Snohomish . and the democrats soon established a club likewise.

The result was almost a foregone conclusion, however, from the day of the republican convention. Skagit County "plunked" its vote, to Griffith and Clothier, democrats, and Hayton, republican, and they were elected; Comegys recetving but one vote in all Skagit County. Thus, although Snohomish County had much the larger vote, it had but one representative in the constitutional convention, and he was from the minority party. But the effects of this unfortunate convention did not end with this election. At the time of the territorial convention the judicial convention was also held and Judge Geo. A. Kellogg of Whatcom was placed in nomination by the republicans. J. R. Winn, who had been the democratic candidate for superintendent and who was a rising young lawyer and a member of the democratic state central committee, was nominated for judge as a sort of forlorn hope by the democrats, as the district was strongly republican. Within a few days after his nomination Judge Kellogg died. This reopened the field for republican nominations and J. C. Denny was the almost unanimous choice of the republicans of Snohomish County, with J. J. Weisenberger, later one of the heroes of the Puget Sound region in the Philippine War, as the choice of Whatcom County. The convention was held at LaConner, after a hurried call. It met on a Saturday, no delegates from Snohomish County being present. Adjournment was taken until the following Monday, at which time Weisenberger was nominated with the votes from Snohomish County still absent. The feeling which already existed between the republicans of Skagit and Snohomish counties on account of the earlier convention was said to have been one reason why the Skagit delegates worked with those from Whatcom County. Snohomish republicans claimed that they had not been duly notified and that it was impossible for them to attend the convention, while Whatcom leaders declared sufficient notice had been given. Winn and his friends made a strenuous campaign urging retaliation. Weisenberger had secured the enmity of Nelson Bennett, the great figure in the railroad situation at Fairhaven on account of local affairs. The friends of Denny were eager for revenge as were also the friends of Comegys. In the meantime a bitter contest was being waged among the republicans of Snohomish County as to the nominations for state senator and clerk of courts. A very exciting primary was held at Snohomish in which the faction led by J. B. Ault was defeated by a vote of 118 to 106, Samuel Vestal securing the delegation in behalf of his candidacy for senator. Ault carried the fight to the convention, but on the fourth ballot Vestal was nominated. The nominees for representatives were A. H. Eddy and A. Robertson, while C. T. Roscoe was named for clerk at the end of a contest that lasted for five ballots. Although the republicans carried Snohomish County by 200 on the head of the ticket, Winn received 163 majority and was elected in the district by 24. The majorities were: Wilson, rep., Congress, 230; Ferry, rep., Governor, 221; Vestal, senator, 172; Roscoe, clerk, 60; representatives, Eddy, rep., 55, Robertson, rep., 32.

A number of separate proposals were voted upon at this first election for state officers. In Snohomish County the majority for the ratification of the constitution was 1,065; against equal suffrage, 529; against prohibition, 357; against courthouse bond issue, 181. For capital location the vote was: Ellensburg 335, North Yakima 88, Olympia 982.

The successful candidates gave a grand free ball at Snohomish to celebrate their victory and the people of Edmonds tendered a banquet to C. T. Roscoe in, honor of his victory. The republicans had cause for rejoicing as they had, by a close margin, defeated a very strong ticket which the democrats had placed in the held. D. W. Craddock, former auditor, was their candidate for senator; J. Van Bowen for clerk and William Whitfheld and Wm. McPhee, of Stanwood, for representatives. They carried the City of Snohomish, the democratic majorities in that city being Winn, 156; Craddock, 36; Whitfield, 25; McPhee, 21; Van Bowen, 87.

This election was the beginning of the judicial career of Judge J. R. Winn, who later removed to Whatcom and who is now engaged in the practice of law at Juneau, Alaska. It was also the beginning of the career of C. T. Roscoe, still prominent in the political affairs of Snohomish County. Mr. Roscoe was born in Clinton County, New York, May 18, 1868, and went with his parents to Michigan in 1879, where he went to school as much as possible, earning his way by working on log booms and in tug service. He studied law in Michigan under F. H. Bassett and in January, 1889, began the practice of law at Edmonds, being elected clerk of the court when he had been in the county less than a year. He took office the Monday following the admission of Washington as a state and has the honor of being the first clerk of court under statehood in Snohomish County.

Samuel Vestal, the new senator, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1835. He came to Washington Territory in 1872 and taught school in Cowlitz County until 1876, when he entered the general merchandise business at Kalama. He was county treasurer of Cowlitz County for three terms, being elected in 1876, 1878 and 1880. His store was destroyed by fire in 1879. He came to Snohomish in 1883, entering into partnership first with H. C. Comegys and then with William Whitfield.

President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation declaring Washington a state, at 5:20 o'clock P. M., November 11, 1889. The Snohomish Sun received a brief wire of the news, just before going to press, and was thus able to boast that it was the first paper in the State of Washington to announce the good tidings.

Courthouse Bonds Defeated

Early in May, 1889, a petition was filed with the commissioners asking that a vote be taken on a bond issue of $100,000 for a new courthouse. The commissioners were favorable and published notice that the matter would be taken up at the August session and plans and estimates were invited. Following this, they issued a call for a vote on a bond issue of $63,000; bonds to run forty years at 6 per cent. A Sultan correspondent, writing to the Sun, said the people were against courthouse bonds and would be so long as "'one-half the population lives miles from a road that can be traveled except on foot.' This seems to have been the opinion of the majority of the county as the vote showed.

Owing to the many transient laborers in the county, and to one of the spasmodic "'clean-ups" by the chief of police of Seattle, there was a considerable increase in criminality and the commissioners were obliged to erect a temporary jail in which were placed a number of steel cells. |

Near the close of the year, a third determined effort was made by the two northwest townships of the county, including Stanwood and Florence, to be detached from Snohomish and added to Skagit County. «As with previous efforts, this came to naught. The road situation was the chief cause of this discontent for, as the Snohomish Sun admitted, "the county was divided into two great valleys, the Snohomish and the Stillaguamish; divided by dense forests not yet traversed by a practical wagon road." The valuation of the county rose to $1,640,211, in 1889 and the tax levy stood at 21 mills, divided into a larger number of funds than heretofore, as follows: Territory 2.5, military .2, county 8, school 5., bridge 1.5, road 3.7, soldiers of Indian wars .1.

New Courthouse Erected

Politics were quiescent in 1890, but the year is noteworthy in that it witnessed the building of the first courthouse owned by the county. The old lease on the Masonic Building expired in April and notice was given of an advance in rent. In spite of the adverse vote on the bond issue, therefor, the commissioners decided it was time to act and advertised for bids for a two story brick structure to be erected on lots donated for the purpose by E. C. and Clark Ferguson. The plans drawn by Delos D. Neer, of Portland, were accepted in March, and the bid of Thomas Mann, for $22,231.70, was accepted 1n May, the First National Bank of Snohomish agreeing to accept all county warrants at par, making Snohomish the only county in the state on such a favorable financial basis. In July, it was necessary to re-let the contract to the second highest bidder, who was Daniel Warner, of Seattle, his bid being $23,940. H.C. Comegys was appointed superintendent of construction and the stone was to come from the Snoqualmie quarry and the brick from the Bast brickyards at Snohomish. Stone from the Chuckanut quarry, at Whatcom, was used for the foundation, however, and work began as soon as the steamer Daisy brought the stone up the river. The cornerstone was laid September 13, 1890, with appropriate ceremonies. In the cornerstone were deposited a copy of the school laws, a history of Snohomish County schools by J. W. Heffner, a history of Snohomish County by Eldridge Morse, a list of the first county offcers, statistics, business cards, a coin dated 1683 and current copies of the Snohomish Eye, the Stillaguamish Star and the Snohomish Daily Sun.

Commission Districts Created

It was during this year, also, that the county was divided into commissioners' districts, to be redistricted every four years, under a new law. Issuance of liquor licenses at Jewel City (now part of Stanwood) and Haller City indicate the growth of the county as rail lines were extended. According to the federal census of 1890, the population of Snohomish County was 8,482, a gain of more than 2,000 within a year. Snohomish was the ninth county in the western part of the state in point of population. The population of King County was 65,443; of Pierce, 51,126; Spokane, 35,658; Whitman, 19,011; Whatcom, 18,308; Walla Walla, 12,105. The population of Western Washington was 227,152; Eastern Washington, 117,415; the entire state, 334,567. Snohomish County claimed that its population would have been some 500 larger had the census included the miners in the eastern part of the county. The comparison, by ten year periods, illustrated the growth of the county, the figures being: 1870, 599; 1880, 1,387; 1889, 6,884; 1890, 8,480.

Republican Reverses In 1890

Politics were much less exciting than in the presidential election of 1888 or the first statehood elections of 1889, but they were warmly contested and resulted in a partial democratic victory, representing the first of the swing of the pendulum which was to return Cleveland to the presidency in 1892. The republicans maintained an organization known as the Harrison Legion, with the following officers: President, A. W. Frater, later superior judge in Seattle; vice president, H. P. Niles; secretary, L. F. Hart, later lreutenant-governor and governor; treasurer, C. T. Roscoe; executive committee, Edward Warner, C. C. Thornton, H. P. Niles, Ik. C. Ferguson and J. C. Denney, superior judge and now on state board of public works, They held their county convention first, September 20 and nominated a ticket composed largely of new men. C. T. Roscoe, clerk; F. H. Lysons, auditor; Charles Lawry, treasurer, and John Rhoades, were the men renominated. J. W. Heffner, who had been superintendent, was the nominee for attorney and new names on the ticket were Elmer Lenfest, a son-in-law of E. C. Ferguson, for surveyor; H. B. Dixon, superintendent; C. C. Thornton, sheriff; D. O. Pearson and A. W. Frater, representatives; Dr. S. F. Limerick, coroner, and J. W. Armstrong, L. R. Hillery and J. L. Brown, commissioners.

The democrats ran Fred Anderson, M. F. Shea and J. L. Morgan for commissioners; Samuel Knapp, for treasurer; James Burton, sheriff; George R. Ruff, auditor; Dr. J. S. McIlhaney, coroner; A. B. Rogers, superintendent; J. W. Frame, now a political stormy petrel of Alaska, and H. B. Myers, representatives; W. M. Allen, clerk; J. W. Miller, attorney, and D. Evans, assessor.

This was the first election under the Australian ballot system and the total vote of the county was 1,941. A second vote was necessary on capital location and Olympia again won in Snohomish County, the vote being Olympia 1,436, Ellensburg 94, North Yakima 41. The proposition to bond the county for road purposes carried by a vote of 987 to 564. The democrats won two major offices, auditor and sheriff, and also elected one representative, J. W. Frame defeating D. O. Pearson by four votes; Pearson refusing to contest the election, although urged to do so. The results were as follows:

Office Republican Vote Democratic Vote

OFFICE REPUBLICAN VOTE DEMOCRATIC VOTE CONSLESS: siercdraactt tra mtan sua Wilson ...... 1,017 Carroll iscaeeiee 668 Representative .............205: HEALER such gee te 956 Myers 5200S 611

As an old-time punster put it, there was a "Ruff house' when the newly elected auditor, George R. Ruff, attempted to take possession of the office in January, 1891. The commissioners at first rejected the bond presented by Ruff against whom there was some feeling on the part of republicans because he had always been a republican but had accepted the nomination and had been elected on the democratic ticket. ater the bond was accepted. When Ruff asked to have the office turned over to him, Auditor Lysons was in Seattle and Watson, his deputy, refused to give possession. Ruff and his friends demanded immediate possession and there was a fracas, the outcome of which was that Ruff gained possession of the office, but Watson had the combination to the safe. On his return, Lysons claimed that Ruff had not properly qualified and that it was necessary for him to retain possession in order to protect his bondsmen. For a time the auditor's office was held under joint occupancy, but Lysons finally turned it over. Another sensation came through the statement made by J. W. Frame, representative, that he had been offered $3,000 to vote for Squires for United States senator. Charges and countercharges were rife following this contest for United States senator, but no serious investigation was made.

New Court Occupied

Contractor Warner turned the keys of the new courthouse over to Superintendent Comegys on January 22, 1891, and the burning of the county jail, in February (the steel cells being uninjured), made it desirable to move into the new courthouse as quickly as possible. This was done in May, 1891. The new courthouse was 64 by 104 feet, two stories and well built of brick and stone. The first floor housed the commissioners and the principal county officers. On the second floor there was a court room, 42 by 54 feet in size, and the basement was used for jail purposes. The total cost was $32,000. There was much opposition to the issuance of bonds to pay for this building and an indignation meeting was held at Marysville; E. J. Anderson being one of the leading spirits in this movement.

A bitter newspaper controversy arose over a bill for $7,451.55 presented by the Snohomish Sun for printing legal blanks for the use of justices of the peace. The written order as exhibited by the Sun, called for the printing of 400 each of twenty-nine different blanks. The grand total of the order was for 240,400 blanks, a stock sufficient to last the county for a generation. The officers admitted the order but claimed that it was given under a misunderstanding as to the amount involved. The Eye made the most of this and there was a running controversy which lasted for many months. The account was finally settled for a much less sum but the transaction served to discredit the Sun as well as the officials involved, although there was no charge against the officials except that they had made an unintentional blunder.

The commissioners were unable to make a satisfactory sale of $80,000 bonds voted for road purposes and it was proposed to call a special election on the issue of road bonds to the amount of $250,000. The election was called, and two new voting precincts, Galena and Monte Cristo, were created, but public opinion was so evidently against the measure that the commissioners withdrew the call on the ground of some technical irregularity as to the publication of notice.

Everett To The Front

There were two absolutely new things in Snohomish County politics in 1892. The first and greater of these was Everett; the second was the rapid growth of the people's party. Everett was the more important because it was a permanent factor, while Populism attained a mushroom growth, only to subside before the dawn of the new century. Prior to this time Snohomish had it all practically its own way in the leadership of both parties. There were occasional rebellions, and from time to time favors had to be shown to other communities in order to keep the peace, but at every election the larger and better organized forces of Snohomish dominated both conventions. Everett was not a factor in the elections of 1891. It was not even honored by having a voting precinct, which was not strange for there were practically no voters. But by the spring of 1892 a city had sprung up almost as by magic. It was, too, a city whose leading spirits in business and politics were trained, experienced men of affairs. They were used to doing big things ina big way. They had no awe for the oldtimer. The new was their idol. They were not founding a village which was to rival Snohomish, but a city, which in their judgment was to rival Seattle and Portland and San Francisco and, perhaps, New York. They took to politics as a duck does to water. The fact that E. C. Ferguson or anyone else had been in the county since 1860 and had been the acknowledged leader in every enterprise, meant nothing at all to them. Thus while Hon. Alexander Robertson, of Florence, was going about the county "feeling the pulse of the people' in reference to the proposed candidacy of Ferguson for lieutenant-governor, J. E. McManus was heading the list of a new democratic club at Everett, and the republicans, under the leadership of F. H. Brownell, were forming a campaign club which started with 79 members.

The influence of Everett was not so greatly manifested at the March republican convention, which met to select delegates to the first state convention. E. C. Ferguson was chairman, B. H. Dixon secretary, and the delegates were such oldtimers as Ferguson, Nicholls, E. D. Smith, J. H. Irvine, George Brackett and L. F. Hart. Good men and true, who had guided the republican craft for many years. The new precinct of "Swalwell" had a strong delegation, however, including J. H. Mitchell, F. J. Call, P. K. Lewis, J. J. Maney, S. H. Nicholls, W. W. Getchell and H. D. Cooley. W. O. Hayden was the precinct committeeman. W. P. Bell was an unsuccessful candidate for the nomination for superior judge, against J. C. Denney, and this contest beginning early in the year. The new populist party began to make county economy an issue and the democrats had found a new and brilliant champion in the person of L. K. Church, former governor of Dakota. The populists decried the fact that the county's salary roll had reached the alarming figure of $5,880 per month and they published a partial list of salaries, as follows: Sheriff, James Burton, $141.67; judge, J. C. Denney, $125; clerk, Chris. T. Roscoe, $125; auditor, George C. Ruff, $141.67; treasurer, C. L. Lawry, $125; attorney, J. W. Heffner, $125; surveyor, Elmer Lenfest, $100; assessor, John R. Rhoades, $130; commissioners, Anderson, Hillery and Brown, $130. Another source of contention was the new courthouse. F. S. Anderson, one of the commissioners, sought to enjoin the sale of bonds to pay for this building and when the first installment came due he brought action in the Superior Court, basing his claim on the grounds that when the commissioners entered upon the contract the assessed valuation of the county was not such as to justify an added indebtedness of $23,000. The testimony showed that while the roll as made up by the county assessor amounted to $4,000,000, it had not been returned to the county auditor. Anderson contended that this was necessary before there was an assessment. The other commissioners held that as soon as the assessor placed his valuation upon property the roll was complete and was sufficient to justify the board in contracting indebtedness of 1% per cent of the total. This latter view was upheld by the court in May, 1892, but the trial served to keep the courthouse issue before the people.

At the Democratic convention, held in May, S. Baird of Lowell, presided. Snohomish had thirteen delegates and Everett eight, but each were allowed to name three of the delegates to the state convention at Vancouver. J. V. Bowen was presented as the candidate of Snohomish County to the democratic national convention and a boom was started for John E. McManus as a candidate for state senator. A county democratic club was also formed with J. V. Bowen, president;

The people's party was thoroughly organized by July and sent H. G. York, J. P. Comeford, J. H. Fitzgerald and C. B. Hyson as its delegates to the Ellensburg convention. M. F. Knox, candidate for Congress, opened the populist campaign with an address at Snohomish, in July.

W. Nichols was brought forward as a candidate for the state senate, in opposition to E. C. Ferguson, and the issue between Everett and Snohomish was clearly drawn. When the county convention was called to order it was found that there were contesting delegations from Lowell. E. D. Smith, E. M. Getchell and A. E. Prudden led the contestants, claiming that Joe Young had led sixty "repeaters"

Everett In The Saddle

According to the irate Snohomish newspaper, "Everett was in the saddle" at the convention and it was declared that "the convention was run by F. H. Brownell, attorney for the Everett Land Co." Nevertheless, it admitted that "several good men were nominated." Everett won the temporary organization, electing H. D. Cooley chairman by a vote of 57 to 51, over H. W. Illman, in spite of an impassioned speech by E. C. Ferguson who urged the danger of third party success unless the republicans acted harmoniously. This initial victory gave the naming of the credentials committee into the hands of the Everett delegates and the E. D. Smith delegates from Lowell were not seated. Nichols was then nominated for senator by acclamation; Molique of Silverton was named for one representative and C. T. Roscoe defeated Rev. Bowers of Sultan for the second representative nomination. L. F. Hart was placed in nomination for county attorney, but he withdrew in a hot speech scoring the "convention methods" of the majority. A. B. Ault and F. M. Headlee made like remonstrances and McMartin was finally nominated. The only victory scored against Everett was the nomination of R. Hurlburt, for clerk against the vote of the Everett delegation. This Waterloo for Snohomish closed with the dramatic resignation of E. C. Ferguson as chairman of the county central committee.

Fusion Efforts Fail

This republican battle encouraged both the democrats and the populists. The populist state convention at Ellensburg nominated a full ticket and this encouraged Snohomish county populists to do likewise. Clubs were formed all over the county with large memberships. Doctor Thompson headed the club at Snohomish and Jay Ewing reported 110 members at the initial meeting of the club at Everett. The call for the populist county convention was signed by J. A. Davis, chairman, and J. W. Davidson, secretary, and a permanent club was organized, with 300 members. The prohibition party also got into the field; O. L. Fowler, chairman, and J. W. Dorrance, secretary, signing the call for a county convention which nominated a complete ticket.

The Democratic convention met in August with Judge J. I. Griffith as temporary, and Governor L. K. Church, as permanent chairman. The delegates to the state convention from Everett were C. A. Clark, A. H. Gamel and L. K. Church. They placed the third complete county ticket in the field.

The populists did not hold their nominating convention until September. There was talk of fusion with the democrats, but this was effectively opposed by H. G. York, the permanent chairman. Jay Ewing of Everett was named for senator, Farrell of Qualco and Burton of Snohomish for representatives, F. M. Headlee for superior judge, and the convention ended with a grand rally at the Wigwam at Everett. On the removal from the county of Reverend Freese, their candidate for superintendent, the democrats made one move for fusion by placing Sinclair, the populist candidate, on their ticket also. One of the stories circulated during the campaign was that the Everett republican club had refused to pay a bill of $186, authorized by F. H. Brownell, for hauling voters to the polls at the primary and that Everett hackmen were about to bring suit against Brownell for the bill. McGraw was the republican candidate for governor and he did not add strength to the ticket in Snohomish County, the only precincts which he carried being Snohomish, Marysville, Highland, Trafton and Silverton. It was only the multiplicity of tickets that saved the republicans from a complete defeat.

Election Results In 1892 Office Republican Democrat Populist

In addition to the above, Prohibition candidates received from 70 to 100 votes each. The total vote of the county was 4,796. The only party to nominate a candidate for wreckmaster, was the Populist and thus J. W. Meece had the honor of being the first to hold that office in Snohomish County. The Democrats threatened to contest the election of Lawry, under the two-term rule and because the boundaries of the new precincts of Everett, Whaleback and Mitchell were fixed after September 1, but no action was taken.

D. S. Swerdfiger, the auditor elect, was a new figure in Snohomish politics. He was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, in 1860, emigrating to Chicago with his parents when he was but eleven years of age. He learned the printer's trade and came to Washington Territory in 1882, working in the editorial department of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. He was United States customs inspector at Port Townsend and came to Snohomish County as an employee of the Lumberman's Bank, serving as deputy auditor in 1891.

C. T. Roscoe, elected representative, was but twenty-five years old and was the youngest man in the Legislature; the oldest was J. J. Foster, 69, of Wahkiakum.

Some twenty electors voted for J. .\. Coleman for the short term for Superior Judge, which would expire January 12, 1893. This had been generally overlooked by all parties and it was found that Mr. Coleman was elected; he did not, however, think it worth while to qualify. One close contest was the election of John W. Gunn, editor of the Independent, as a justice of the peace over W. H. Kerinedy, by two votes. A tragedy which stirred the county occurred on election day when Edward Guthrie was murdered with a knife by Dick Ragan, because he refused to sell Ragan a drink on election day. Guthrie was one of the proprietors of the Pioneer Hotel at Sultan.

The outstanding county debt, amounting to $115,000 was funded early in 1892 with bonds bearing 6 per cent interest. These were sold at a premium of $2,300. This money was rapidly paid out upon its receipt, in March, and county scrip again returned to par, the discount having ranged from 3 to 5 per cent. Treasurer Lawry seems to have been an indefatigable tax collector for in May, 1892, he attached a locomotive of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern and also the office of the telephone company for taxes, forcing both of these corporations to pay up. The railroad's delinquency amounted to $1,330.81. The road bonds voted on at a special election held in February were defeated 933 to 343. In November, the commissioners called for bids for the erection of a combined poorhouse and hospital and this contract was let, December 30, for $4,400.

Turmoil Prevails In 1893

The year 1893 was one of utmost turmoil and confusion in county government. The hard times which were becoming more and more oppressive throughout the nation, were particularly hard for the new city of Everett which was so largely dependent upon outside enterprise and capital to promote its infant industries. The new county officers inherited all the bitterness of the three cornered fight through which the county had been at the last election. All parties were represented at the courthouse, with the result that there was no team work, but an eager desire to put each other in the wrong. The new board, which was composed entirely of democrats, also inherited a bad tax situation. The last act of the old board was to compromise with the Northern Pacific and the S. L. S. and E. railways by reducing their taxes 50 per cent; the board stating that these taxes were excessive and that grave legal difficulties would be encountered in their collection. The taxes of the Puget Mill Company, Port Blakeley Mill Company and Stimson Mill Company for 1891 were also reduced one-half, the board admitting that 'doubt exists as to the legality of the tax proceeding for 1891 and collection would be expensive." With this precedent established, of reducing taxes of the large comporations, it was difficult for the new board to refuse like compromises and the printed proceedings of the commissioners for this year are devoted very largely to the recording of these many tax reductions. On the last day of 1892, Treasurer Lawry received $42,000 in tax payments, but the men who had paid promptly regretted it when they saw others securing reductions and this had a tendency to slow up all tax receipts, which in turn crippled the county financially. The economy issue had played an important part in the campaign and, in March, the commissioners slashed the salaries of the clerical force generally. A few increases were made, however, and these served to intensify the resentment of those whose wages had been reduced and helped to make the courthouse a veritable hotbed of animosities.

Injunction proceedings having been dissolved, the board contracted with A. B. Palmer for the construction of two bridges across the Stillaguamish River. These contracts became the subject of much discussion and many charges the following year. In May, Chester A. Hardison of Everett, was appointed "inspector of liquor" at fifty cents a barrel. Whether this liquor was to be tested by taste and for effects, or by chemical analysis was not stated. Possibly the latter, for the appointee resigned after holding the office one week and the vacancy was not filled.

Snohomish County played a prominent part in the Legislature. Roscoe, in the House, introduced a bill making it unlawful to pay employes in merchandise, orders, time-checks or due-bills of any kind and he was also author of the anti-cigarette bill which became a law. In the Senate, McManus made a reputation for himself by refusing to accept per diem for days when he was absent from the Senate chamber. Col. Will L. Visscher, the republican editor of Fairhaven, said of McManus: "He is perhaps the most logical speaker on the floor of the senate and his clean-cut remarks are listened to with much attention. He is one of the coming leaders of the democracy of the state." The democrats were in power, nationally, and thus some of the faithful of Snohomish came into their reward. W. R. Stockbridge of Stanwood was appointed deputy collector of customs at Everett, vice A. Y. Tuttle, by collector Saunders, and new democratic postmasters were: B. A. Platt, Marysville; Thomas Moran, Arlington; J. J. McGilicudy, Silverton; M. E. Hyner, Edmonds, vice C. B. Knapp; H. F. Meader, Lowell, vice E. D. Smith, and J. L. Logan, Stanwood, vice D. O. Pearson.

Death Of T. J. Dooley

On May 6, 1893, occurred the death of T. J. Dooley, the newly elected Populist county attorney. Mr. Dooley was born at LaSalle, Ill., in 1855; received his legal education at St. Louis, Mo., and was admitted to the bar in 1874, practicing first at Manchester, Iowa. He came to Washington Territory in 1888, residing first at Seattle and then at Whatcom, moving to Everett in 1892, and at once becoming active in Populist politics. He was a law partner of C. A. Clark.

Immediately following Mr. Dooley's death the commissioners appointed a fellow democrat, L. C. Whitney, to fill the vacancy, and on the same day Governor McGraw appointed his fellow republican, W. H. R. McMartin, to the same position. McMartin did not serve and the courts finally decided that the appointing power was vested in the commissioners, not the governor. At the time of Whitney's appointment some agreement was made with the commissioners that A. D. Austin should be appointed assistant attorney. For some reason this arrangement grew irksome to Whitney and in August he withdrew the appointment in spite of a remonstrating petition which contained 250 signatures. The commissioners requested Whitney's resignation and he replied by filing a written "opinion," attacking them as incompetent and advising them to resign. In November, Whitney declared the board to be sitting illegally and that they could not be paid for per diem. In December, he appointed J. W. Miller as assistant, but the commissioners refused to allow his salary. Whitney finally brought action in the courts to oust the commissioners charging irregularities as to liquor licenses and bond issues; that the appointment of the auditor as purchasing agent was illegal and that the commissioners were making illegal payments to themselves. The county was confronted by the unusual spectacle of the county government paying attorneys both to defend and to prosecute it, as the board employed Delaney, Church and Austin to defend it in the action brought by the county attorney. In February, 1894, the commissioner asked Judge Denny to have the grand jury make a thorough investigation, and experts were appointed to investigate county affairs. There were wild rumors of large shortages and missing records. The final report criticised former officers and was laudatory of all those then holding office. The actual balances due proved to be very small and were speedily adjusted. The experts did, however, make some excellent recommendations and introduced a better bookkeeping system in county affairs. On account of their report the power of the auditor as a purchasing agent was curtailed. They found the road district accounts impossible to check, but held that this was the fault of the law, not of the auditor. Shortages amounting to something more than $1,000 were found and this amount the county lost, together with the expense of suits and of the investigation. The Monte Cristo Railroad was building at this time and the railroad camps had the usual hangers-on of saloons, gambling houses and dance halls. The commissioners passed an order limiting the number of saloons in these camps, or, rather, refused to issue but a limited number of licenses. It was charged that certain of the commissioners were themselves interested in these saloons and that the action of the board virtually gave them a monopoly on the business in these camps. It was further charged that monies were collected from unlicensed dealers and not turned over to the county. These charges were never fully proven; nor were they disproven. The investigation took too much of a political turn to be of the greatest value. The ouster proceedings instituted by Whitney were dismissed by the court and with the political exigencies of the campaign of 1894, and the excitement attending the county seat contest differences were forgotten and the probing was dropped. One result of the malfeasance and the hard times was that: by August, 1893, there was no money in the county's salary fund and employes were paid in warrants, which were worth ninety cents on the dollar. Nevertheless the assessed valuation of the county increased rapidly; the figures for 1893 being: Real estate, $8,682,737; personal, $1,492,444; total, $10,175,181; an increase of $685,071 over 1892. Everett had by this time, August, 1893, greatly surpassed Snohomish in valuation as well as in population. City valuations were as follows: Everett, $3,031,929; Snohomish, $1,138,197; Edmonds, $161,496; Marysville, $105,242. The tax levy for the year was reduced to eighteen mills. The assessors' census gave the population of the county as 14,768 and the number of voters, 9,786. This large proportion of voters to population shows that the county had not as yet approached settled conditions of family life and that the newcomers were chiefly single men.

The only activity having a bearing upon politics during this year was the growing strength of the Farmers Alliance, which, although not a political organization, had great influence in crystalizing public opinion. At a meeting held at Edmonds, in July, H. G. Chase was elected president and Lewis Partee secretary. Another large meeting was held at Sultan in October. The Alliance and the continued agitation as to the mismanagement of county affairs paved the way for the rapid growth of Populism which was apparent in 1894.

Growth Of Populism

County government and county politics were minor considerations during the year 1894, all interest being centered in the great fight made by Everett to secure the county seat. The three parties went through the motions of political activity and the candidates did their best to arouse enthusiasm, but the struggle between Snohomish and Everett, the old order and the new, was all that really interested the voters. The populists were the only ones showing real vitality and purpose. Their clubs throughout the county held weekly meetings for the discussion of public questions in which such men as Knapp, Cox, Whiting, Burton, Wheeler, Skaggs, Ralston and Kruegar took part. In the west the Industrial Legion was the counterpart of the Coxey and Kelly armies of the east. At Arlington, in April, 1894, there were twenty-nine members. At Tacoma and Seattle they numbered more than 1,500 and their attempts, under their "Generals" Shepherd and Cantwell, to join their eastern brethren caused Governor McGraw to call out the militia and there was fighting and bloodshed. Refused transportation, the army broke up into squads, outwitting the officers and making their way across the mountains piecemeal. At Yakima there was a struggle in which five were wounded and 150 members of the army were brought back to Seattle for trial. They were treated roughly and regular troops had to be stationed to prevent their release by a mob. Few of these exciting incidents took place in Snohomish County, but the reaction was to increase the spirit of unrest and dissatisfaction with the governmental and industrial conditions which had brought hard times upon the people without any fault of their own. At the populist convention held at Snohomish in July, thirty-six out of the forty-five precincts were represented by the eightyeight delegates. A. T. Perry, the first Negro to take part in a political convention in Snohomish County made an impassioned speech. It was said that he was educated as a lawyer but owing to race prejudice he was unable to earn a living at his profession and was blacking boots in Everett. The Populists endorsed township government, which was then an issue. Their delegates to the state convention were M. J. McGuiness, Snohomish; W. W. Dennis, Everett; William Reinecke, Mukilteo; J. H. Fitzgerald, Beecher Lake; S. C. Jackson, Trafton; J. A. Davis, Lowell; P. C. Sullivan, Edmonds; E. L. Chesney, Marysville; William Douglass, Stanwood; W. H. Iilman, Index; O. C. Taylor, Sultan; Dr. Chappell, Granite Falls and T. Jenson of Kent's Prairie. It illustrates the fervor of these men that some of the delegates walked to Yakima where the state convention was held, taking five days to make the journey.

The republican nominating convention was held at Snohomish on August 23 with E. C. Ferguson chairman and Capt. F. J. Call of Everett secretary. Everett was ready to sacrifice its political ambitions for the sake of winning the county seat and used its votes as trading stock to further this purpose. It did ask the nomination of City Attorney Cooley as county attorney, but J. W. Heffner was nominated. Other nominations were: Clerk, R. A. Hulburt; auditor, Peter Leque; superintendent, H. J. Langfitt; surveyor, J. B. Carothers; treasurer, W. W. Mish; coroner, Dr. T. Keefe; representatives, Col. T. V. Eddy and Capt. L. H. Coon; assessor, John McEwan.

The democrats convened at Everett, September 13. Swerdfiger was defeated for renomination for auditor but both Whitney, attorney, and Friars, commis- sioner, who had been bitter enemies throughout the year, were on the ticket together. Everett made this convention an opportunity to put in a good word for itself as the proper location for the county seat and the gathering closed with a grand free banquet to all the delegates with toasts to "Pioneer Democrats" by H. Blackman and to "Everett"? by Henry Hewitt, Jr.

The populists met the following day at Snohomish and were duly banqueted by that city. This convention was the scene of a number of close contests. Commissioners were first nominated, as follows: O. Tiedeman of Florence; H. H. Whitman of Everett, who defeated Stevenson after two tied ballots, and John Krieschal, who defeated Cathcart. F. M. Headlee was named for county attorney by the unusual method of a secret ballot. J.C. Mitchell defeated James Burton as the candidate for sheriff by 49 to 48. The veteran populist, H. G. York, headed the county ticket as the candidate for auditor. There was some pressure for fusion with the democrats, but the populists were over-confident and believed they could defeat both the old parties.

In September the commissioners accepted the Everett city ordinance dividing the city into precincts. The precincts of Mitchell and Swalwell were abolished and made parts of Welangdon Precinct. The boundaries of Mukilteo and Lowell were changed to exclude territory included in Everett and the new precinct of Port Gardner was created. James D. Moody, a son of the great evangelist was an independent candidate for commissioner at this election, and the prohibitionists again had a ticket in the field.

Election Results, 1894

The election returns showed that the populists had over-estimated their strength although they had made great inroads upon the ranks of democracy which sank to third place. In the state the vote on the head of the ticket, for congress, was Doolittle, republican, 35,981 ; Adams, populist, 26,128; Heuston, democrat, 14,602. In Snohomish County Doolittle and Adams were tied with 1,145 votes each, while Heuston received but 441. On the county ticket the vote was as follows:

Office Republican Democrat Populist

Pluralities of other candidates were: Langfitt, republican, superintendent, 108; Sheehan, democrat, surveyor, 258; Keefe, republican, coroner, 298 ; commissioners, Friars, democrat, 260; Kreischal, populist, 108. This election in which they secured but one office, that of commissioner, after all their very strenuous campaign, did not discourage the populists, but it made them more ready for the fusion which swept the county in 1896. It was at first reported that Mitchell, Davis and York, defeated populist candidates would contest the election on the ground of frauds at Everett, evidence of which was offered in the county seat fight, but no action of this kind was taken.

County Seat Fight

The most interesting event in the history of Snohomish County was "The County Seat Fight" between Everett and Snohomish in the years 1894, 1895 and 1896. Today, the older men of both cities like to meet and swap yarns about it and chuckle over it, but it was no laughing matter a third of a century ago. The story which brings a smile in 1926 would have brought blows in 1896. It is fortunate that time has softened the bitternesses of the conflict and that Snohomish County is united in love and loyalty and pride in its great accomplishments. The bravest, most valiant fighters are always the readiest to forgive and forget when the battle 1s over. During the heat of the struggle when it was felt that the fate of the two cities hung in the balance, men whose lives have proven them to be honest, upright, reliable citizens threw ethics to the winds as useless baggage and did things for the sake of their city which they would not have thought of doing for any personal gain. It is the province of history not to criticise nor to moralize, but to relate. |

Attitude Of Snohomish

For a third of a century, from 1861 to 1894, Snohomish City had been the center of Snohomish County industrially, financially, socially, intellectually and politically. In the main it had played its part well. It established and maintained the first school, the first church, the first newspaper and the first lodges. The Atheneum was in its day the most notable literary organization in the Territory, and it was the work of the public-spirited citizens of Snohomish City. The city had given many good and helpful citizens to the county and had shown enterprise in numerous ways. It had not been wholly selfish and it was a kindly, hospitable, friendly place. It is no wonder that its people felt that the seat of government was theirs by some inherent right, that to take it from them was in the nature of robbery and that whoever attempted it was a selfish, designing public enemy to be dealt with accordingly. It is no wonder also that it was hard for a people so firmly convinced of their rights and so accustomed to rule, to realize their danger until it was too late. That the young, upstart town at the mouth of the river where but three years before there had been a trackless forest, should even dare to cross swords with them was almost unbelievable to the people of Snohomish City.

Everett Viewpoint

On the other hand, there was the new community, pulsing with life and energy and ambition. It had no traditions connected with Snohomish County or its history. There was no sacred past so far as its citizens were concerned. They were living in the present and the future. The oldest resident of the county was as much a stranger to them as they were to him. The leading spirits among the newcomers were not the ordinary type of casual settlers drawn to a new country. They were big men, come to carry through a great, constructive enterprise; picked men, accustomed to control and to accomplishment. It was found by them that it was a necessary part of the program of city building that Everett should be the county seat and they went about the business of getting it with perfect unanimity and with surpassing skill and shrewdness and ability. They studied the field and planned their approaches cleverly; they counted the costs and provided the funds without stint and without a murmur.

But there was a third element; that of the county at large, and it was here that Snohomish over-estimated its strength and here that Everett showed its greatest ability. Nature divided Snohomish County into two great divisions following the courses of the Snohomish and the Stillaguamish rivers and between them erected a great, almost impenetrable barrier of forest. Along these valleys there grew two distinct settlements which had scant means of intercommunication and thus little in common save county government. Even in this the northern part of the county felt as an outcast. When its leaders, those enough interested to make the two days' journey necessary, arrived at the county seat to attend a convention they usually found that the more populous community had a program arranged and that it had the votes to carry it through. For more than a decade, since the establishment of Skagit County in 1883, the northern tier of townships had been trying to break away from Snohomish County. They had been blocked in this until they felt a sense of injustice - that they were neither allowed to depart in peace, nor properly cared for as members of the household. The difficulties of transportation contributed to community spirit, as opposed to county spirit, in all parts of the county. Snohomish and Marysville, for instance, might be but a few miles apart, but they had little in common and the difference in the size of the different communities of the county was not so great but that none of them stood in awe of each other. Marysville acknowledged longings to secure the county seat some time before Everett entered the contest. The eternal bickering of the early press was another factor which promoted discord. It was a common custom with journalism of that day to paint every opponent as a rogue and a rascal. News and editorial columns were one, which meant that news was colored to suit the opinions of the editor. In this way every one of the old time leaders had been at some time traduced and maligned, or over-praised, until the people had largely lost confidence in them and were ready to turn to new leaders, whose merits and demerits were at least unknown.

The coming of Everett was at first heartily welcomed by Snohomish people, on the theory that whatever brought population and wealth to one part of the county was helpful to all. Soon, however, this astounding young giant was seen as a rival to be treated with something of amused contempt. Next, and almost before any of the old residents of the county had fully realized it, Everett had arrived.

As early as June, 1888, the far-sighted Snohomish Eye had sounded this note of warning: "Should a railway touch the shores of Lake Stevens a town will be built that will become a dangerous rival to Snohomish. Being situated near the geographical center of the county, it could with but little difficulty secure the county seat."

In 1892, an effort was made to restrain the commissioners from building the new courthouse, and though the injunction was denied, it indicated the feeling that existed outside of Snohomish. The Democrat of that city was quite elated over the decision and took occasion to boast: "It (the county seat) will not be moved to Marysville. Poor Austin!"

Early Moves Masked

As early as February, 1893, Everett began cultivating the good will of neighboring towns; the Everett Land Company offering to pay one-half the expense of a plank road to Granite Falls and to extend a helping hand as to better roads to other communities. The next step was to make it appear that the demand for the removal of the county seat came from the county generally, and not from Everett. In line with this was the statement sent by an Everett correspondent to the Seattle Telegraph, to the effect that "the rest of the county asks Everett to make the fight, but it probably will not." These tactics were pursued and the same correspondent wrote the Telegraph, in January, 1894: "A great many outlying precincts are urging Everett people to secure the county seat here next year, but the agitation for removal is said to have originated with and be confined to a small number of two-for-a-nickle politicians.' In these ways the path was cleverly cleared for a friendly, but coy and rather diffident Everett to enter the contest.

Open Fight Begins

The first "overt" act came from the Young Men's Democratic Club of Everett, in March, when it passed a resolution instructing its secretary to correspond with the secretaries of the republican and populist organizations of the city, that a committee of five from each organization might be appointed to confer with the land companies and citizens so as to raise a sufficient bonus to erect county buildings, within limits, and to secure the removal of the county seat from Snohomish to Everett at the coming election. This was something of a bombshell, but Snohomish did not take it seriously, the only reaction being that it led E. C. Ferguson to recall the early fight when* Snohomish succeeded in getting the county seat away from Mukilteo. He said that at that time there were but seventeen votes in the county; that each town could count on seven votes and that a three months' campaign was waged for three votes - Snohomish winning 8 to 9. This was perhaps an unfortunate reminiscence, as it showed what might be done and that Snohomish had not hesitated to secure the coveted plum from another town.

The Everett Republican Club, through its executive committee, refused to join with the young democrats, the Everett News saying that it would be "poor politics" and that the club idea would have little effect upon the proposition. Nevertheless the suggestion was at once acted upon by the citizens as a whole and without regard to party. One of the first, indirect, moves was for a committee of Everett business men to confer with Mayor Myers of Marysville as to constructing a road between the two towns. The next step was a meeting of the Everett Business Men's Association, at which time Judge Delaney offered a resolution, which was adopted, to the effect that a committee of three be appointed to consider the advisability of moving the county seat to Everett and to ascertain what, if any, inducements could be offered, and to report their conclusions.

Snohomish now began to realize that the movement was in earnest, and it was stunned and horrified when one of its own newspapers, the Democrat, said that there was a strong feeling against Snohomish, amounting almost to hatred in parts of the county, due to the selfishness of Snohomish and the fact that no effort had been made to punish grafting county officials. It added: "They know there is something rotten in Snohomish, and the only danger is that they will conclude that the easiest way out of it is to pick up their records and carry them down to Everett and leave all the stench undisturbed." The Democrat undoubtedly allowed itself to be carried away by partisan zeal and did not realize what damage it was doing to Snohomish's cause. The people of that city regarded the editorial as rank treachery, and never forgave it, much to the glee of the Democrat's rivals who harped upon it continually, thus keeping it before the people, and further injuring the chances of Snohomish.

In May, Everett business men appointed a committee "to secure the county seat." This committee consisted of Judge Delaney, N. D. Darling, H. D. Cooley, W. W. Black, F. H: Brownell, George J. Sherry and L. K. Church. All parties were represented on this committee and it did its work in a masterly fashion. Their first proposal was that the city should bond itself for $30,000 "for park purposes," the money to be used through this indirect method as a campaign fund and to build a courthouse. This subterfuge was used as it would have been illegal to bond the city for the real purpose involved. It was proposed that the city should buy a tract for $30,000 from the Everett Land Company, that concern to use the money to secure and build the courthouse upon lots which it agreed to donate. The city council promptly ordered a special election on this proposition, and it was held in July, the vote being 615 to 22 in its favor. From this time on, Everett pushed its campaign with relentless vigor. The business men next proposed a bond issue of $100,000 to build market roads and sent committees to various towns to confer and to offer aid in road building. Snohomish undertook to belittle the promises made by Everett, and to question its good faith as to the $30,000 courthouse fund. Said the Snohomish Eye: "The sum of $30,000 will not complete and furnish as good county buildings as are now occupied, and taxpayers do not want to vote more taxes upon themselves."

Removal Petition Filed

The Everett County seat petition which was filed September 2, 1894, contained 1,884 signatures ; a sufficient number to make it mandatory upon the commissioners to order the question submitted to the people at the regular election in November. Snohomish was now thoroughly aroused and made the best fight possible; if the Everett people spent $500 to banquet the members of the Democratic convention,

Snohomish came back by entertaining the populists in the same fashion the day following. The people of the county soon caught the excitement. Oso invited Snohomish and Everett champions to appear before them in joint debate. 'Two Snohomish representatives went and were gleeful when the Everett debaters did not appear and a straw vote of the gathering stood thirty for Snohomish and eight for Everett. Everett did, however, send speakers throughout the county and distributed thousands of a pamphlet "Everett for the County Seat." The Everett city council voted an appropriation of $5,000 for "street improvement" to be used in planking a road to Machias. The thoroughness of the Everett campaign is shown by the fact that at the term of court held in Snohomish in September, they brought up sixty-nine men, together with witnesses, to secure citizen's papers, so that they might have a vote.

Events Of Campaign

The newspapers waged bitter warfare. The Snohomish Eye quoted Editor Connella of the Everett News as calling the editors of the Tribune "gibbering idiots" and saying "Those Shohomish fellows are coarse, impossible falsifiers and idiotic theorists." But let it be said that the Snohomish journalists gave as good as they got. Snohomish opened "County Seat Headquarters" in the First National Bank Building, late in September, and succeeded in casting such doubt upon Everett's bonus offer that it was obliged to post $30,000 cash with the Everett National Bank, to show its good faith. Snohomish raised the point that unless used for courthouse purposes the Snohomish site and buildings would revert to the original owners, thus involving the county in great loss. It was not a onesided fight and Snohomish had many supporters throughout the county. At a Hartford meeting, addressed by an Everett team of speakers consisting of Melvin Swartout, W. H. R. McMartin, A. Ackerman, Nichols, Defoe, Grant, Ford, Grey, Lozier and Bronson- - a most imposing array of talent - Colonel Eddy, of Highland, almost disrupted the gathering by his warm defense of the old county seat. The Sultan Journal was another Snohomish supporter, arguing that Snohomish was more centrally located and nearest to three-fifths of the people, who must go through Snohomish to reach Everett, that two good towns were better than one and that $30,000 was not enough to build a good courthouse. Among the joint "debates recorded, in October, there was one at Oso between Bogart and Allen of Everett and Bell and Siglar of Snohomish and another at the Short Schoolhouse on the Skykomish between W. W. Black and Frank Clark. Near the close of the campaign the Everett Land Company filed a conditional deed to the proposed new courthouse site which consisted of one-half block between Rockefeller and Wetmore avenues and was divided into two parts, each 120 by 200 feet. Another development was the charge made by Snohomish papers that Everett was colonizing voters, a letter to that effect from a Seattle employment agency being quoted.

Both Towns Claim Victory

Under the law it required three-fifths of the total vote cast to relocate the county seat. The election was held on November 6, 1894. Snohomish sent watchers _and challengers to guard their interests at Everett, and Everett returned the compliment as to Snohomish. The incomplete returns gave neither side the victory.

Everett claimed to have won by from 50 to 100 majority. Snohomish claimed victory by a smaller margin. Returns were received at the courthouse from a majority of the precincts, but the returns from two precincts at Everett and one from Snohomish were delayed. A delegation of fifty men came up from Everett guarding the returns from the two belated precincts. The air was filled with charges of fraud on both sides. The Snohomish Eye quoted from the Seattle Telegraph to the effect that Everett had hired "floaters" at Seattle to go to Everett to vote, at $2 per head, and expenses, and it was charged that eighty-nine such paid voters came on the steamer Greyhound. Captain Barrington attempted to land them at Mukilteo but was prevented by Mukilteo citizens and they were reshipped to Everett and voted at Port Gardner Precinct. This statement was made on the authority of H. Blackman, G. O. Kirk and J. J. Folstad, Snohomish men sent to protect that city's interests.

Canvass Of Vote Begins

The commissioners met on Friday, November 16, to canvass the vote. The rooms were crowded and there were threats of violence. The canvassing board consisted of Prosecuting Attorney Whitney, Commissioner Friars and Auditor Swerdfiger. Both cities were represented by an array of legal talent. Delaney, Brown and Church of Everett and Sullivan of Tacoma appeared for Everett, and Judge Sapp and S. H. Piles for Snohomish. Snohomish opened the battle by objecting to any canvass on account of alleged frauds at Everett and introduced an affidavit by County Treasurer Lawry, which charged that a large number of illegal votes had been cast, approximately 400, by voters colonized from Seattle. This was supported by affidavits that the steamer Mary F. Perley had brought seventy-five men from Seattle with the intent to have them vote at Mukilteo, Port Gardner, Whaleback, Lowell and the four precincts of Everett; that they had not been allowed to vote at Mukilteo, where they first landed, and reembarked for Everett and were taken to different precincts and voted. The charges continued that these seventy-five were voted at Port Gardner, where there were but seventeen legitimate voters, and that the election judges of that precinct had refused the right of challenge. It was also urged that the vote of Everett was 1,309, as against 750 at the last general election, although the population was less. Twentyfour affidavits signed by such men as H. Blackman, R. C. Allen, C. E. Hewitt, W. G. Stevens, F. E. McDonald, J. W. Knapp, G. B. Deering, W. R. Booth and H. C. Pettit, who went to Everett to watch the vote, were offered to substantiate these charges. Affidavits as to the acts of Captain Barrington of the Greyhound and Captain Redding of the Perley, in hiring voters at Seattle were also offered. Everett attorneys refused to discuss these charges but maintained that the canvassing board was not a judicial body and could not go back of the returns. They demanded that the returns be produced and canvassed. The session lasted throughout the day and at night the returns were guarded by armed men from both cities. The following day the returns from Basin and Boulder precincts were canvassed, but at this time Auditor Swerdfiger appeared as the champion of Snohomish and refused to produce any more returns unless only state and county offices were to be canvassed. Delaney, on behalf of Everett applied for a writ of mandamus to compel Swerdfiger to show cause why he should not produce the returns. This was heard before Judge McClinton of Clallam County, on November 22. He granted the writ and ordered the board to proceed with the canvass, which was "first blood" for Everett. The board ordered the room, which was filled with angry men from both cities, to be cleared, but Judge Sapp stood on his rights as a citizen and refused to go. Excitement rose almost to fighting pitch when the returns from Monte Cristo and Galena precincts could not be found, each side claiming that the other had made way with them. Duplicates were ordered by wire, to be sent under armed guard. The returns from Port Gardner were opened and it was found that Everett was given 118 votes, not 78 as counted by the election officers and that Snohomish was credited with but three votes instead of seven. Charges of forgery were immediately made and Swerdfiger refused to bring forward any more returns.

South Snohomish Returns

During all this time the returns from South Snohomish had not been brought in. These were produced on Saturday, November 30, and showed the surprising vote of 242 for Snohomish and five for Everett. This was a horse of another color. The men from Everett proclaimed that gross fraud had been committed, as no man on the county ticket received more than fifty votes and there were not more than fifty voters.in the precinct. The men from Snohomish grinned and called attention to the ruling of the judge that the board could not go back of the returns. Whitney, who was a strong partisan of [verett, sent the sheriff to produce the duplicates of the South Snohomish Precinct. But none of the election officials could be found, except one clerk who did not have charge of the duplicates. Whitney and Friars, a majority of the board, moved to proceed with the canvass, passing South Snohomish. Swerdfiger, as auditor, refused to produce any more returns until South Snohomish was counted. Whuth this deadlock the board adjourned for another day.

Few men slept at Snohomish that night. Armed deputy sheriffs, representing both cities stood on guard over the returns, angry men disputed at hotels and bars and street corners, lawyers and committees were deep in secret conferences.

In the morning Robert Cairns, election judge of South Snohomish was called to the stand. He swore that during his absence the duplicate poll had been stolen from his residence and that he could not produce it. He also swore that A. B. Palmer had offered him a bribe of $2,500 if he, Cairns would swear that the returns were forged. Palmer took the stand and denied this in toto. Howarth of the Everett Paper Company qualified as an expert and testified that the returns had been altered. U. K. Loose, of Snohomish, qualified as an expert and swore that the returns had not been changed. Sipprel and Montgomery, election offcers, were placed on the stand but could offer nothing beyond the statement that the returns were correct.

Then came a running fight before Judge McClinton, with positions reversed, Everett demanding the admission of evidence as to fraud and Snohomish insisting that the board could not go back of the returns. Friars presented an affidavit charging fraud and several parties offered to testify that there were not more than fifty voters in South Snohomish, but this testimony was not admitted and the judge ordered the count to proceed. The feeling at Snohomish is well ilustrated by the following item in a local newspaper of December 6, 1894: "A. B. Palmer, the Arlington bridge contractor, made himself obnoxious over the county seat question and received a patriotic drubbing from a local pugilist." J. W. Potts, agent of the Seattle, Lakeshore and Eastern Railway at Snohomish, was another victim, being discharged on account of a dispute with Superintendent McBride, of the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway, over the county seat troubles. Snohomish people threatened to boycott the railroad unless Potts was reinstated. H. A. Porter, chairman, and G. A. Clum, secretary of the populist organization, issued an appeal asking that the contest be submitted to disinterested judges, but the feeling of partisanship was too intense for such a suggestion to be given consideration. EVERETT DECLARED WINNER

The count was resumed, December 19, before a large crowd of interested spectators. The returns from South Snohomish were offered. Whitney asked for other precinct returns. Auditor Swerdfiger refused to turn them over. The majority of the board decided to call the count closed with five precincts missing, which would give Everett 100 majority. Friars announced the vote of South Snohomish as "242 as it 1s; 42 as it should be." Auditor Swerdfiger filed a statement with the commissioners giving the total vote as 5,161; Everett, 3,010; Snohomish, 2,151; Snohomish winning by eighty-six and three-fifths. The canvassing board, however, with Whitney and Friars forming the majority, struck out the returns from South Snohomish and declared Everett the winner.

Following this action the county commissioners met and passed a resolution throwing out the votes of both South Snohomish and Port Gardner, and declaring the vote to be, Everett, 3,005; Snohomish, 1,909; Everett winning by fifty-seven. The commissioners further ordered the county officers to remove the records to Everett and posted notices to that effect. Commissioner Evans' name was signed to this notice, and he printed a card denying that his name had been used with authority. Still later, December 27, the commission passed another resolution, Evans voting "no," to the effect that the Port Gardner and South Snohomish votes be thrown out on account of erasures and forgeries and that the vote stood Everett, 2,890; Snohomish, 1,906; giving Everett twelve votes above the 2,878 needed. The records were ordered removed to Everett by January 21, 1895. At the same time the commissioners refused to file the auditor's statement giving the victory to Snohomish. |

Removal Restrained By Court

A temporary restraining order preventing the removal was obtained by Snohomish, while guards, day and night, deterred Everett's more radical champions from carrying out their threat to move the records by force. County Treasurer Lawry was the first to appeal from the removal order, but at a hearing held on January 19, Judge Ballinger dismissed the action. In the meantime the new board of county commissioners had taken office and Krieschal, one of the new commissioners, obtained a temporary injunction in which all the county officers were named as defendants. The hearing was held on January 30 and two weeks later Judge R. A. Ballinger granted a temporary restraining order, saying that, admittedly, 127 legal votes were not canvassed and therefore the result could not be determined and that in effect no election had been held. Judge Moore upheld this opinion in his decision in the case brought by J. W. Heffner, saying the board had no right to reject the returns from Port Gardner and South Snohomish and then guess at the correct returns. Everett appealed from these decisions. It was about this time that the business men of Everett resolved to boycott the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on account of its partisanship for Snohomish. While the appeals were pending, the Everett Mosaic Tile Company applied for an injunction to prevent the superior court from trying a case at Snohomish, on the ground that Everett was the county seat. This application was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Snohomish Celebrates

The Supreme Court decisions favorable to Snohomish were handed down in - August, 1895, and the following is the graphic description of the celebration, as published in the Snohomish Eye:

"The first news of the victory of Snohomish was received here about 5 o'clock Friday afternoon, in a telegram from the clerk of the Supreme Court to a personal friend - Mr. Young, of the firm of Young & Tennant. Within a few moments commenced a celebration that continued in a varied degree of intensity until a late hour Saturday night, and it is not improbable that some of the more enthuslastic friends of Snohomish are still celebrating. The toot of steam whistles and tin horns, the crack of fire crackers, the boom of Chinese bombs and giant powder cartridges, and the whoops and cheers of the enthusiastic whoopers made 'a harmonious discord' that under the circumstances was pardonable. The waterworks whistle broke loose again later in the evening and some benighted citizen who had not heard the news, rang a fire alarm and sent the department out almost to the pumping station on a wild goose chase.

"A fund was raised by subscription for the purpose of continuing the celebration in a more artistic manner on Saturday. The Rialto Band of Seattle was sent for, but its arrival was delayed because they came via Everett, missed the boat, and the liverymen of that benighted city could not be induced to convey them to 'the county seat at Snohomish.'

"The celebration proper commenced with an immense parade in the evening, led by the band and 'Captain' E. Blackman of the county seat committee occupying the seat of honor in a chair that was draped with the American flag and carried on the shoulders of four stalwart guards; the mayor, heads of the county seat committee and attorneys for the city and prominent citizens in carriages, the bicycle club on wheels, and the courthouse guards and citizens on foot. The procession, which reached almost the entire length of First Street, proceeded to the courthouse, where brief speeches were made by Judge Sapp and Fred Lysons of Seattle, two of this city's attorneys in the memorable contest, Judge Denny, Mayor Ferguson, E. Blackman and Ex-Auditor Swerdfiger. At the conclusion of the addresses the parade returned to First Street, where a magnificent display of fireworks, rivaling those of the Fouth, was given. The program concluded with a grand free ratification ball at the Rink, which was the most largely attended of any ever given in this city."

Everett Undismayed

These decisions inspired Snohomish with great confidence and the belief that the county seat question was settled. The Eye, editorially, asked Everett "What are you going to do about it," and suggested that the time had come to "bury the hatchet" and consider the incident closed. The reply by the Everett News, showing the temper of Everett people, was as follows: "Why, we are going to fight about it, and fight hard, too. Of course there is no telling what fool conclusion a court will reach on any given proposition, but Everett will afford Sam Piles a long line of opportunities to levy assessments on Old Ferg and other producers. All the rot about burying the hatchet comes from those whose selfish interests demand the exit from the scene of this symbol of warfare, but it is still very much in evidence and will remain there." From this it will be seen that Everett had no intention of giving up the fight or considering itself beaten. There was some dissatisfaction with the management of the campaign at Everett, however, and Peter Smout applied for an injunction to restrain the city from issuing bonds to refund the outstanding indebtedness, alleging that a large portion of the debt was contracted in carrying on the county seat fight. He was persuaded to withdraw the action, but not until after it was in process of hearing before the court.

Vote Recanvassed

The point upon which the decision against Everett rested was that the returns had never been properly canvassed by the commissioners, with the effect that no election was held. It was no wonder that Snohomish celebrated with all the noise and vehemence at its.command. As to counting the vote of South Snohomish, the decision had favored Everett's contention, and while Snohomish rejoiced the legal talent of Everett directed its best efforts towards discovering some method by which the errors in the canvass found by the Supreme Court might be rectified. Accordingly, in October, 1895, when the board of commissioners met, Moran moved that the board take up the election of November 6, 1894, and proceed with the canvass. Kreischal opposed, but was unable to defeat the motion. The poll books were produced after an order had been secured from Judge Denny, and the vote was counted. The vote of Port Gardner Precinct was counted as Everett, 56; Snohomish, 7; the vote of South Snohomish as, Everett, 5; Snohomish, 42. On this basis Everett received a total of 2,951 and Snohomish 1955; Everett receiving 7.4 more than the needed three-fifths of the vote. The commissioners, thereupon, declared Everett to be the county seat on and after November 5, 1895.

Graveyard Subpoena

This action threw consternation into the ranks of Snohomish supporters and their attorneys at once took action to thwart it if possible. From Judge Denny was secured a restraining order to prevent removal on November 5 and a permanent injunction was sought in the name of J. W. Heffner, with Friars, Moran and all county officers as defendants. Piles, Sapp and Lysons were the attorneys for Snohomish. It was at this time that F. H. Brownell, attorney for Everett and one of its chief supporters in the contest, had the poll books of South Snohomish photographed and had subpoenas issued for the election officials and 200 voters whose names appeared on the roll. As these 200 were largely permanent residents of the Snohomish cemetery, the subpoenas were never served. This move was very adroit, however, as it placed South Snohomish officials in a most awkward position. In truth, neither side was particularly anxious to have all its acts probed by the law, and old-timers of today declare that no one could be induced to tell the real facts until after the time prescribed by the "statute of limitations" had expired. Under these circumstances the long drawn battle was confined largely to technicalities and did not enter into the merits of the case.

Everett Wins

It was not until December, 1896, that the final decision was rendered in this, the most famous county seat contest the State of Washington has ever known. The court held that the second canvass of the vote made by the commissioners in October, 1895, was legal and that the court had no power to review the decision of the commissioners, which was binding. The lower court was ordered to dismiss the injunction asked by Heffner. This was complete victory for Everett.

Snohomish recognized that it had fought until the last ditch, its resources for continuing the fight were well nigh exhausted, and it bowed to the inevitable with the best grace possible. A delegation headed by W. P. Bell visited Everett with the proposal that Snohomish would interpose no more legal obstacles if Everett would allow the county seat to remain at Snohomish until the new courthouse was completed, but Everett was in no mood to compromise and the answer was an emphatic "No."

It was late in January, 1897, that a long line of teams with empty wagons drew up in front of the old courthouse at Snohomish. Guards were placed about the building, but there was no need of them, for while Snohomish people could not behold the dismantling of the courthouse with feelings other than those of regret and anger and disappointment, they felt that any physical opposition would be both useless and a blot upon their record as law-abiding ciizens. So, under the observant eye of groups of silent citizens the wagons were quickly loaded with the precious books and records of the county and the procession of thirty-seven teams started on the long, twelve-mile journey, over the rough road to the new county seat. The Snohomish newspaper account read that it "looked just like a funeral."

But the aspect was entirely different at the other end of the line, and when the procession drove down Hewitt Avenue to the Wisconsin Building, (now occupied, in part, by the offices of the Everett News) it was greeted with cheers and ringing bells and strident salutes from every whistle in the town.

No one will ever know the actual count of the honest votes cast in the county seat election of 1894. Both sides over-reached themselves and neither could go into court with clean hands, so the case was not decided upon its merits. The margin was close and as the law demanded a three-fifths vote it is apparent that the 'will of the majority', at least, was carried out. Time quickly healed the breach between the two cities. They had too many interests in common to remain enemies. The rapid growth of Everett in the years following indicated that the removal was inevitable at some later period, if not in 1894.

To an impartial historian reviewing the facts today, one of the finest things about the entire contest was the way in which Snohomish "carried on" after a loss which seemed at the time irretrievable. How the old courthouse was made useful in first one capacity and then another until the historic building and grounds were made the home of one of the very finest and best equipped high schools in the entire state of Washington, and how the little city retained its individuality and became what is today, a center of beautiful homes, of business activity and industrial enterprise. No city could have met defeat more bravely, nor have accomplished more in the face of such disaster. There is nothing of the "deserted village" about Snohomish.

Courthouse Contract Let

One of the last acts of the old commissioners, in January, 1897, was to return to the Everett Land Company the certified check for $30,000, which it had put up as a guarantee of good faith for the building of a new courthouse. This was done after a contract had been entered into with Rucker Brothers for the building of a brick and stone courthouse on the donated lots, according to plans drawn by A. F. Heide, the architect. Everett agreed to pay any added cost. Schuyler Duryee, J. B. Crocker and B. J. Rucker were appointed trustees to hold the $30,000 and to pay same to contractors as the work proceeded. The building, on the corner of Pacific and Wetmore avenues was to have a frontage of 140 feet and a depth of 75 feet, and be three stories in height. The contract price, including all labor and material, but not the grading and surfacing of grounds about the building, was $30,000. There is no reason to believe that this entire arrangement was not entered into in good faith by all parties concerned, but the action was immediately attacked on the ground that the board had surrendered any bond or Company (Rucker Brothers) to give bond for $30,000. The Everett National Bank was ordered to return the $30,000 to the county; the trustees were to act security that the building would be erected as specified, and that it was the business of the county to build its own building and let its own contract. Judge Reid considered these objections good and ordered the trustees of the Terminal as agents of the county, and the Everett Land Company was to have no voice save to see that the money was expended for courthouse purposes. Under the circumstances, all this amounted to very much the same thing, as the first arrangement and the work of building was not seriously hampered or delayed.

Work on the foundations began in May, 1897; the corner stone was laid on July 3, with Masonic rites, by Hon. A. W. Frater, Grand Master Mason for the State of Washington. Contracts for vaults and furniture were let in November, the new vault costing $1,600. The process of removal began January 25, and on February 1, 1898, the new courthouse, ready for business, was thrown open to the public. Let it be said that while at this time there were many charges of graft as to other county expenditures there were none such in regard to the courthouse and Everett lived up to its agreements in good faith and delivered to the county an excellent, honestly built structure which served well its purpose until its destruction by fire in 1909, The commissioners published notice of intention to sell the old courthouse at Snohomish, in March, 1897, but on petition of many, action was postponed until the new courthouse was completed. In October, 1898, it was sold by the county to the Congregational Church, to be used as an academy.

"The courthouse has been completed, with the exception of a few finishing touches, the furniture and records of the county have been removed from the old county building, and all county officials are transacting business in the new quarters. The new building is situated at the corner of Pacific and Wetmore avenues. It is a very commodious and substantial brick building and presents a fine appearance. :

"The main entrance is on Wetmore Avenue. On entering, the first office to the right is occupied by the sheriff, and the room to the left by the county attorney. The clerk's office is in the southwest corner of the building and the assessor occupies the room in the southeast corner. North of that is the office of the superintendent of public instruction. In the north end of the building 1s the auditor's room, the surveyor's office, judge's private office and the attorney's consulting rooms are on the second floor."

Chapter Iv Panic Politics

COUNTY SUFFERS FROM HARD TIMES - FUNDS IN CLOSED BANK - CAMPAIGN OF 1896 - STATE CONVENTION AT EVERETT - TRIPLE CONVENTION HELD - BRYAN CARRIES WASHINGTON- - SKETCH OF H. G. YORK - JUSTICES SUE COUNTY - GRAFT CHARGES MADE - REPUBLICANS COME BACK - ELECTION SUMMARY, 1898 - MINOR EVENTS OF 1899.

During the year 1895 the attention of the entire county was riveted on the contest concerning the county seat and but little of general interest transpired in the affairs of county government. There was a "new deal' at the courthouse in January, one newspaper stating that Miss Dora Jackson was the "only familiar face" left. Among the new employees were J. H. Mitchell and C. Jay Smith, deputies to Auditor Leque and Iver Johnson of Stanwood and A. O. Pen, his clerks. In the office of Treasurer Mish the employees were Edward Mills of Everett, and C. C. Thornton and W. R. Booth of Snohomish. Dr. Keefe qualified for Coroner and at once resigned in favor of John T. Rogers of Everett, the democratic candidate at the recent election. This appointment angered the populists, as Rogers had stood third in the balloting.

Under a new law, penalty and interest on taxes delinquent for 1893 were remitted if paid at once. This induced a tax payment of $36,476 by the Everett Land Company and served to relieve the financial straits of the county temporarily, but in September the Marysville Globe stated that county warrants were "going a-begging"' at eighty cents on the dollar. Times were growing harder and harder all during this period, and the people had grown distrustful and suspicious of financial institutions and of each other. An indication of this was when E. C. Ferguson and wife and U. K. Loose and wife withdrew from the bonds of Treasurer Mish, their places being quickly taken, however, by F. B. Sumner, A. S. Taylor, S. H. Nichols, R. M. Mitchell and W. G. Swalwell, in the sum of $70,000. The Puget Sound National Bank had closed its doors in 1893 but had been reopened. It again suspended and its affairs were in the hands of L. K. Church as receiver. Treasurer Mish had $23,783 of county funds deposited at the time, but it was announced that these were secured. Church, as receiver, sued Mish, alleging fraud, and the case was settled out of court by the return of the securities.

Funds In Closed Bank

This left the county funds in bad condition. Nothing was done, however, until January, 1896, when the commissioners passed the following resolution: ''Whereas the Puget Sound National Bank of Everett is insolvent, in which County Treasurer W. W. Mish had deposits of $23,783, and many bondsmen are insolvent; the board demands additional bonds to the amount of $100,000." Pollitical friends declared that Mish was a victim of persecution, but when the addi- tional bonds were not forthcoming by February 20, he was cited by the Board to show cause why they were not. In March he presented added bonds to the extent of $50,000 and was allowed forty days in which to secure the balance. In May the defunct bank paid fifty cents on the dollar to depositors and it was announced that the county would be paid in full, providing Mish was retained as treasurer. Soon after, however, Mish was removed from office by the commissioners, J. J. Maney of Everett being appointed. The board stated that it had given Mish every opportunity to secure additional bondsmen and to restore the money lost in the Puget Sound National, but that he had failed to do, and that as heavy tax receipts were expected, the commissioners felt called upon to act. In June, the board authorized Mr. Mish to sell the certificate of deposit for. $11,283, approximately one-half its face value, and this money was turned into the treasury. The bondsmen were not released from lability.

Campaign Of 1896

The people of Snohomish and Everett were tremendously excited about the courthouse election in 1895, but every man and woman was excited about general politics in 1896. This year stands out above all others as the most strenuous in the history of American political affairs, and the state of Washington did not escape the contagion. It witnessed the greatest political upheaval the country has ever known. Men who had voted the republican ticket since Lincoln was a candidate cast their first democratic ballots, and Cleveland democrats flocked by the thousands to the banner of McKinley.

In Snohomish County the populist party had shown great strength in 1894, and had exhibited more vitality and zeal than either of the old parties. Lack of unison was all that prevented a republican defeat in that year. The populists took the lead in political activity in 1896. At Sultan, a club was formed in January, with thirty-seven charter members and such influential officers as W. H. Iilman, W. H. Bates and F. G. Koehnle. A county convention was held at Snohomish in February, at which time J. -\. Davis was reelected county chairman and Boyer, of Everett, county organizer. .\ recent convert was J. \W. Frame, who was still a member of the democratic central committee. The American Protective Association, familiarly known as the A. P. A., was also active, some of the leaders being W. G. Stevens, C. L. Lawry of Snohomish, James Van Horne, C. B. Gregory of Hartford, A. M. Pritchard of Edmonds and Charles Neimeier of Machias. At Arlington the A. P. A. became, for a short time, the paramount issue; both sides winning a partial victory in the republican caucus, the Twin City Liberty League having been formed at Haller and Arlington to combat this movement. As the campaign progressed this religious question was, fortunately, lost sight of.

State Convention At Everett

The republican convention, held in May, endorsed McKinley for the presidential nomination and urged W. C. Butler of Everett as a delegate to the national convention. T. H. Coon presided and W. P. Bell was secretary. The republican state convention was held at Everett, with addresses by Gov. John H. McGraw, A. F. Burleigh, H. A. Fairchild, F. H. 'Brownell, Judge Moore and Colonel Howlett. This state convention endorsed McKinley and declared for the gold standard, the election of United States Senators by direct vote of the people, the restriction of immigration and against religious discriminations in politics. There was spirited discussion of the money question, the free silver advocates losing by a vote of 112 to 296. This state convention was the first political recognition of the growing importance of Everett, and the city gave its guests a most royal welcome.

The democratic county convention at Everett, in July, was also a noteworthy event. Governor Church, J. B. Fogarty and J. Hamilton Lewis were among the speakers and the convention endorsed William Jennings Bryan and free silver. A. D. Warner was chairman of this convention. The first populist convention, also held in July, declared for a "middle of the road" policy.

Political activity did not wait for the fall months for as early as the first of August, W. P. Bell, republican candidate for state senator, was out with a challenge to A. W. Hawkes for a series of joint debates, and the staid republican Haller City Times had announced its allegiance to Bryan. The silver republicans held a convention, in August, among the leaders being such men as W. W. Black, J. G. Fritz, W. W. Getchell and Thos. Robinson of Everett, J. A. Hatfield, Ole Nelson of Lowell, M. Swinnerton, J. J. Nagley of Marysville, J. B. Ault of Snohomish, H. W. Jllman of Sultan and L. Myers of Silverton. A real bombshell fell in the republican ranks when E. C. Ferguson, who had been the Nestor of the republican party since 1860 and who had held almost every position within the gift of the party, refused election as president of the republican club of Snohomish, saying that he would not promise to vote for McKinley.