Walla Walla County, Washington - Walla Walla County Elections 1882-I9oo, 1901

At the election of 1882 Judge Thomas H. Brents, of Walla Walla, was the Republican candidate for delegate to congress, and he was elected by a flattering majority. Of his services in this capacity due record is made on other pages of this work, in which connection we are also pleased to direct particular attention to the sketch of his life, appearing on another page. He received in Walla Walla county at this election eleven hundred and thirty-one votes. It is to be noted that this election showed many "scratched" tickets, the reason assigned by the Walla Walla Daily Statesman being to "give 'bossism' its death blow," and to thus file a definite objection to what was pronounced a "giant evil."

Touching this election the Statesman (Democratic) of November 11, 1882, speaks as follows: "Last Tuesday the tolerant spirit of the people gave out, and it became a fight between right and wrong, between honest go\-ernment and dishonest government, between bossism and the people. It was a question whether the people or the bosses were to rule. The watchword was, 'The right thing must come to pass,' and it did come to pass. 1 he people dropped their expressed wishes into the ballot boxes on Tuesday, and when they were counted 'bossism' died, as it should."

results: Representatives, J. F. Brewer, William Fudge and J. M. Dewar; attorney, !--. K. Hanna ; auditor, William C. Painter ; sheriff, A. S. Bowles; treasurer, J. F. Boyer; assessor, L. H. Bowman; surveyor, J- B. Wilson; superintendent of public schools, J. W. Morgan; judge of probate, R. Guichard; commissioners, Amos Cummings, \\ . P. Rcser and W. G. Babcock; sheep commissioner, A. S. LeGrow; coroner, H. R. Keylor.

The record of the election of 1886 is here noted : Representatives, P. A. Preston and W. M. Clark; auditor, L. R. Ilawley; sheriff, A. S, Bowles; treasurer, J- F. Boyer; assessor, M. H. Paxton; survej-or, J. ]\I. Allen; superintendent of public schools, Ellen Gilliam; judge of probate, R. Guichard; commissioners, T. C. Taylor, Joseph Paul and Edwin Weary ; sheep commissioner, Timotliy Barry ; coroner, H. R. Keylor.

and Grant Copeland; sheriff, A. Frank Kees; clerk, Sciniyler Arnokl ; auditor, C. N. Mc- Lean; treasurer, John W. McGhee, Jr.; attorney, Oscar Cain; assessor, Walter L. Cadman ; superintendent of public schools. Grant S. Bond; surveyor, W. G. Sayles; coroner, Y. C. Blalock; justice of the peace, William Glasford; constable, Emil Sanderson; commissioners, Delos Coffin and D. C. Eaton.

The election of 1900 gave the following results : Representatives, Grant Copeland and John Geyer; senators, \V. P. Reser and O. T. Cornwell; superior judge, Thomas H. Brents; l)rosecuting attorney, Oscar Cain ; auditor, C. N. McLean; clerk, Schuyler Arnold; sheriff, A. Frank Kees; treasurer, W. B. Hawley; assessor, Walter L. Cadman ; surveyor, W. G. Sayles; superintendent of public schools, J. Elmer Myers; coroner, S. A. Owens; justice of the peace, William Glasford; constable, J. C. Hillman; commissioners, Edward Cornwell and Amos Cummings.

At this election Judge Brents received the largest majority ever accorded a candidate in Walla Walla county, 2,324 votes being cast in his favor and 1,295 '" favor of the opposing candidate.

At the present time the county is divided into twenty-six voting precincts. A list of these precincts, with the vote cast in each for the elections of 1896 and 1900 will be ii.und interesting for comparison.

It may be of interest to readers desiring an accurate conception of the financial condition of the county to have here presented a few statistics from auditor's report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900. By this statement it is shown that the number of acres of improved land in the county is 252,159.90; of unimproved land. 351,256.42: total number of acres assessed, 603,414.32; that the value of lands exclusive of improvements is $2,812,505; improvements on lands, $492,- 805 ; total value of lands and improvements, $3,305,310: that the total value of railroad tracks withhi the county is $911,685; and of personal property, $2,126,945; that the total value of all taxable propertj- as assessed is $8,245,852. These figures were so modified by state and county boards of equalization and corrections by auditor as to make the total valuation of property $8,247,952. The report is authority also for the statement that the total county indebtedness in 1900 was $90,- 460.64. and that the cash in the county funds ^vas $12,437.60, leaving a net indel)tedness of $78,023.04.

The statistical summary of elections just given makes no mention of the great event in the history of Washington state, to-wit, its birth. In 1889 Washington became a state. Some of the efforts to attain this consummation liave already been noted in these jjages. The government in general did not realize the rapid growth of this region, .\fter 1883, with the completion of the Xorthern Pacific Railroad, population increased \ery rajiidly. The ambitious and energetic inhabitants of the territory felt eager to don the garb of statehood. The national administration, in 1888-9, began to see that it would be a suitable time to admit the largest group of states ever admitted at one time. The pressure from Washington. Montana and Dakota had been unceasing. The government became satisfied that these three great territories fulfilled all the requisites necessary for statehood, .\ccordingly a liill was pcssed in 1889 providing for the creation of W'ashington, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. This great change in the history of the territory stimulated all mani-.er of enterprises, and turned the attention of homeseekers throughout the I'nited States to Washington as a region where they might well cast their lot. It is a matter of interest and pride to Walla Walla to note that the last territorial delegate, John ]]. .Mien, and tlie last territorial governor, Miles C. Moore, were citizens of this l)lace. In the constitutional con\ention which

In glancing back over the political liistory of this state and territory it may be observed th.at Walla Walla county has i^een largely represented in state affairs. Of the congressional delegates from 1857 to 1888 four were citizens of \\'all;i Walla county. These were George

Miles C. Moore, for many years an honored citizen of Walla Walla, was appointed by President Harrison t'o the governorship of Washington in 1889. L'pon him. therefore, deviilvcd the bowing out of the territory ruid the ushering in of the state. Men of all panies united in testifying that 1>oth duties were performed with conspicuous ability. The political history since admission to statehood has been of a somewhat checkered character. The state has been in general strongly Republican, and yet all parties ha\-e been distracted with factional struggles. The first state legislature was^ strongly Republican and chose as the first senators W. (1. Squire, of Seattle, and John B. .Mien, of Walla Walla. The first Republican state convention met in Walla Walla, and nominated E. P. I'erry for governor and John L. Wilson for representative to congress. The Republican candidates were elected l)y a large majority. Of the subsequent bitter strife between the .\llcn and the Turner factions we will not here speak. Xor will we speak of the failure by reason of that strife to elect a senator in the year 1893, nor of tlie appointment by Governor McGraw of John B. Allen to fill the vacant place and his subsequent rejection by the senate. These things belong rather to the history of the state than the county, although these conditions (l<iniinatc<l the political affairs of the county. It was during this portion of the county history that the management of the state penitentiary became such a potent factor in both county and state politics. One ring after another got control of penitentiary affairs, and candidates for state or national offices found it wise to exercise great caution in dealing with those penitentiary rings. The appointment by Governor McGraw of J. H. Cob- Icntz to the wardenship of the penitentiary, the slashing manner in which the latter undertook tT run the politics of the county, as well as the meekness with which the majority of the county statesmen submitted to the yoke, the frequent spreads and entertainments, some of a highly moral and religious character, the subsequent defalcation, and at last the tragic suicide of Warden Coblentz, - of these we need not speak at length, for are they not all written i'l the chronicles of the tax payers of Walla Walla?

During the past five years the most intimate c< nnection between the politics of Walla Walla county and the state has been through the candidacy of Levi Ankeny for the senatorsliip. Although the A\'ilson ring and allied influences have thus far been able to prevent the election of Mr. Ankeny, yet he has the hearty support

In the presideiuial election of 1896 the usual Republican majority was overcome by the fusion of the Democratic and Populist parties into the organization kn(jwn as the Peoples' party. The vote was 1,596 Republican, 1,652 Peoples' party, 2)7 Prohibition, 64 Gold Democrat. The presidential election of 1900 saw the tide turned tlie other way.

In spite of the agricultural occupation of the people of this county the Populist party is not so strong as in other portions of eastern Washington. A generally conservative impulse has kept the independent elements from making ar.v large accessi )ns from the ranks of orthodox voters. Apparently financial and personal motives possess greater influence than political and independent ones. It is plain that the great desideratum in both county and state politics is some large general interest, which is cajjable of creating a genuine patriotism and true public spirit. Such influences, though rare, and believed by some cynics not to act at all. ncverthiCless do come into existence at times, and are ill reality the only salvation of republican institutions.

It may well be expected that a region so highly favored by nature as Walla Walla, with so many iniluences tending to the creation of an intelligent, patriotic and liberty-loving po])- ulation, will in due sea.son create a high standard of patriotism and political rectitude.