Yakima County, Washington - Chapter 5: Political, 1904

Chapter 5: Political

The early political history of Yakima county is in a great degree veiled in obscurity, owing to the total loss of the county records for the years preceding 1882 through fire in that year. Consequently a table of election returns, nearly complete, compiled at the secretary of state's office, together with a few notes relating to early political events, is all that can be here given of the political history of that period. The vote in all instances has been copied directly from the records or published official proceedings.

Yakima county was called into existence as a political body by an act of the territorial legislature approved January 21, 1S65. By this act, Charles Splawn, William Parker and J. H. Wilbur were appointed county commissioners; Gilbert Pell, sheriff; William Wright, auditor, and F. M. Thorp, treasurer. The county seat was temporarily located at the home of Auditor Wright. For judicial and legislative purposes the new county was attached to Stevens county. There is hardly a precinct to-day that does not contain more voters than did the county in 1865, at the time it was organized, but so isolated was the little Yakima river settlement from its seat of local government that the formation of a new and more convenient government was imperative. So far as can be learned, the officers named in the creating act accomplished little or nothing, being succeeded almost immediately by a new set of officers appointed by the governor, who visited Yakima in person. Charles A. Splawn became sheriff; J. W. Grant, auditor; E. W. Lyons*, treasurer, and F. M. Thorp, C. P. Cooke and Alfred Henson, commissioners. All were Democrats, as were in fact a majority of the population. The county was too poor to erect a courthouse, so all official business was transacted at the home of Mr. Thorp in the Moxee. When it was necessary to hold court, the judge sat in the little log schoolhouse on the Thorp place.

June 3, 1867, was the date of the first election held in the county. It is interesting to note that the highest vote cast, that for delegate, was only forty-four, while the average was much lower. John P. Mattoon, then employed at the Yakima agency at Fort Simcoe, says that in 1867 he and seven others came down ' from the agency to James H. Henderson's place on the Ahtanum to vote. There were only nine or ten voters in the precinct. However, at the polls the reservation men were stopped by the election officers, who refused to allow them to vote for any officer except delegate on the ground that the reservation was in Klickitat county. Subsequently, says Mr. Mattoon, the sheiiff-assessor attempted to collect taxes at the agency, whereupon those who were refused the privilege of voting for county officers refused the county their assistance in a financial way.

The vote was as follows: For delegate to congress, Frank Clark, Democrat, 25, Alvin Flanders, Republican, 19; joint councilman, A. G. Tripp, Republican, 17; joint representative, with Klickitat, F. M. Thorp, Democrat, 21, William Taylor, Republican, 1 7 ; district attorney, Frank Dugan, Democrat, 21, Sheldon Fargo, Republican, 8; probate judge, John Davis, Democrat, 27; county commissioners, Alfred Henson, G. W. L. Allen and Thomas Goodwin, Democrats, 23, 24 and 26 votes respectively; auditor, J. W. Grant, Democrat, 24; sheriff, Charles A. Splawn, Democrat, 22, Joseph Bowser, Independent, 2; assessor, John Lindsey, Democrat, 24; treasurer, E. W. Lyons, Democrat, 23; school superintendent, S. C. Taylor, Democrat, 23; coroner, Henry Davis, Democrat, 23.

The Democrats retained their control at the succeeding election, placing in office whomsoever they chose. Unfortunately, not a written record concerning this election can be found in either the county or state archives, except the canvass of the votes cast for delegate, which shows that Yakima county gave M. F. Moore, Democrat, 45 votes, and S. Garfield, Republican, 25 votes.

In the spring of 1868 F. M. Thorp and his family followed C. A. Splawn into the Kittitas valley. One of the results of Mr. Thorp's change of residence was the removal of the count}' seat to the home of C. P. Cooke, also living in the Moxee. There it remained until the election of 1870, when it was permanently located, at least for sixteen years, at Yakima City. There were four aspirants for the honor, namely, Selah, Flint's store, Kittitas valley and a place designated in the state records as "Mount Ottawa. " How this name got into the records is unknown, as the oldest pioneers do not remember that Yakima City or any other point was ever known by this appellation. Mount Ottawa, or Yakima

City, received 89 votes, Flint's store 20, Selah 18 and Kittitas valley 3. That residents of this county were not favorably disposed toward early statehood for the territory may be inferred from the fact that the proposition to hold a constitutional convention received only 5 votes, while 97 were cast against it.

The election records for 1872 are also incomplete, the only returns found being as follows: Delegate to congress, S. Garfield, Republican, 129, O. B. McFadden, Democrat, 122; joint councilman, R. O. Dunbar, Republican, 154, B. F. Shaw, Democrat, 74, G. Wyche, 9; joint representative, with Klickitat, C. P. Cooke, Democrat, 170, R. Whitney, Republican, 73, Cooke being elected; district attorney, T. J. Anders, Republican, 139, J. D. Mix, Democrat, 108. Of the county officers elected, it is reasonably certain that Charles Eaton, George S. Taylor and A. W. Bull were chosen commissioners, Thomas Pierce, sheriff, and J. P. Marks, school superintendent.

The first campaign of more than ordinary interest in Yakima county was that of 1S74. In that year the struggle centered around the office of auditor, for which there were two candidates, H. M. Benton and Edward Whitson. Both were Republicans, Benton being the regular party nominee. The other faction of the Republican party, at the county convention held at Yakima City, avowed that segregation was the only means of escaping ring domination, and accordingly nominated a partial ticket, including Edward Whitson, a rising young lawyer whose home was in the Kittitas valley, for auditor. The new party called itself the People's party, which, however, is not to be confounded with the Populist organization of later years. Many Democrats allied themselves with the People's party during this election. The vote was as follows:

187, J. W. Stevenson, People's party, 45, J. B. Nelson, Republican, 45 ; coroner, J. W. Allen, Republican, 271; surveyor, C. A. Wilcox, Democrat, 195; for constitutional convention, 22; against, 41.

From the following official summary of the election returns in 1876, the date of the election being Novemer 7th, the candidates successful in the county may be determined:

For delegate to congress, Orange Jacobs, Republican, 169, John P. Judson, Democrat, 109; joint councilman, Levi Farnsworth, Republican, 212, H. Knapp, Democrat, 21, M. R. Hathaway, 10; prosecuting attorney, T. J. Anders, Republican, 140, N. T. Caton, Democrat, 83; representative, Edward Whitson, Republican, 133, S. T. Sterling, Democrat, 114, T. B. Barnes, 22; county commissioners, J. P. Sharp, S. Chappell, J. E. Bates, J. J. Lewis, Republicans, 146, 127, 88 and 124 votes respectively, David Longmire, Charles Eaton, A. J. McDaniel and C. P. Cooke, Democrats, 122, 42, 23 and 45 votes respectively, E. Bird, 94, scattering, 7; sheriff and assessor, J. J. Burch, Democrat, 119, George Carpenter, Republican, 9, J. K. Milligan, Independent, 133; auditor, J. W. Masters, Republican, 151, G. W. Parish, Democrat, no, J. A. Splawn, 17; treasurer, A. J. Pratt, Republican, 125, G. W. Carey, Democrat, 117, W. Lyons, 13; probate judge, James Kesling, Republican, 126, I. H. Brooks, Democrat, 100, Charles Splawn, 39; school superintendent, J. P. Marks, Republican, 133, J. W. Beck, Democrat, 104, Charles O'Neal, 2S; surveyor, C. A. Wilcox, Democrat, 149, R. Beck, Republican, 115; coroner, James W. Allen, Republican, 224; for the constitution, 44; against, r. At this election C. P. Headley, Joseph Schanno, John R. Filkin, James Bates and I. B. Brush were elected justices of the

Central Washington

For delegate to congress, Thomas H. Brents, Republican, 212, N. T. Caton, Democrat, 20S, showing that in national politics the county's population was quite evenly divided; brigadiergeneral, John H. Smith, Republican, 201, George W. Hunter, Democrat, 100; adjutant-general, A. Glovah, Republican, 201, J. R. Odell, Democrat, 99; commissary-general, D. W. Smith, Republican, 198, J. S. Walker, Democrat, 101 ; quar.termaster-general, F. W. Sparling, Repulican, 201, C. D. Emery, Democrat, 49, O. F. Gerrish, 27; prosecuting attorney, W. G. Langford, Republican, 220, R. F. Sturdevant, Democrat, 192; joint councilman, R. O. Dunbar, Republican, 209, Hiram Dustin, Democrat, 201 (elected); representative, Captain Levi Farnsworth, Republican, 222, C. P. Cooke, Democrat, 183; probate judge, James Kesling, Republican, 99, L. H. Brooks, Democrat, 160, Joseph Schanno, Independent, 149; auditor, J. W. Masters, Republican, 245, G. J. Gervais, Democrat, 160; sheriff and assessor; J. O. Clark, Republican, 119, F. D. Schnebty, Democrat, 221, Moses Splawn, 70; commissioners, first district, J. R. Filkin, Republican, 131, David Longmire, Democrat, 276, second district, R. N. Cannady, Republican, 168, A. A. Meade, Democrat, 244, third district, S. Chappell, Republican, 186, A. J. McDaniel, Democrat, 215; treasurer, A. J. Pratt, Republican, 237, J. A. Splawn, Democrat, 172; school superintendent, William Caps, Republican, 198, G. W. Parish, Democrat, 205; coroner, C. J. Taft, Republican, 194, A. J. McKinsey, Democrat, 210; surveyor, Levi Farnsworth, Republican, 302, scattering, 8; for constitution, 210, against, 90. J. W. Beck was elected justice of the peace in Yakima precinct, G. W. McGlothlen in Selah precinct, George Parish in West Kittitas, and F. M. Streamer in East Kittitas.

Beginning with 187S the growth of the county's population was very rapid, as will be seen from the votes cast. In 1878 there were 420 votes cast for delegate; in 1880 there were 595, a gain of nearly 30 per cent, in two years. No unusual incidents marked the latter election, national issues overshadowing, even though the voters were denied a voice in national government. November 5th, the election was held, the vote cast on that day being as follows:

On March 31, 1882, the county building at Yakima City was destroyed by fire, burning the archives which had been accumulating there for a decade and a half. Except a few odd and unimportant reports, every record was devoured by the flames, entailing a loss upon the county which can never be repaired. The county immediately began work upon a new and larger courthouse, which was completed in due time and which does service to-day.

No. 1. - Commencing at a point at the mouth of the Ahtanum creek; thence running up said creek to its head, thence in a westerly course to the county line, thence north along said county line to a point due west from the summit of the dividing ridge between Wenas and Umptanum creeks, thence easterly to said dividing ridge, thence along said ridge in an easterly direction to the Yakima river, thence down said river to the place of beginning.

No. 2. - Commencing at a point where the north line of district No. 1 intersects the Yakima river near Squaw creek, thence up said creek to the summit of the mountain, thence in an easterly course to the head of Priest rapids on the Columbia river, thence up said river to the north boundary of Yakima county, thence west along said boundary line to a point due west of the dividing ridge between Wenas and Umptanum creeks, thence easterly to said dividing ridge, thence along said dividing ridge in an easterly course to the place of beginning.

In 1882 the county was divided into twelve precincts, which, together with the name of the voting place in each, are herewith given: Horn, James Baxster's residence; Parker, schoolhouse; Yakima City, courthouse; Ahtanum, Marks' schoolhouse; Cowiche, old schoolhouse; Wenas, schoolhouse; West Kittitas, Packwood schoolhouse; East Kittitas, Ellensburg; Peshastin, Lockwood & Cooper's; Simcoe, agency; Alder creek, Beckner's schoolhouse; Moxee, Charles Splawn's house. The only record of the election of 1882 which we have found shows only the vote for territorial officers. By these returns Thomas Burke, Democratic candidate for delegate, is credited with 301 votes, Thomas H. Brents, Republican, with 478; Samuel Vinson, Democrat, for brigadier-general, 358, M. A. McPherson, Republican, 400; W. A. Wash, Democrat, for commissary-general, 350, C. B. Hopkins, Republican, 447 ; D. W. Bomer, Democrat, for quartermaster-general, 327, J. H. Smith, Republican, 459; L. S. Debeau, Democrat, for adjutant-general, 322, R. G. O'Brien, Republican, 457; D. P. Ballard, Democrat, for district attorney, 264, R. O. Dunbar, Republican, 430. The legislative campaign was waged on the issue of division, the Kittitas valley deeming itself now strong enough to support a local government and demanding segregation. John A. Shoudy, of Ellensburg, received . the Republican nomination and was elected. In the fall of 1883 he carried out his pledge and succeeded in securing the creation of Kittitas county. The county officers elected to serve Yakima in 1S82 were: Commissioners, J. W. Masters, David Murray, S. R. Geddis, Republicans; sheriff-assessor, J. J. Tyler, Republican; treasurer, John A. Splawn, Democrat; probate judge, 1. A. Navarre, Republican; auditor, S. T. Munson, Republican; surveyor, T. H. Look, Republican; sheep commissioner, A. D. Eglin, Republican.

February 7, 1884, and S. R. Geddis was taken outside of Yakima county by the creation of Kittitas county. They were succeeded by M. M. Adams and H. H. Allen.

The whole territory was aroused in 1884 by an agitation of no small proportions which had for its purpose the cancellation of unearned Northern Pacific land grants. After a vexatious delay of many years the Northern Pacific had, in 1883, commenced work upon its Cascade branch, but there were still many hundreds of miles of unbuilt road for which an imperial domain had been granted the company. Stirred by thoughts that a monstrous wrong was being inflicted upon the people by the Northern Pacific corporation, a powerful anti-railroad party sprang up, which seriously upset party lines in 1884 and in 1886 also. In Yakima county J. M. Adams, editor of the Signal and afterwards editor of the Spokane Review, led the Anti- Monopoly party. Upon the occasion of the Republican county convention, held August 23d at Yakima City, for the purpose of nominating delegates to the territorial convention, a bloody affray was narrowly averted. One wing of the party wished to nominate Anti-Monopolist delegates; the other refused, whereupon hot words ensued. The prompt services of Sheriff Tyler prevented a physical collision, and the two factions finally agreed to occupy the hall in peace and each nominate a ticket. At the territorial convention contests were inaugurated by the two factions for seats, which resulted in the defeat of the Anti-Monopolist delegates. The Democrats nominated Voorhees upon an Anti- Monopolist ticket. Of the 41,858 votes cast for delegate that fall, Voorhees, Democrat, received 20,995, Armstrong, Republican, 20,747, scattering, 16, giving the office to Voorhees. Of this vote, fully 10,000 were cast by women. In Yakima county the vote cast was as follows:

566; school superintendent, Ella S. Stair, Republican, 505, W. F. Jones, Democrat, 508; surveyor, I. A. Navarre, Republican, 389, C. F. Reardon, Democrat, 619. Mr. Munson, auditor-elect, died before taking office, and the vacancy was filled by Kate W. Feuerbach, appointed by the board of county commissioners. John Cowan was appointed sheep commissioner by the board in February, 1885. The vote for county commissioners is missing, but the records show that John M. Young, L. N. Rice and P. J. Flint were elected. Young resigned in May, 18S5, and was succeeded by Ira Van Ant Werp; Rice resigned in August, 1886, and was succeeded by John W. Brice. In 1886, also, Sheriff Tyler, resigned, was succeeded by F. T. Parker, and Ross Elliot was appointed surveyor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Navarre.

By 18S6 the anti-railroad agitation had nearly died out, though the effect of it upon Yakima county politics was very noticeable for many years afterward, owing principally to the fact that it was here the movement really started and here it was the strongest. Local politics were considerably stirred by the entrance into the field of a number of independent or factional candidates; also by the hard feelings engendered by the removal of the county seat from Yakima City to North Yakima in that year. The removal was accomplished by an act of the legislature, approved by Governor Squires January 9th. The official vote was as follows:

An election held June 2S, 1886, for the purpose of deciding for or against local prohibition, resulted in a large affirmative vote being given in the precincts of North Yakima, Yakima, Wenas and White. No returns from other precincts are given.

There were no local issues of importance in 1S88, national issues predominating in view of the fact that earl)'- statehood was expected and the territory wished to make a strong showing for the benefit of the national parties. The territory went Republican by a large majority. The officers elected to serve Yakima county may be seen from the election returns which follow :

With statehood in 1S89 came an additional election, which was of especial interest to residents of Yakima county because of the candidacy of their metropolis for the honor of being state capital. As this matter is discussed fully elsewhere, it will not be necessary to take it up in this chapter. One of Yakima's honored citizens, Colonel L. S. Howlett, was a very prominent candidate before the Republican state convention at Walla Walla for governor. He was offered the nomination for lieutenant-governor, but declined. The state went Republican by from 9,000 to 11,000 majority. The vote in this county follows:

R. O. Dunbar, Republican, 584, W. D. White, Democrat, 481, T. L. Stiles, Republican, 503, J. L. Sharpstein, Democrat, 492, E. P. Hoyt, Republican, 563, J. P. Judson, Democrat, 482, T. J. Anders, Republican, 577, J. B. Reavis, Democrat, 483, E. D. Scott, Republican, 568, Frank Ganahl, Democrat, 482; superior judge, C. B. Graves, Republican, 620, Hiram Dustin, Democrat, 425 ; joint senator, J. M. Snow, Republican (elected), 538, R. M. Starr, Democrat, 523; representative, John Cleman, Republican, 544, David Longmire, Democrat, 523: clerk of the court, Richard Strobach, Democrat, 491, Dudley Eshelman, Republican, 552; constitution, for, 845, against, 115; woman suffrage, for, 356, against, 585; prohibition, for, 337, against, 589; state capital, North Yakima, 1,045, scattering, 27. The total state vote received by North Yakima was 14,707, by Ellensburg, 12,833, and by Olympia, 25,488. The constitution was adopted by a vote of 38,394 to 11,895. The woman suffrage article received 16,855 affirmative votes and 34,342 negative votes. Prohibition was defeated by a vote of 31,881 to 19,241.

The first political club organized in the county of which we have any record was formed at the city hall in North Yakima, August 19, 1S90, the following officers being chosen: President, B. F. Young; vice-presidents, W. L. Jones, J. K. Ward, J. J. Chambers, C. W. Henry and Wallace Wiley; secretary, M. H. Ellis; treasurer, F. B. Lippincott: executive committee, F. M. Spain, R. B. Milroy and John Reed. The club was Republican in political faith.

The Republican county convention met at North Yakima, in the courthouse, September 20th following. A week later the Democrats met at the same place. In strong contrast to the platform of the Republicans, the Democrats adopted a platform favoring the making of all money issued full legal tender for all debts ; favoring the proposition that the government loan money at a rate not exceeding two per centum per annum; condemning the donation of large tracts of public territory to private corporations; favoring the choosing of president, vice-president, senators and all other federal officers, where practicable, by direct vote of the people; demanding that old soldiers be paid the difference between the depreciated currency paid them and the price of gold when so paid; upholding the doctrine of government ownership of all public utilities, and asking for a readjustment of railroad rates in the state of Washington. The capital question not having been decided in 1S89, the voters again voted for their favorite cities in

1890, Olympia being chosen by a vote of 37,413 as against 7, 722. for Ellensburg, and 6,276 for North Yakima. The vote cast in this county in 1890 was:

1891. Besides the members of this order, there had gathered in the city representatives of the Farmers' Alliance, Good Templars, trade unions and kindred associations, who assembled the following afternoon with the Knights at Switzer's Hall and organized the People's party of Washington. Forty-one delegates presented credentials. Con Lynch, of King county, was chosen chairman, and R. Bridges, secretary. The Cincinnati platform was indorsed in the platform adopted by the party. E. B. Sutton, representing the state Temperance Alliance, endeavored to secure the adoption of woman suffrage and prohibition planks, but failed. Thus was given formal birth to the powerful third party in this state - -a party that was destined to give its two older rivals a battle royal for supremacy.

The People's party was formally organized in Yakima county, Wednesday, July 13th, by delegates representing the Farmers' Alliance, the Industrial Union, the Progressive Alliance and the Knights of Labor. The county convention 'was held at the same time. In its platform, the party indorsed and adopted the Omaha platform, and, among other things, protested against the "frivolous and false protests of the Northern Pacific Land Company in its efforts to defraud bona fide settlers out of their rights. " The Republicans held their county convention Saturday, July 30th, and the Democrats theirs August 13th. The Democratic nominee for governor this year was Honorable H. J. Snively, one of Yakima's most highly respected and popular citizens, whose nomination and campaign were an honor both to his home and to himself. But the Republican majority in the state was too great to be overcome by any Democrat, and Yakima's candidate went down to defeat with his associates. The official canvass of votes in this county shows the returns to be as follows:

For president, Harrison, 630, Cleveland, 502, Weaver, 375; members of congress, John L. Wilson, William H. Doolittle, Republicans, 602 and 601 respectively, Thomas Carroll, James A. Munday, Democrats, 539 and 518 votes respectively, J. C. Van Patton, M. F. Knox, Populists, 368 and 361 votes respectively; governor, John H. McGraw, Republican, 504, Henry J. Snively, Democrat, 604, C. W. Young, Populist, 405, Roger S. Greene, Prohibitionist, 23 ; lieutenantgovernor, Frank H. Luce, Republican, 571, Henry C. Willison, Democrat, 513, C. P. Twiss, Populist, 365, D. G. Strong, Prohibitionist, 21; secretary of state, James H. Price, Republican,

Two years later the Republicans maintained their lead in county and state politics, electing every officer in the county but two. Although the Populists made a strong fight, they failed to elect a single one of their nominees. North Yakima was honored by the holding of two state conventions at that place, the People's party convention on June 28th, and the Democratic convention September 20th. Colonel L. S. Howlett, of North Yakima, was a much-talked-of candidate for the Republican nomination for congressman in the eastern district and was very strongly supported by a host of admirers. The nomination, however, went to another section, Samuel Hyde, of Spokane, capturing the prize.

assembled and placed a ticket in the field. The Democrats met September 2 2d. As sounding the keynote of the local campaign the following excerpt is taken from the platform adopted by the Democratic party:

"We denounce the Republican officials of Yakima county from the highest to the lowest for their lavish and profligate expenditure of the people's money. When the present Republican officials came into power there was sufficient money in the treasury to redeem all outstanding warrants, leaving a considerable surplus to be drawn on in case of emergency. That emergency soon came in the form of a Republican landslide at the last election, and with it the greatest curse that ever befell the people of Yakima county. Notwithstanding the surplus left by a Democratic board of county commissioners and notwithstanding there became delinquent on April 1, 1894, one of the most enormous tax levies ever imposed on a free people in a free country in a time of peace, there are to-day warrants outstanding against the county aggregating approximately $70,000. The county is in debt in excess of five per cent, of the assessed valuation of all its property for county purposes alone, and that debt is still increasing. When the taxpayer assumes his portion of the indebtedness of the state and of the municipality and school district in which he may reside, in all of his property he has scarcely an equity of redemption left."

The silver movement reached Yakima county in strong force in 1895, resulting in the organization of a bimetallic league at Mason's Opera House, North Yakima, March 23d. Fully one hundred Democrats, Republicans and Populists answered the call for a mass-meeting. O. A. Fechter was elected chairman and William Ker secretary. A set of resolutions was adopted, the principal one of which reads as follows: "Fifth, without forsaking our political convictions on subjects other than the money question, we pledge ourselves to' subordinate these for the time being, to fight the battle for the remonetization of silver; and to vote for no candidate for the federal legislature who is not clearly pledged to such remonetization ; and should the National Bimetallic party be formed, nominate its candidate and enter on a campaign, we pledge ourselves to support such candidates."

The brilliant campaign of 1896 took Washington from the Republican column and placed it by a majority of more than 12,000 votes in the Silver ranks, a fusion of all the white metal supporters being effected. Bryan received 51,857 votes, McKinley, 39,244, Palmer, 1,446, and Levering, 737. Rogers, Fusionist, was elected over Sullian, by a majority of 12,800, to the governorship. There is no need to go into the details of this historic campaign, as they have been impressed indelibly upon the minds of the American people. It is sufficient to say that local issues were almost entirely lost sight of, that a host of the country's most eloquent orators held vast audiences spellbound by their pleadings, that even the school children carried the great issues into schoolroom and lyceum and there debated them with the earnestness of veterans, that party affiliations were dissolved when it came to the currency question, that political literature was made use of to an extent not theretofore even approximated, and that not only all America, but the whole world, became intensely interested in the spectacle of seventy millions of free people striving to successfully solve a vexatious and momentous problem of government.

ulists, carried everything. Their convention was held Monday, August ioth, at North Yakima, where, in fact, the other parties held their conventions also. The Republicans met Saturday, August 22d; the Prohibitionists assembled about the same time and placed a ticket in the field. From the vote given herewith, an idea of the relative strength of the different parties may be gained:

Silver was again the main issue in 189S, the bimetallic forces still remaining together under the name of the People's party as in 1S96. In contrast to the previous campaign, however, both state and county went strongly Republican, the Fusionists securing but one office in the county, that of superintendent of schools. The Fusion convention was held at Mason's Opera House, North Yakima, September 3d; the Republicans assembled at the courthouse a week later. The election passed off quietly, the following vote being cast:

For congressman, Wesley L. Jones, North Yakima, Francis W. Cushman, Republicans, 1,096 and 978 votes respectively, James Hamilton Lewis, William C. Jones, Fusionists, 927 and 857 votes respectively, Walter Walker, M. A. Hamilton, Socialist Labor, 9 and 12 votes respectively, A. C. Dicknison, C. L. Haggard, Prohibitionists, 25 and 22 votes respectively; justices supreme court, T. J. Anders, Mark A. Fullerton, Republicans, 1,019 and 1,005 votes respectively, Benjamin F. Heuston, Melvin M. Godman, Fusionists. 897 and 888 votes respectively, Thomas Young. Thomas Lowry, Socialists, 15 and 8 votes respectively; joint senator, with Klickitat, George H. Baker. Republican, 1,024 (elected), N. B. Brooks, Fusionist, 905 ; representative, Ira P. Englehart, Republican, 1,105, F. H. Colby, Fusionist, 826; sheriff, H. L. Tucker, Republican 985, A. J. Shaw, Fusionist, 913, Jock Morgan, Independent, 75; clerk, George Allen. Republican, 975, James R. Coe, Fusionist, 969; auditor, E. E. Kelso, Republican, 982, A. B. Flint, Fusionist, 970; treasurer, W. B. Dudley, Republican, 990, C. R. Donovan, Fusionist, 957; prosecuting attorney. John J. Rudkin, Republican, 1.025, Vestal Snyder, Fusionist, 910; assessor, Robert Scott, Republican, 1,054, J. L. Lasswell, Fusionist, 893 ; commissioners, first district, Frank Horsley, Republican, 1,075, J- P- McCafferty, Fusionist, S64, second district, A. D. Eglin, Republican, 994, Stephen Schreiner, Fusionist, 916; superintendent of schools, J. M. Richardson, Republican, 954, F. H. Plumb, Fusionist, 9S7; surveyor, Sydney Arnold, Republican, 992, H. F. Marble, Fusionist, 939; coroner, David Rosser, Republican, 1,069, Lewis Ker, Fusionist, 864; single tax amendment to constitution, yes, 347, no, 724; woman suffrage amendment, yes, 532, no, 542-

Jones' election to such an eminent position and his re-election in 1900 and 1902 may justly be considered a high testimonial to the man and a most pleasing recognition of his home county and city. In private life Mr. Jones is a successful attorney-at-law.

Although the campaign of 1900 was a most important as well as interesting one, it did not become so completely absorbing as that of 1896. The silver question was relegated to a secondary place, the first being given to our foreign policy. As is usually the case, local issues were driven into the background by national issues. The Republicans held their county convention at North Yakima August nth. A week later the Fusionists held theirs. The vote cast on November 6th was as follows:

63: superintendent of public instruction, R. B. Bryan, Republican, 1,444, Frank J. Browne, Fusionist, 1,062, A. H. Sherwood, Prohibitionist, 51, Raymond Bland, Socialist Laborite, 17, John

A feature of the last campaign, that of 1902, was the strength the Socialist party developed in this county, though they neither defeated nor elected any one. The office of state senator was the center of the struggle, the Democrats concentrating their strength upon that office and the office of sheriff, with successful results in each instance. As was to be expected, the two great parties almost completely absorbed the old Populist party, whose brilliant career is now a matter of history. Although passed away in name, this party has left an impression upon the present political condition of the nation which can be easily discerned, notably in the increasing demand for public ownership and control of public utilities. Washington is considered a Republican state, and Yakima county, judging by the vote in 1902, is certainly strongly Republican where national policies are concerned.

The Republicans held their county convention August 23d at North Yakima, being followed a week later by the Socialists, who nominated a full ticket. The Democrats met September 13th at the same place. A feature of their platform was an unqualified declaration opposing the pasturage of sheep in the forest reserves situated in the watershed of the Yakima river, or the leasing of any part of said reserves to sheep men. The

For congressmen, Wesley L. Jones, of North Yakima, Francis W. Cushman, William E. Humphrey, Republicans, 1,919, 1,772 and 1,748 votes respectively, George F. Cotterill, O. R. Holcomb, Frank B. Cole, Democrats, 932, 942 and 943 votes respectively, A. H. Sherwood, W. J. McKean, O. L. Fowler, Prohibitionists, 60, 61 and 64 votes respectively, J. H. C. Scurlock, D. Burgess, George W. Scott, Socialists, 173, 178 and 180 votes respectively; supreme court judges, Hiram E. Hadley, Republican, 1,705, James B. Reavis, Democrat, 1,010, Thomas Neill, Socialist, 181; state senator, Ira P. Englehart, Republican, 1,369, A. J. Splawn, Democrat, 1,411, James L. Courtwright, Prohibitionist, 69, H. D. Jory, vSocialist, 167; representatives, W. H. Hare, Robert Dunn, Republicans, 1,458 and 1,499 votes respectively, F. S. Hedger, J. P. Marks, Democrats, 1,267 and 1,199, A. H. Lyons, Dr. I. N. Richardson, Prohibitionists, 83 and So, Charles Richey, F. A. Hatfield, Socialists, 179 and 180 votes; sheriff, A. L. Dilley, Republican, 1,153, R. A. Grant, Democrat, 1.693, William I. Huxtable, Prohibitionist, 80, Hugh Stuart, Socialist, 143; clerk, J. W. Day. Republican, 1,729, W. J.