Chapter I…

Chapter I

POLITICAL HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY SINCE COUNTY DIVISION

Beginning in 1876 with reduced area, but with rapid growth and with encouraging outlook in all lines, Walla Walla County entered upon what might be described as the third stage of her growth, that from county division to statehood in 1889.

It is of interest to note a few statistics of the period of transition. In 1870 the population of the Old County was 5,102. In 1877, the reduced county showed a population, according to the assessor, of 5,056, while Columbia County had, by the assessor's report of the same year, 3,618. By the report of 1875, still the Old County, the assessed valuation was $2,792,065. In 1876, the valuation of the reduced county was $2,296,870. There were reported at the same time 5,281 horses, 239 mules, 11,147 cattle, 13,233 sheep, 4,000 hogs, 1,774 acres of timothy, 700 acres of corn, 2,600 acres of oats, 6,000 acres of barley, 21,000 acres of wheat and 700 acres of fruit trees.

STATEHOOD AND CONSTITUTION

The political subject of greatest general interest was Statehood and a Constitutional Convention leading thereto. The project of annexation to Oregon was by no means dead. Senator Mitchell of Oregon continued the efforts made by Senator Kelly. A considerable local interest, supported by the Walla Walla Union, and its able editor, P. B. Johnson, still urged annexation. One favorite idea, which has taken shape from time to time since, was to join Eastern Oregon with Northern Idaho into a new state. In the Congressional session of 1877-8, Delegate Orange Jacobs requested a bill for introducing Washington to statehood with the three counties of Northern Idaho added. But no action was taken by Congress. In spite of that the Territorial Legislature in November, 1877, passed a law providing for an election to be held April 9, 1878, to choose delegates to a convention to meet at Walla Walla on June 11, 1878. Up to that time, as we have seen, repeated attempts to secure a vote for a convention had failed in Walla Walla. The act of the Legislature provided that the convention should consist of fifteen members from Washington, with one, having no vote, from Idaho.

In pursuance of the announcement the election was duly held, though with the scanty vote of 4,223, not half the number of voters in the territory. The convention duly met at Science Hall in Walla Walla, and W. A. George of that city, one of the leading lawyers as well as one of the most unique characters of the Inland Empire, acted as temporary chairman.

The permanent organization consisted of A. S. Abernethy of Cowlitz County as president, W. B. Daniels and William Clark as secretaries, and H. D. Cook as sergeant-at-arms. After a lengthy session the convention submitted a constitution which was voted upon at the next general election in November. Though a considerable majority was secured, exactly two-thirds, the total vote of 9,693 fell considerably short of the vote cast for delegate, and it seems to have been generally interpreted in Congress as evidence that the people of the territory did not consider the time ripe for statehood. The whole matter was, therefore, indefinitely postponed.

That same election of 1878 was notable for Walla Walla in several respects. Two citizens of the city were rival nominees for the position of congressional delegate, Thomas H. Brents for the republicans and Nathan T. Caton for the democrats. It was the first election in which the republicans won in Walla Walla County. Mr. Brents had a majority of 146 in the county and 1,301 in the territory. The political tide had turned and from that time to the present the republicans have been, on any ordinary issue, overwhelmingly in the majority. In 1880 Mr. Brents was again chosen delegate, this time against Thomas Burke, the democratic candidate, and by a majority of 1,797. During the first term Mr. Brent endeavored to induce Congress to confer statehood upon the territory but unavailingly. Still again in 1882 Mr. Brents was honored, and with him also Walla Walla, and in fact the territory honored itself in the re-election of one of its most useful and popular citizens, by another term as delegate. During the six years of Mr. Brents' incumbency the territory was making tremendous strides. The projection of the Northern Pacific and Oregon Short Line Railroads, the sale of Doctor Baker's railroad in 1879 to the O. R. & N. R. R., the Villard coup d'état in 1883 made the decade of the '80s the great building period for the territory and for Walla Walla. It was evident that there was abundant justification for the creation of a new state. Mr. Brents kept the subject alive in Congress up to and through 1885, when his term expired, and he was succeeded by one of the most brilliant and popular politicians and lawyers ever in the territory, C. S. Voorhees. Mr. Voorhees, son of the "Tall Sycamore of the Wabash," was, of course, a democrat, and though at that time quite young, exercised a large influence both at home and at the capital. He was twice chosen Delegate, in 1884 and 1886. In 1888 the office returned to Walla Walla and to the republican party. In that year John B. Allen began his distinguished career at the national capital. He had held the position of United States attorney, succeeding Judge Wingard, from 1875 to 1886. In the latter year he removed to Walla Walla, and his career from that time on was a part of the history of his home city and of the territory and state.

As we have seen, E. P. Ferry was governor at the time of county division in 1875. He held the office until 1880. W. A. Newell was the next governor holding the position for four years, when Watson C. Squire received the appointment, retaining the place till 1887. Following came Eugene Semple for two years. The period of statehood was now near at hand, and it may well be a matter of pride and interest to Walla Walla that by appointment of President Harrison the last territorial governor was a citizen of this place, Miles C. Moore. Governor Moore had left his home in Ohio in 1860 hardly more than a boy, and after some adventures in Montana, had reached Walla Walla in 1862, to become from that time onward one of the most eminent citizens as well as one of the foremost business men of the community and of the Northwest. It was recognized throughout the territory that the appointment was exceedingly fitting from the standpoint of capacity to fulfill the duties of the office, and was also a suitable compliment to the historic city and mother county of Walla Walla. Although Governor Moore's term was short, it possessed the unique interest of covering the transition from territoryhood to statehood of what in general judgment is destined to become one of the most important commonwealths of the Union, and hence it cannot in the nature of the case be duplicated by any other term.

ENABLING ACT

The Enabling Act of Congress, approved by President Harrison on February 22, 1889, had the unique distinction of being the only one providing for the erection of four states at once. These were Washington, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. As indicating the fundamental basis on which the four states rest, the reader will be interested in the following provisions of the Enabling Act:

"And said conventions shall provide by ordinances irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of said states:

First. That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured, and that no inhabitant of said states shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship.

Second. That the people inhabiting said proposed states do agree and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries thereof, and to all lands lying within said limits owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribes; and that until the title thereto shall have been extinguished by the United States, the same shall be and remain subject to the disposition of the United States, and said Indian lands shall remain under the absolute jurisdiction and control of the congress of the United States; that the lands belonging to citizens of the United States residing without the said state shall never be taxed at a higher rate than the lands belonging to residents thereof; that no taxes shall be imposed by the states on lands or property therein belonging to or which may hereafter be purchased by the United States or reserved for its use. But nothing herein, or in the ordinances herein provided for, shall preclude the said states from taxing as other lands are taxed, any lands owned or held by any Indian who has severed his tribal relations, and has obtained from the United States or from any person a title thereto by patent or other grant, save and except such lands as have been or may be granted to any Indian or Indians under any act of Congress containing a provision exempting the lands thus granted from taxation; but said ordinances shall provide that all such lands shall be exempt from taxation by said states so long and to such extent as such act of Congress may prescribe.

Third. That the debts and liabilities of said territories shall be assumed and paid by said states respectively.

Fourth. That provision shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of systems of public schools, which shall be open to all the children of said states and free from sectarian control."

In accordance with the Enabling Act, the Constitutional Convention of Washington Territory met at Olympia, July 4, 1889. The constitution prepared during the fifty-day session was ratified at the polls on October 1, 1889. Of the seventy-five members of the convention three represented Walla Walla, two were from Dayton, and one from Pomeroy. It may be safely said that every one was a man in whose knowledge and judgment his fellow citizens could repose confidence, while the personal character of each was such as to secure the hearty affection of his community. The entire convention, in fact, was a body of whom the state has always been proud, and being to a peculiar degree the result of popular choice the election of such men is a convincing evidence of the worth and capacity of democratic institutions. Not the least of the counties to be congratulated on their choices were those composing Old Walla Walla.

The members of the convention from Walla Walla included two of the foremost lawyers of the territory, Judge B. L. Sharpstein, whose long life left a legacy of good deeds to his city and state and whose foremost position at the bar has been maintained by his sons, and D. J. Crowley, one of the most brilliant lawyers ever known in the state, whose residence in Walla Walla was short, though his influence was great. His early death was a great loss to the state. Dr. N. G. Blalock, the "Good Doctor," honored and loved perhaps beyond any other man in the history of Walla Walla, was the other representative of his county. It was a source of just pride to Doctor Blalock that he was the author of the provision forbidding the sale of school land at less than ten dollars per acre. By this and other allied provisions the school lands have been handled in such a way as to provide a great sum for the actual use of the children of the commonwealth, instead of being shamefully squandered by culpable officials, as has been the experience in some states, notably our sister state of Oregon. Judge Sharpstein and Doctor Blalock were democrats in political faith, but neither was a partisan. Mr. Crowley was a republican.

S. G. Cosgrove of Pomeroy was the representative of Garfield and Asotin counties, one of the best of men and one of the ablest lawyers of his section, later elected governor of the state, but dying almost immediately after his inauguration, to the profound regret of men of all parties. He was an independent republican in politics. He had been a college classmate and intimate friend of Vice President Fairbanks. The delegates from Columbia County were M. M. Godman, a democrat, one of the leading lawyers and foremost politicians of the state, subsequently a member of the Public Service Commission of the State, and R. F. Sturdevant, a republican, also a lawyer of high ability and well proven integrity, afterwards the superior judge of this district.

By the twenty-second article of the Constitution the legislature was so apportioned that Asotin and Garfield counties constituted the Sixth Senatorial District entitled to one senator and each was entitled to one representative in the House; Columbia became the Seventh District, having one senator and two representatives; and Walla Walla composed the Eighth District with two senators, and in the House three representatives.

The first legislature of 1889-90 had in its senate, from our four counties, C. G. Austin of Pomeroy for Garfield and Asotin; H. H. Wolfe of Dayton for Columbia; Platt Preston of Waitsburg and George T. Thompson of Walla Walla for Walla Walla. The representatives were: William Farrish of Asotin City for Asotin and Garfield; H. B. Day of Dayton and A. H. Weatherford of Dayton for Columbia; and J. M. Cornwell of Dixie, J. C. Painter of Estes, and Z. K. Straight of Walla Walla for Walla Walla County.

That first legislature enacted that the senate should henceforth consist of thirty-four members, and the house of seventy-eight; that the counties of Garfield, Asotin, and Columbia should constitute the Eighth Senatorial District, entitled to one senator; that the counties of Franklin and Adams, and the Third and Fourth wards of the City of Walla Walla, and the precincts of Wallula, Frenchtown, Lower Touchet, Prescott, Hadley, Eureka, Hill and Baker, of Walla Walla County, should constitute the Ninth Senatorial District, entitled to one senator; that the First and Second wards of the City of Walla Walla, and the precincts of Waitsburg, Coppei, Dry Creek, Russell Creek, Mill Creek, Washington, and Small, should compose the Tenth Senatorial District, entitled to one senator; that Asotin should constitute the Eighth Representative District with one representative; Garfield, the Ninth with one representative; Columbia, the Tenth with one; the First and Second wards of Walla Walla City, with the precincts of Waitsburg, Coppei, Dry Creek, Russell Creek, Mill Creek, Washington, and Small, the Eleventh District with one representative; and the Third and Fourth wards of Walla Walla City, with the precincts of Wallula, Frenchtown, Lower Touchet, Prescott, Hadley, Eureka, Hill, and Baker, the Twelfth District with one representative.

Such was the induction of the State of Washington into the Union, and the representation of our four counties in the first Legislature. We shall give later the delegations to subsequent legislatures, with the lists of county officers.

Politics in the new state bubbled vigorously at once and during the twenty-seven years of statehood Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Asotin have played their full parts in state affairs. To enter into an extended account of state politics is beyond the scope of this work. We can speak of it only at its points of contact with our county history.

In the first election of United States senators November, 1889, John B. Allen of Walla Walla, and Watson C. Squire were chosen, the former drawing the four-year term, which entitled him to the place until March 4, 1893. The senatorial election of 1893 was one of the most extraordinary in the history of such elections and involved a number of distinguished men in this section of the state. The fundamental struggle was between the adherents of John B. Allen of Walla Walla and George Turner of Spokane, both republicans. It became a factional fight of the bitterest type. One hundred and one ballots were taken unavailingly and then the Legislature adjourned sine die, with no choice. The last ballot records the names of two citizens of Walla Walla, one of Dayton, and one now, although not then, a citizen of Walla Walla. The Walla Walla candidates were John B. Allen with fifty votes, lacking seven of a majority, and Judge B. L. Sharpstein. The Dayton name was that of J. C. Van Patten, and the name of the present citizen of Walla Walla was Henry Drum, now warden of the penitentiary.

Upon the failure of the Legislature to elect, Governor McGraw appointed John B. Allen to fill the vacancy. Proceeding to Washington Mr. Allen presented his case to the Senate, but in that case, as in others, that body decided and very properly, that the state must go unrepresented until the Legislature could perform its constitutional duties. It is safe to say that that experience, with similar ones in other states, was one of the great influences in causing the amendment to the Constitution providing for direct election by the people. The spectacle of the Legislature neglecting its law-making functions to wrangle over the opposing ambitions of senatorial aspirants, fatally impaired the confidence of the people in the wisdom of the old method of choice. That amendment may be regarded also as one of the striking manifestations of American political evolution, in which there has come a recognition of the danger of legislative bodies, chosen by popular suffrage, becoming the tools of personal or corporate interests instead of the servants of the people who chose them, and by which, in consequence, the evils of popular government are being remedied by being made more popular.

Two other citizens of Walla Walla have represented the state in the National Congress, and several others have been willing to. These are Levi Ankeny and Miles Poindexter, the latter having begun his political career at Walla Walla, but having removed to Spokane and become superior judge there before entering upon his term as congressman in 1909 and senator in 1911, to be re-elected in 1916. Senator Ankeny, one of the most prominent of the permanent citizens of Walla Walla, and one of the greatest bankers in the Northwest, being president of eleven banks in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, was elected senator in 1903 and served until 1909. He was deservedly popular throughout the section in which he lived, for his broad and generous business methods as well as for his general character. During the hard times of the '90s, in which many of the farmers of Walla Walla and Columbia counties were next door to ruin, it is remembered that Mr. Ankeny could have acquired by foreclosure of his immense loans lands whose value is now tenfold the amount of the mortgages of those hard times. But by aiding and encouraging the struggling farmers of that time and neglecting the advantage which he himself might have gained he kept them upon their feet and thus conferred an immeasurable benefit not only upon individuals, but upon the country as a whole. During Mr. Ankeny's term in the Senate extensive improvements were made in the buildings at Fort Walla Walla.

THE PENITENTIARY

Another of the leading political connections of Walla Walla County with the state was the penitentiary. This institution was removed from Seatco to Walla Walla in 1887. The county commissioners at that time were F. W. Paine, Francis Lowden, and Platt Preston. These men, and particularly Mr. Paine, felt that not only from the standpoint of the state, for desirability of location and economy of subsistence, but from the fact that constructive works might be operated which could be of benefit to the farmers of the region, this change of place would be wise. The most distinctive features of labor have been the brick yards, which did a very large and profitable work for many years and were discontinued in 1900 to allow the management to put the main force upon the jute mills, for the making of grain bags and rugs and other fabrics. This system of constructive labor by the inmates of the penitentiary is to be attributed largely to the intelligent business conceptions as well as philanthropic interest in the men by Mr. F. W. Paine and Mr. W. K. Kirkman. They had formed the impression that for the sake of health of mind and body in the prisoners systematic labor was a necessity, and also that the products of that labor might go for to lighten the burdens of tax payers. Their theory has been triumphantly vindicated by the history of the penitentiary. Not at all times in the thirty years of its existence has the institution been conducted in the interest either of reclamation of criminals or of saving expense to the state. As in all such cases there have been times when the main aims were political rather than penal or economic, and there have been still more times when the other party said they were, even when governors, boards, and wardens were doing their best in the public interest.

The wardens in order of service, several of them being citizens of Walla Walla, and about an equal number coming from other parts of the state, have been John Justice, F. L. Edmiston, John McClees, J. H. Coblentz, Thomas Mosgrove, J. B. Catron, Frank Kees, F. A. Dryden, Charles Reed and Henry Drum.

There have been a number of tragic events in the history of the penitentiary of which perhaps the most thrilling was the attempted escape of a large number of prisoners during the wardenship of Mr. McClees in 1891. At that time it was the practice to run a train of flat cars to Dixie to get clay for the brick yards. Two desperadoes conceived the idea of capturing a train as it went through the gate, loading a number of prisoners on it, running to Dixie, there turning loose on the farms, getting horses and provisions, and striking out for the mountains. It was a bold, well-conceived project and came near execution. A number of prisoners were "in" on the scheme, and at the given signal, several who were experienced engineers and firemen performed their part of the plot by seizing the locomotive. At the same instant the two ringleaders by a bold dash seized Warden McClees and walked him toward the gate, commanding him on pain of instant death to order the opening of the gates and the clearing of the track for the passage of the train. The warden preserved most extraordinary nerve, even while the two ruffians were holding over his head knives which they had snatched up from the kitchen. In the instant he called out to Phil Berry, one of the guards on the wall, whom he knew to be a dead shot, "Be cool, Phil, take your time!" Even while the two knives were in the very act to strike, Berry's rifle cracked twice in succession, and the leaders fell on either side of the warden, each with a bullet in his heart. About the quickest work of the kind ever known here or elsewhere. The fall of the leaders disconcerted the whole program, and after a few moments of intense excitement the guards got control of the situation, and the affair was all over.

Another of the desperate events was the case of Warden J. H. Coblentz. He was an appointee of Governor McGraw and was the most conspicuous example of a purely political appointment. After a slashing career in which he endeavored to dictate the politics of the county purely in the interest of himself and his clique he found himself on the verge of exposure for irregularities in his accounts. Governor McGraw with other state officers came to Walla Walla to investigate, and while they were in the penitentiary office conducting the investigation, Coblentz, seeing that conviction was inevitable and knowing that if he himself became an innate of the penitentiary along with the prisoners whom he had abused, his life was not worth a nickel, anticipated the verdict, and snatching up a pistol, put it to his head and fell dead in the presence of the governor.

It is no disparagement to the earlier wardens--for the conditions probably did not make earlier action feasible--to say that Mr. Reed and Mr. Drum have represented a new order in the history of the penitentiary. Both have been students of criminology, are thinkers and philanthropists, and have inaugurated advanced methods which have placed the Washington penitentiary in the front rank of well conducted institutions of its class.

LOCAL POLITICAL HISTORY

Turning now from state connections to matters local to Walla Walla County it may be said that there was during the period of 1875-89 a marked tendency to that political conservatism which is apt to characterize a growing agricultural community. Walla Walla, like Portland, has been since its first era more of the Eastern type than of the characteristically Western. The general tendency has been, in politics as in business, to play safe and not make reckless experiments. This attitude is denominated wisdom or moss-backism by different parties very much according to their viewpoint, and especially whether they are "in" or "out." The great "isms" which swept the country in the '80s and '90s, populistic movements as represented by Bryan and other great leaders, in general received the cold shoulder from Walla Walla. That statement should be qualified to considerable degree, however, by the fact that the combination of democrats, populists, and silver republicans, carried several elections, and that even the republican leaders very largely accepted the doctrine of "16 to 1."

There were also, even in conservative Walla Walla, many enthusiastic followers of Governor John R. Rogers, "Wheat Chart" Jones, Judge Ronald, and that most brilliant and spectacular of all the politicians of the period, the "pink-whiskered" James Hamilton Lewis, whose great abilities, even under the outward guise of certain "airs" and "fopperies," have been conceded by his critics and detractors down to the present date of his distinguished service as senator from Illinois. It is remembered, however, by men of both parties that at a certain historic joint debate in Walla Walla on October 22, 1898, even the brilliant "Dude Lewis" was somewhat seriously "beaten up," metaphorically speaking, by Wesley L. Jones, and that the former somewhat lost prestige as a result, and that the latter was launched by that event upon what has proved to be a continuous service in Congress as representative and senator from 1899 to the present date.

A few figures of elections during that period will be found of interest. In 1889, Ferry, republican candidate for governor, the first under statehood, received in Walla Walla County 1,433 votes to 1,186 for Semple, the democratic candidate. In 1892 McGraw, republican, had 1,211 to 1,322 for Snively, democrat. There were a few votes for Greene and Young in the latter election, so that the total vote in 1892 was 2,897, as against 2,619 in 1889.

The presidential vote of 1892 shows that Walla Walla County cast for the highest republican elector 1,362 ballots and for the highest democratic 1,313, with a few for the people's party and prohibitionists, a total of 2,889. In the presidential election of 1896, the republican vote was 1,596, the people's party (fusion of democrats, populists and silver republicans) had a vote of 1,652, while there were a few prohibitionists and gold democrats, a total of 3,349. Comparing these figures with those of 1908 and 1916, the following interesting results appear: in 1908. Bryan, 1,660; Taft, 2,843; a few for others, so that the total was 4,676; for governor, Pattison, democrat, 1,881; Cosgrove, republican, 2,670--total vote, 4,551. In 1916, results were: Wilson, 4,421; Hughes, 4,403; total, 8,824; for senator, Turner, democrat, 3,328; Poindexter, progressive republican, 5,454; for governor, Lister, democrat, 4,991; McBride, republican, 4,040. The great increase in the last election is due to woman suffrage.

Analysis of the above and of other election returns plainly signifies that while Walla Walla County may in general terms be considered conservative, there is a healthy balance of parties, and that no particular group of politicians can count with any certainty on "delivering the goods." The result of the last election in these counties of Old Walla Walla, as well as the state at large and indeed the West as a whole, may be considered as a demonstration of the progressive and independent spirit of this new country, which resents "bossism" and "back-room" politics and moves ever steadily toward genuine democratic government. While on general views of historic questions, particularly those concerned with slavery and secession and those bearing upon nationalism as against state rights, these sections are overwhelmingly republican, after the historic views of Clay, Webster, Lincoln, Seward, Blaine, and other national leaders, yet upon the newer issues of economics, government control of railroads and other public utilities, and foreign relations, they may be counted on to do their own thinking and to make decisions very disconcerting to the old-time bosses.

In connection with the figures which we gave it is interesting as a side light on population and the shiftings of growth to give here certain figures of comparison between Old Walla Walla and other parts of the state in early days and now. In 1880 the largest urban center was Walla Walla, with 3,588 people, Seattle was next with 3,533. Spokane had 350. In 1890, Walla Walla had 4,709; Seattle 42,837; Spokane, 19,922. In 1910, Walla Walla, 19,364; Seattle, 237,194; Spokane, 104,402. In 1917, estimated: Walla Walla, 25,000; Seattle, 330,843; Spokane, 125,000. The enormous increase in population upon the Sound as commercial center, and at Spokane as a prospective manufacturing and an actual railroad center, is simply an indication of the natural tendencies of trade and industry characteristic of the world's growth. A purely agricultural region cannot expect to keep pace with those marked out by nature for commerce and manufacturing.

It is, however, an interesting point in the history of Walla Walla whether, if it had "taken the tide at the flood," it might not have maintained its leadership as an inland city. It is a favorite idea with some of the best observers among the old-timers that Walla Walla, instead of Spokane, might have been the manufacturing and transportation center for the Inland Empire, if certain conditions had been fulfilled. The first of those was location. The true spot for the large city in the Walla Walla Valley was where Touchet is now located. While Walla Walla is an admirable location for a large town, the Touchet region is better. The great point, however, is elevation. Walla Walla is 920 feet above sea level, Touchet is 447. Walla Walla is thirty-two miles from the Columbia River, Touchet is sixteen. It would have been quite feasible to make a canal from Touchet to the Columbia. That question was agitated and if the town had been there instead of on Mill Creek, it would no doubt have been made. If that had been done, or even if not, the railroad and wagon haul to Touchet was so much easier and shorter, as to represent a great saving in cost of transportation. If that condition of location had been realized, and if inducements had been offered to the Northern Pacific Railroad builders, it is asserted by those who know that that railroad would have preferred Walla Walla (or Touchet) as its chief point in interior Washington. The difference between 920 and 447 feet would have been determinative of grades. The Northern Pacific officials were really desirous--so it is claimed--to take a more southern route, following the Mullan Road through the Bitter Roots, then down the Clearwater and the Snake to a point on the Lower Walla Walla. Finding no local encouragement or inducements, they finally undertook the more northern route, and Spokane is the result. However, all that is matter of conjecture, rather than demonstration.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE AND PROHIBITION

One of the questions of Walla Webs politics, as of the rest of the state and indeed of the country, was woman suffrage. As the logical evolution of democracy that view of suffrage appealed to the Western man, and the conventional objections had little weight with him. Pressure was brought from all sides upon the legislative delegations to submit the proposition to a popular election--and when that occurred in 1908, it carried in the county and the state by a heavy vote. It has seemed to the voters of both sexes so natural a condition that they can now hardly conceive of any other. The woman suffrage amendment came with a remarkable quietude and almost as a matter of course.

Far more vigorously contested was the question of prohibition. For many years Waitsburg and almost all the farming country had been strongly in favor of prohibition. Waitsburg had under the local option law excluded saloons. But the saloon influences were strong in Walla Walla City, and underground agencies of sundry kinds had maintained a tight grip on municipal politics. At various times somewhat spasmodic waves of moral reform swept over the city, as in the organization of the Municipal League in 1896 and in other similar movements at later times. But in general both city and county politics, as in most parts of the United States, were seemingly dominated by the liquor interests. Yet all through those years there was in progress one of those elemental popular movements going down to the very foundations of society which when finally directed toward a definite end become irresistible. Moral, economic, sanitary, educational, religious, domestic influences, were for a generation moulding the opinions of an army of voters and the combined effect began to be manifest from about 1900 onward to a degree that even the blindest could not fail to see. In 1908, 1910 and 1912, a determined and growing effort by the farmers who had seen the economic loss through laborers and even their own sons going to town and carousing and so losing a day or more every week, started a corresponding movement in town. At first not successful, the campaign kept gaining. Councilmen in the city and commissioners in the county were chosen more and more in the direction of reform. The churches, Young Men's Christian Association, schools, women's organizations, Salvation Army, Good Templars, and especially the Anti-Saloon League, each contributed its push. A city election under the local option law occurred in 1912. The conservative business interests opposed the proposition and even imported distinguished speakers from the East, particularly from the beer center, Milwaukee, and on election day the liquor traffic (styled "Personal Liberty") was still in the saddle. But it was clear that the vote of the city, combined with that of the county, would come back with greater strength in another election, and some of the more far-seeing liquor dealers began arrangements to enter other business. In the great historical election of 1914, the State of Washington secured a definite prohibition law by referendum, though with the "permit" system of personal importation of limited amounts of liquor. Walla Walla County was one of the strong counties in support of the law, being surpassed only by Yakima and Whitman in majority for the measure. It was to a degree an "East Side" victory, for the East Side gave over 25,000 affirmative while the West Side, due to the heavy negative vote of Seattle, gave 10,000 negative. None who was in Walla Walla during the strenuous campaign in October of 1914 will forget the powerful addresses in favor of the law by H. S. Blandford, one of the most eloquent speakers known in this section. His thrilling appeals and incontrovertible arguments brought many voters to the standard of prohibition. His lamented death in 1915 robbed the Walla Walla bar of one of its brightest ornaments.

Old John Barleycorn died hard, and in the election of 1916 the battle was fought over again by a vote on several initiative and referendum measures, as a result of which the "permit" system was replaced by a "bone-dry" law, and the liquor propositions were buried so deep that no resurrection now seems possible. In Walla Walla the gloomy predictions as to unused buildings and ruined business and overwhelming taxation have failed of fulfillment to a degree to make them absurd.

The most prominent questions of local improvement during recent years in Walla Walla County have been the new courthouse and the paving and other improvement of roads. Several elections of commissioners turned upon the first question. There were three propositions ardently advocated from 1910 to 1914. One was to repair the old building, though it had been condemned by experts; another was to make a costly structure at a maximum outlay of $300,000; the third proposal was for a substantial, but plain and modest building, of approximately a cost of $150,000. The latter proposition commended itself to the general judgment, and the commissioners of 1912 and 1914, H. A. Reynolds, E. D. Eldridge, and J. L. Reavis, interpreted their election as a commission to proceed with such a plan. The result has been realized in one of the most fitting and dignified and altogether attractive, though not showy, courthouses in the state, a just pride to the county and an object of admiration to visitors.

Of the road question it may only be said that it is in a formative state. Much money has been wasted in both city and country by ill-constructed pavements, and it can only be hoped that the next decade will see more definite progress than has characterized the experimental stage of the last.

We have given in a preceding chapter the tabulation of county officials to the time of county division in 1875. We now present the legislative delegations and the chief county officials from that date to the present:

LEGISLATIVE DELEGATIONS AND THE CHIEF COUNTY OFFICIALS

In 1876, Walla Walla County was represented in the Legislature by Daniel Stewart, councilman, and W. T. Barnes, William Martin, A. J. Gregory, and H. A. Vansycle, representatives. The county officers were: T. J. Anders, attorney; G. F. Thomas, sheriff; T. P. Page, auditor; W. O'Donnell, treasurer; Samuel Jacobs, assessor; P. Zahner, surveyor; A. W. Sweeney, superintendent of schools; L. H. Goodwin, coroner; D. J. Storms, James Braden, and Dion Keefe, commissioners.

The election in 1878 resulted thus: J. H. Day, councilman; J. A. Taylor, D. J. Storms, J. M. Dewar, and M. F. Colt, representatives; R. F. Sturdevant, attorney; R. Guichard, probate judge; J. B. Thompson, sheriff; W. C. Painter, auditor; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; S. Jacobs, assessor; P. Zahner, surveyor; C. W. Wheeler, superintendent of schools; J. M. Boyd, coroner; M. B. Ward, Amos Cummings and S. H. Erwin, commissioners.

In 1880, election results were these: B. L. Sharpstein, councilman; Jacob Hoover, joint councilman; R. R. Rees and W. G. Preston, representatives; J. M. Cornwell, joint representative; R. Guichard, probate judge; G. T. Thompson, attorney; W. C. Painter, auditor; J. B. Thompson, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; S. Jacobs, assessor; F. H. Loehr, surveyor; C. W. Wheeler, superintendent of schools; H. G. Mauzey, coroner; M. B. Ward, Amos Cummings and S. H. Erwin, commissioners; A. S. LeGrow, sheep commissioner. As may be seen from the above, nearly all the incumbents of 1878 were re-elected for another term. That policy became common in subsequent elections.

In 1882 we find the following choices: H. H. Hungate, A. G. Lloyd, and Milton Evans, representatives; G. T. Thompson, attorney; W. C. Painter, auditor; J. B. Thompson, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; William Harkness, assessor; F. H. Loehr, surveyor; J. W. Brock, school superintendent; R. Guichard, probate judge; M. B. Ward, Amos Cummings, and S. H. Erwin, commissioners; W. B. Wells, coroner; A. S. LeGrow, sheep commissioner.

The choices in 1884 were these: J. F. Brewer, William Fudge, and J. M. Dewar, representatives; E. K. Hanna, attorney; W. C. Painter, auditor; A. S. Bowles, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; L. H. Bowman, assessor; J. B. Wilson, surveyor; J. W. Morgan, superintendent of schools; R. Guichard, probate judge; H. R. Keylor, coroner; Amos Cummings, W. P. Reser, and W. G. Babcock, commissioners; A. S. LeGrow, sheep commissioner.

In 1886, results were as follows: Platt Preston and W. M. Clark, representatives; L. R. Hawley, auditor; A. S. Bowles, sheriff; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; M. H. Paxton, assessor; J. M. Allen, surveyor; Ellen Gilliam, superintendent of schools; T. C. Taylor, Joseph Paul, and Edwin Weary, commissioners; H. R. Keylor, coroner; Timothy Barry, sheep commissioner.

The election of 1888 brought these results: J. M. Dewar, councilman; E. L. Powell, W. H. Upton, and L. T. Parker, representatives; T. J. Anders, attorney; L. R. Hawley, auditor; J. M. McFarland, sheriff; M. McManamon, Edwin Weary, and J. W. Morgan, commissioners; H. W. Eagan, probate judge; J. F. Boyer, treasurer; M. H. Paxton, assessor; J. B. Gehr, school superintendent; L. W. Loehr, surveyor; Y. C. Blalock, coroner.

In 1889 came entrance to statehood, and of that we have already spoken. The election of October 1st, of that year provided for the choice of congressmen, state officers, legislators, judge of Superior Court, and county clerk. Of the first two we have given the ranks earlier.

The following were chosen members of that first State Legislature: George T. Thompson and Platt Preston, senators; J. C. Painter, J. M. Cornwell and Z. K. Straight, representatives.

All the above were republicans.

William H. Upton became superior judge for the district, including Walla Walla and Franklin counties. E. B. Whitman was chosen county clerk. Both were republicans. One strange thing was that Walla Walla, like the other counties of the group, voted against the Constitution.

The year 1890 saw the following members of the Legislature and local officers chosen: J. L. Sharpstein, dem., and J. C. Painter, rep., representatives; H. S. Blandford, dem., attorney; H. W. Eagan, dem., clerk; W. B. Hawley, rep., auditor; J. M. McFarland, rep., sheriff; R. Guichard, dem., treasurer; J. M. Hill, rep., Milton Aldrich, rep., and Francis Lowden, dem., commissioners; J. B. Gehr, rep., superintendent of schools; M. H. Paxton, rep., assessor; Y. C. Blalock, rep., coroner; L. W. Loehr, rep., surveyor.

Of the interesting national and state choices of 1892, we have already given the figures. The legislative and local results were these: A. Cameron, rep., Joseph Merchant, rep., and David Miller, dem., representatives; J. L. Roberts, rep., senator; W. H. Upton, rep., superior judge; H. W. Eagan, dem., clerk; Miles Poindexter, dem., attorney; W. B. Hawley, rep., and J. J. Huffman, dem., had a tie for auditor, and by mutual agreement the office was divided, each serving as principal one year and as deputy one year; C. C. Gose, dem., sheriff; H. H. Hungate, dem., treasurer; Edward McDonnell, J. B. Caldwell, and F. M. Lowden, all democrats, commissioners; E. L. Brunton, rep., superintendent of schools; T. H. Jessup, dem., assessor; J. B. Wilson, rep., surveyor; C. B. Stewart, dem., coroner.

As will be seen, that was a democratic year, eleven to seven.

The election of 1894, the "calamity year," reversed conditions, two democrats, Ellingsworth for sheriff and Nalder for commissioner, being the only successful democratic candidates. The outcome was thus: Joseph Merchant and J. W. Morgan, representatives; Mr. Morgan having but two the lead of Francis Garracht, his democratic competitor; R. H. Ormsbee, attorney; Le F. A. Shaw, clerk; A. H. Crocker, auditor; Wm. Ellingsworth, sheriff; M. H. Paxton, treasurer; E. L. Brunton, superintendent of schools; J. B. Wilson, assessor; E. S. Clark, surveyor; S. M. White, coroner; Frank Nalder and Amos Cummings, commissioners.

The year 1896 brings us to the great "16 to 1" campaign, Bryan and the "cross of gold," populists, and general upset of all political programs. In local, as in the national votes, the "Pp." appears with somewhat startling frequency.

Results appear as follows: John I. Yeend, Pp., state senator, ninth district; David Miller, Pp., state senator, tenth district; A. Matthoit, Pp., representative, eleventh district; J. H. Marshall, rep., representative, twelfth district; T. H. Brents, rep., judge Superior Court; Frank Sharpstein, Pp., attorney; A. H. Crocker, rep., auditor; J. E. Mullinix; Pp., clerk; Wm. Ellingsworth, Pp., sheriff; M. H. Paxton, rep., treasurer; E. S. Clark, rep., surveyor; Wm. Gholson, Pp., assessor; G. S. Bond, rep., superintendent of schools; W. D. Smith, rep., coroner; Milton Evans, Pp., and Oscar Drumheller, Pp., commissioners. Nine "Pps." and seven "Repubs."

In 1898 the normal dominance of the republicans was re-established. The democrats succeeded in electing the treasurer only, of all their candidates. Results were as follows: C. C. Gose, representative, twelfth district; Grant Copeland, representative, eleventh district; Frank Kees, sheriff; Schuyler Arnold, clerk; C. N. McLean, auditor; J. W. McGhee, Jr., treasurer, the solitary democrat; Oscar Cain, attorney; Walter Cadman, assessor; G. S. Bond, school superintendent; W. G. Sayles, surveyor; Y. C. Blalock, coroner; Delos Coffin and D. C. Eaton, commissioners.

Beginning with 1900 the results of elections placed the following in their respective positions:

1900--Superior judge, Thos. H. Brents; county auditor, Clark N. McLean; county sheriff, A. Frank Kees; county clerk, Schuyler Arnold; county treasurer, Wm. B. Hawley; county attorney, Oscar Cain; county surveyor, Willis G. Sayles; superintendent of schools, E. Elmer Myers; county coroner, Samuel A. Owens; commissioner first district, Delos Coffin (hold over); commissioner second district, Edward Cornwell; commissioner third district, Amos Cummings; justice of peace, Wm. Glasford; constable, J. C. Hillman.

1902--County sheriff, Charles S. Painter; county clerk, Arthur A. Hauerbach; county auditor, James Z. Smith; county treasurer, William B. Hawley; county prosecuting attorney, Lester S. Wilson; county assessor, Richard J. Berryman; superintendent of schools, J. Elmer Myers; county surveyor, Lewis W. Loehr; county coroner, Winfield D. Smith; county commissioner first district, Frank E. Smith; commissioner third district, J. N. McCaw; commissioner second district, Edward Cornwell (hold over); justice of peace, James J. Huffman; county constable, L. C. Goodwin.

1904--Superior judge, Thos. H. Brents; county sheriff, Charles S. Painter; county clerk, Dorsey M. Hill; county auditor, W. J. Honeycutt; county treasurer, Philip B. Hawley; county prosecuting attorney, Lester S. Wilson; county assessor, Richard J. Berryman; county superintendent of schools, Grant S. Bond; county surveyor, Lewis W. Loehr; county coroner, Winfield D. Smith; commissioner first district, Geo. Struthers; commissioner second district, John H. Morrow; commissioner third district, J. N. McCaw (hold over); justice of peace, James J. Huffman; constable, Nels O. Peterson.

1906--County sheriff, James S. Haviland; county clerk, Dorsey M. Hill; county auditor, J. N. McCaw; county treasurer, Wm. J. Honeycutt; county prosecuting attorney, Otto B. Rupp; county assessor, Michael Toner; county superintendent of schools, Grant S. Bond; county surveyor, Geo. Winkle; county coroner, Geo. MacMartin; commissioner second district, J. L. Harper; commissioner third district, Wm. G. Cordiner; commissioner first district, Geo. Struthers (hold over); justice of peace, J. J. Huffman; constable, N. O. Peterson.

1908--Superior judge, Thos. H. Brents; county sheriff, J. S. Haviland; county clerk, James Williams; county auditor, J. N. McCaw; county treasurer, J. Carter Smith; county prosecuting attorney, Everett J. Smith; county assessor, Mike Toner; county superintendent of schools, Josephine Preston; county engineer, G. W. Winkle; county coroner, Geo. MacMartin; commissioner first district, Fred Greenville; commissioner third district, Chas. F. Cummings; commissioner second district, J. L. Harper (hold over); justice of peace, T. M. McKinney; constable, N. O. Peterson.

1910--County sheriff, Michael Toner; county clerk, E. L. Casey; county auditor, Jack W. Sweazy; county treasurer, J. Carter Smith; county assessor, L. R. Hawley; county superintendent of schools, Josephine Preston; county prosecuting attorney, E. J. Smith; county engineer, L. W. Loehr; county coroner, Emmett Hennessey; commissioner first district, J. N. McCaw; commissioner second district, Marcus Zuger, Jr.; commissioner third district, Chas. F. Cummings (hold over).

1912--Superior judge, Thos. H. Brents; county sheriff, M. Toner; county clerk, E. L. Casey; county auditor, J. W. Sweazy; county treasurer, Alex Mackay; county prosecuting attorney, M. A. Stafford; county assessor, L. R. Hawley; commissioner second district, H. D. Eldridge; commissioner third district, Jim L. Reavis; commissioner first district, J. N. McCaw (hold over); justice of peace, T. M. McKinney; constable, N. O. Peterson; county superintendent of schools, Paul Johnson; county engineer, E. B. Shifley; county coroner, Emmett Hennessey.

1914--County sheriff, Lee Barnes; county auditor, C. F. Dement; county engineer, G. C. Cookerly; county assessor, Rolla Proudfoot; county prosecuting attorney, Earl W. Benson (J. W. Cookerly was chosen coroner, but on account of irregularity of law, the attorney performed duties of office); county clerk, Ed Buffum; county treasurer, Guy Allen Turner; county superintendent of schools, Paul Johnson; county justice of peace, T. M. McKinney; county constable, N. O. Peterson; superior judge, Ed C. Mills; commissioners, H. D. Eldridge, H. A. Reynolds and J. L. Reavis.

1916--County sheriff, Lee Barnes; county auditor, Chas. F. Dement; county clerk, Ed F. Buffum; county assessor, H. S. Buffum; county engineer, Grova C. Cookerly; county treasurer, Guy Allen Turner; county superintendent of schools, Paul Johnson; county prosecuting attorney, M. A. Stafford; county coroner, Geo. MacMartin; justice of peace, J. M. Douglass; county constable, Jack McKinzie; superior judge, Ed C. Mills; commissioners, A. C. Moore, J. L. Reavis and D. C. Eaton.

POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE CITY

Municipal politics demand our attention in the remainder of this chapter. Containing over two-thirds of the population of the county, as Walla Walla City does, it would be expected that it would control county affairs to a great degree. But it has usually happened, very fortunately, that the smaller towns, with the country precincts, have held the balance of power between contending factions in the city. Hence, there has been general harmony of action in the political development of the two units. The city has had its life and the county has had its life.

We have already considered or will consider so many of the important phases of the life of the city under topical subjects, schools, churches, newspapers, lodges and industries, that relatively little remains under the more distinctive heading of municipal politics. After the initial organization already described in earlier chapters we may perhaps say that the next marked state was the new charter granted by the Legislature in 1883. That was a special charter, the only one of the kind in the state. Under its provisions the council on February 22, 1884, passed an ordinance, No. 185, which divided the city into wards and provided for a number of councilmen. As a matter of historical reference, we deem it worth while to incorporate that ordinance here:

Ordinance No. 185 passed the council of the City of Walla Walla February 22, 1884, receiving the approval of the mayor on the same day, and being entitled as follows: "An ordinance to divide the City of Walla Walla into wards, and apportionment of councilmen." The text of the ordinance is as follows:

Section 1. The City of Walla Walla shall be and is hereby divided into four wards, to be known as the first, second, third, and fourth wards.

Sec. 2. The first ward shall be bounded as follows: Commencing at a point where the center of Main Street intersects the center of Third Street, thence southerly along the center of Third Street to the center of Birch Street, thence easterly along the center of Birch Street to the center of Second Street, thence southerly along the center of Second Street to the south boundary of the city; thence along the south boundary of the city easterly to the southeast corner of the city; thence northerly along the east boundary of the city to the center of Mill Creek; thence down Mill Creek to the center of East Main Street; thence along the center of East Main and Main streets in a westerly direction to the place of beginning.

Sec. 3. The second ward shall be bounded as follows: Beginning at the intersection of Main and Third streets; thence southwesterly along the center of Main Street to the west boundary line of the city; thence south along the west boundary line of the city to the southwest corner of the city; thence easterly along the south boundary of the city to the center of Second Street; thence northerly along the center of Second Street to the center of Birch Street; thence west along the center of Birch Street to the center of Third Street; thence northerly along Third Street to the place of beginning.

Sec. 4. The third ward shall be bounded as follows: Beginning at the center of Main and North Third streets where they intersect, thence running northerly on the center line of North Third Street to the center of Elm Street; thence northeasterly on the center line of Elm Street to the center line of North Second Street; thence northerly on the center line of North Second Street to the northern boundary line of the city; thence east along said northern boundary line of said city to the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty (20), in township seven (7) north, range thirty-six (36) east; thence south to the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of said section twenty (20); thence east to the northeast corner of the city; thence south to the center of Mill Creek; thence down the center of Mill Creek to the center of East Main Street; thence westerly along the center of East Main and Main streets to the place of beginning.

Sec. 5. The fourth ward shall be bounded as follows: Commencing at the center of Main and North Third streets where they intersect, thence running northerly on the center line of said North Third Street to the center of Elm Street, thence northeasterly on the center line of Elm Street to the center of North Second Street; thence northerly on the center line of North Second Street to the northern boundary line of the city; thence west on said northern boundary line to the northwest corner of said city; thence south along said west boundary line to the United States Military Reservation; thence easterly and then southerly on the line of said military reservation to the center of Main Street; thence easterly on the center line of Main Street to the place of beginning.

Sec. 6. The number of councilmen to which each ward is entitled shall be as follows: First ward, two councilmen; second ward, two councilmen; third ward, two councilmen; fourth ward, one councilman. And they shall be elected as is provided in section 7 of this ordinance.

Sec. 7. There shall be elected from the first, second and third wards each at the next general election and at every general election thereafter, one councilman, and in the fourth ward at the next general election and thereafter biennially, one councilman.

Sec. 8. All ordinances and parts of ordinances, so far as they conflict herewith, are hereby repealed.

ELECTION PRECINCTS

The city is divided into eight election precincts, designated as follows: Lewis, Clarke, Whitman, Steptoe, Mullan, Fremont, Stevens and Sims.

COMMISSION GOVERNMENT

Yet another change of great importance occurred by which in a special election of July 10, 1911, the commission form of government was adopted, 1,943 for and 1,049 against. This went into effect September 11, 1911, with A. J. Gillis as mayor. This step was one of the manifestations of that interesting evolution of political ideas common over the United States, perhaps especially in the West consisting of two working propositions which seem antagonistic and yet are not really so, but are rather parts of one movement under two different phases. The first has been the initiative and referendum and recall, by which in legislative matters a larger exercise of popular knowledge and oversight of laws is sought. That idea has a permanent place in Washington and most western states. The other idea is that of the commission form of city government, apparently just the reverse, by which executive authority is centralized and responsibility is localized in the hands of experts. If these two working forces may be harmonized in practical action, we may justly claim to have solved the fundamental questions of democracy and efficiency.

MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP OF WATER WORKS

Municipal ownership of water works and the creation of a system of sewerage have been two of the most important of all questions in the city. We have already described the water system inaugurated by J. D. Cook, J. P. Isaacs and H. P. Isaacs and subsequently acquired by the Baker-Boyer Bank. On July 11, 1881, the first election on municipal ownership occurred, and the proposal was defeated by an adverse majority of sixty-five. But the natural evolution of a city calls for the public ownership of the water system, and the agitation continued. In 1887 the Walla Walla Water Company had made a contract with the council by which, upon the fulfillment of certain improvements, they were to have exclusive right to furnish water for twenty-five years. But in spite of the contract, an ordinance providing for a public system was presented to the voters in 1893 under the mayoralty of John L. Roberts. By an overwhelming vote the ordinance carried. The water company brought suit to restrain the city from installing its system, pleading its contract. After a tedious course of litigation the suit at last reached the Supreme Court of the United States. There it was decided in favor of the Water Company. The city was thus left in a hole, after much expense. But popular opinion had become thoroughly committed to the policy of public ownership and by a special election on June 20, 1899, an ordinance was passed for the purchase of the entire property of the Water Company for the sum of $250,000. With the purchase of the water system went also the adoption of a sewerage system. Many improvements and extensions have been made of both. In April, 1907, the headworks and intake on Mill Creek were installed. Extracts from the last report of Water Supt. R. F. McLean are here inserted and from them can be derived a view of the present condition of the water and sewerage systems:

The present mileage of the pipes in the water system is approximately seventy miles, of which something more than twelve is in the conduits extending from the intake to the city, and something more than fifty-seven is in the distribution pipes. The number of fire hydrants is 300. There are 524 gate valves for isolating different districts as desired. On December 31, 1916, the date of the report, there were 3,961 water services, and of these about eighteen per cent, or 789 are on meters. The meter rate runs on a sliding scale from twenty cents per 1,000 gallons to eight cents per 1,000 above 100,000 gallons. The flat rate is $1 monthly for each kitchen, with 25 cents for each bath and toilet, and $1 for each lot irrigated.

The financial exhibit is in the highest degree encouraging to believers in the municipally owned system. The earnings of the system for the year 1916 were $87,852.26.

The mileage in the sewerage system in the last report is thirty-eight miles and 4,632 feet.

The report of the city clerk for the water department assets and liabilities is as follows:

Assets: Water system property and plant $635,762.85 Sewerage system 210,411.91 Water system sinking fund 42,091.18 ------------ Total $888,265.94

Liabilities: Bonds due November, 1919 $133,000.00 Warrants outstanding 1,257.72 ------------ Total $134,257.72

During the past ten years street paving has been steadily continued, until at the present time there are twenty-three miles of paved streets. While some of this work was very poorly done and the city has been compelled to repair the work of incompetent or dishonest contractors at a large expense, the paving system in general has been satisfactory, and is one of the great improvements of recent years.

One of the most important of all the features of municipal life is the parks. This topic will find place in the last chapter in a special article by Miss Grace Isaacs, who has been intimately connected with the establishment of a park system from the beginning.

CITY LIBRARY

Another valuable instrumentality of municipal life, which while not political in the common use of the term is under municipal control, is the city library. The last report of the librarian, Miss Ellen Smith, will give a view of present conditions.

Walla Walla Public Library, Walla Walla, Wash.: Annual report--January, 1917.

The Board of Trustees--Dr. E. E. Shaw, president; T. C. Elliott, secretary; Rev. C. E. Tuke, Rowland Smith and H. W. Jones.

The Library Staff--Ellen Garfield Smith, librarian; Dorothy Drum, first assistant; Nell M. Thompson, assistant; Ethel Jamieson, assistant.

Library Hours--Week days, 9 A. M. to 9 P. M.; Sundays and holidays, 2 to 6 P. M.

There are 4,962 active readers enrolled, or about one-fourth of the population of Walla Walla. Of this number 1,082 adults and 498 children were added the last year, making a total of 1,580 new registrations.

The readers took home 59,580 books, periodicals and pamphlets. Fiction reading is not so important a part of the circulation as many people think, as 55 per cent of the books read were of an instructive and informing character, an increase of 3 per cent over last year. The most popular classes of books of non-fiction in order of circulation are literature, useful arts, travel and sociology.

We have added 1,305 new books at a cost of $742.64.

Gifts have numbered 253.

There were 206 volumes worn out and withdrawn and fifty-six missing at inventory so the number in the library is 12,060.

Whoever you are, you must need to ask questions sometimes. There must be some things you do not know that you want to know. Librarians are paid to find the answers to your questions. These are a few samples of the questions that we have answered during the last year:

The number of grain bags used in the United States.

The design of the Christian flag for Sunday schools.

Directions for glazing of pottery.

Statistics of water-power plants.

Where is Matzos?

What is the high jump record of a horse?

How to pickle olives?

You have more than twelve hundred reference books, and hundreds of pamphlets which we are taking care of for you, waiting for you to come and ask your question. There are 106 current periodicals and five newspapers in the reading room, the back numbers of which may be borrowed for home reading. The current numbers of Atlantic, Century, Delineator, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Monthly, Ladies' Home Journal and Literary Digest may be borrowed because the library subscribes for an extra copy.

The story hour is conducted during the winter months on Wednesday afternoons at 4 o'clock. The average attendance is twenty.

The children borrowed 18,345 books during the year.

The children's room contains more than two thousand books including the best books written for children. The greatest care has been used in the selection.

Help is given to schools in selecting books for purchase. The smaller the sum to spend, the more important the selection.

One hundred and nineteen teachers have special teachers' cards for school use, including forty county teachers. City teachers may have ten books at a time; county teachers may have five.

The Art Club, Women's Reading Club, Educational Club and Sketch Club meet regularly in the club room at the public library. In addition to this the Good Government League, debating teams and clubs of college and high school, committees of the Woman's Park Club and Young Women's Club have appreciated the use of the room.

The day of largest circulation was February 12th, when 388 books and periodicals were loaned for home reading.

Twelve hours every week day your public library is "at your service." Sunday afternoon the library is open for reading only--often every chair is taken.

Useful arts, next to literature, was the most popular class of non-fiction circulated last year. Are you one of those who has profited by the helpful books on salesmanship, bees, advertising, poultry, etc.?

When you go on your vacation next summer take ten library books with you--loaned for three months. Three hundred and ten volumes circulated on vacation cards last year.

You own more than twelve thousand volumes. The one you've been looking for, the one that will tell you something new about your business or a new way of advertising it, is among them.

Six hundred and seventy-four books were washed with ammonia and water and then shellacked.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH YOUR MONEY

MAINTENANCE FUND--RECEIPTS

Balance on hand January 1, 1916 $ 102.97 City warrants 4,900.00 Refunds on lights and books 39.11 $5,042.08 --------

MAINTENANCE FUND--DISBURSEMENTS

Salaries $3,038.40 Books 665.61 Binding 166.91 Periodicals 228.00 Printing and stationery 21.00 Furniture and fixtures 175.15 Freight and drayage 41.68 Light 185.95 Fuel 226.25 Repairs 98.59 Incidentals 37.45 Balance on hand December 31, 1916 157.09 $5,042.08 --------

LIBRARIAN'S FUND--RECEIPTS

Balance from 1915, fine collections $9.07 Balance from 1915, 5c pay collections 7.80 Fines collected in 1916 472.73 Circulation of pay books at 5c each 23.65 Donation from art club 14.80 Miscellaneous sources 3.00 $531.05 --------

LIBRARIAN'S FUND--DISBURSEMENTS

Books purchased from fines $57.88 Books purchased from 5c pay collections 29.15 Periodicals 31.12 Book binding 6.28 Extra help, librarians 141.40 Extra janitor service 4.75 Supplies and incidentals 254.70 Balance on hand, fines $3.47 Balance on hand, 5c pay collections 2.30 5.77 $531.05 ---- ------ --------

There are many other features of the life of the city under political authority which would be worthy of mention, did space allow.

In one of the early chapters dealing with the founding of the city and its first incorporation, 1862, we gave the officers chosen in the first election of April 1st of that year. We now incorporate here the list of city officers from 1877 to the present. This is subdivided by the different forms of government under which the city has operated.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

1877

Mayor--M. C. Moore. Marshal--John G. Justice. Recorder--J. D. Laman. Treasurer--H. E. Holmes. Assessor--S. Jacobs. Council--W. P. Winans, W. P. Adams, Wm. Kohlhauff, A. H. Reynolds and J. G. Justice.

1878

Mayor--James McAuliffe. Justice--J. D. Laman. Marshal--J. G. Justice. Treasurer--H. E. Holmes. Health Officer--J. M. Boyd. Assessor--S. Jacobs. Council--W. P. Winans, Wm. Kohlhauff, Z. K. Straight, M. F. Colt, F. W. Paine and J. A. Taylor.

1879

Mayor--James McAuliffe. Marshal--J. A. McNeil. Treasurer--H. E. Holmes. Assessor--S. Jacobs. Health Officer--J. M. Boyd. Justice--J. D. Laman. Council--A. S. Legrow, H. M. Chase, J. M. Welsh, R. Jacobs, Wm. Harkness, Wm. Kohlhauff, Geo. F. Thomas.

1880

Mayor--James McAuliffe. Marshal--J. G. Justice. City Attorney--J. T. Anders. Treasurer--H. E. Holmes. Assessor-- Council--S. Jacobs, H. M. Chase, W. T. Dovell, Wm. Kohlhauff, Geo. F. Thomas, J. M. Welsh.

1881

Mayor--James McAuliffe. City Attorney--J. T. Anders. Marshal--J. G. Justice. Treasurer--H. E. Holmes. Assessor--S. Jacobs. Health Officer--Dr. A. N. Marion. Council--Wm. Glasford, Ed Baumeister, A. H. Reynolds, S. Jacobs, W. T. Dovell, Levi Ankeny and Wm. Kohlhauff.

1882

Mayor--James McAuliffe. City Attorney--W. G. Glasford. Clerk--Le F. A. Shaw. Treasurer--Richard Jacobs. Health Officer--Dr. T. W. Sloan. City Surveyor--J. B. Wilson. City Assessor--Samuel Jacobs. Council--W. P. Winans, T. J. Fletcher, John Dovell, N. T. Caton, A. H. Reynolds and Ed Baumeister.

1883

Mayor--T. R. Tannatt. City Clerk--Le F. A. Shaw. Treasurer--F. W. Paine. Attorney--W. G. Langford. Health Officer--Dr. A. N. Marion. Surveyor--J. B. Wilson, Council--W. P. Winans, Wm. Glasford, T. J. Fletcher, H. Wintler, John Dovell, N. T. Caton, A. G. Bowles.

1884

Mayor--T. R. Tannatt, resigned and F. W. Paine elected. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. City Clerk--Le F. A. Shaw. Attorney--W. G. Langford. Treasurer--O. P. Lacy. Health Officer--Dr. W. G. Alban. Surveyor--J. B. Wilson. Council--H. M. Porter, W. O'Donnell, John Dovell, J. P. Kent, Thos. Quinn.

1885

Mayor--J. M. Boyd. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Justice--J. D. Laman. Treasurer--J. Chitwood. Health Officer--Dr. W. G. Alban. City Attorney--W. W. Newlin. Clerk--Le F. A. Shaw. Assessor--J. B. Wilson. Council--J. W. Esteb, J. Picard, L. H. Bowman, H. M. Porter, W. O'Donnell, W. H. Kent and John Dovell.

1886

Mayor--J. M. Boyd. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. City Clerk--Henry Kelling. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Attorney--J. L. Sharpstein. Surveyor--L. A. Wilson. Justice--J. D. Laman. Health Officer--Dr. H. R. Keylor. Assessor--Wm. Harkness. Council--Wm. Stine, John Marion, John M. Hill, W. G. Tobin, J. Picard, L. H. Bowman, J. W. Esteb.

1887

Mayor--Jas. McAuliffe. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Attorney--J. L. Sharpstein. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Justice--A. J. Gregory. Health Officer--Dr. H. R. Keylor. Assessor--M. H. Paxton. Surveyor--J. B. Wilson. Council--D. W. Small, John Picard, Geo. Dacres, John M. Hill, John Marion, W. G. Tobin and Wm. Stine.

1888

Mayor--Geo. T. Thompson. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Attorney--J. L. Sharpstein. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Justice--A. G. Gregory. Health Officer--Dr. Y. C. Blalock. Assessor--M. H. Paxton. Surveyor--A. J. Anderson. Council--W. H. Upton, John Marion, J. M. Hill, R. M. McCalley, D. W. Small, John Picard and Geo. Dacres.

1889

Mayor--Dr. N. G. Blalock. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Attorney--J. L. Sharpstein. Health Officer--Dr. Y. C Blalock. Justice--John A. Taylor. Surveyor--W. G. Sayles. Assessor--M. H. Paxton. Council--D. W. Small, Z. K. Straight, J. L. Roberts, J. F. Brewer, John H. Stockwell, John Marion and R. M. McCalley.

1890

Mayor--N. G. Blalock. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Attorney--J. L. Sharpstein. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Justice--V. D. Lambert. Health Officer--Dr. Y. C. Blalock. Assessor--M. H. Paxton. Surveyor--L. A. Wilson. Council--J. H. Stockwell, John Picard, H. A. Reynolds, R. M. McCalley, T. J. Robinson, Z. K. Straight and D. W. Small.

1891

Mayor--J. L. Roberts. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Attorney--W. T. Dovell. Justice--John A. Taylor. Health Officer--Dr. Y. C. Blalock. Assessor--M. H. Paxton. Surveyor--Lew W. Loehr. Council--H. S. Young, Jacob Betz, A. J. Evans, J. H. Stockwell, John Picard, H. A. Reynolds and J. L. Jones.

1892

Mayor--John L. Roberts. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Attorney--W. T. Dovell. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Marshal--T. J. Robinson. Justice--Timothy T. Burgess. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Assessor--M. H. Paxton. Surveyor--Lew W. Loehr. Council--B. D. Crocker, John G. Muntinga, E. H. Massam, J. L. Jones, H. S. Young, Jacob Betz and A. J. Evans.

1893

Mayor--J. L. Roberts. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Attorney--W. T. Dovell. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Marshal--F. J. Robinson. Justice--W. T. Arberry. Health Officer--Wm. G. Alban. Assessor--J. B. Wilson. Surveyor--Edwin S. Clark. Council--Daniel Stewart, Jacob Betz, Norman F. Butler. B. D. Crocker, John G. Muntinga, E. H. Massam and J. L. Jones.

1894

Mayor--John L. Roberts. Clerk--Henry Kelling. Attorney--Wm. T. Dovell. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Marshal--Winfield S. Halley. Justice--W. T. Arberry. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Assessor--T. H. Jessup. Surveyor--Edward Clark. Council--Milton Evans, Marshall Martin, E. H. Massam, Stephen Ringhoffer, Daniel Stewart, Jacob Betz, and Norman F. Butler.

1895

Mayor--John L. Roberts. City Clerk--Alexander McKay. Attorney--R. G. Parks. Marshal--M. Ames. Justice--Harrison W. Eagan. Health Officer--Wm. G. Alban. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Council--A. K. Dice, Jacob Betz, John D. Lamb, Milton Evans, Marshall Martin, E. H. Massam, Daniel Stewart and V. D. Lambert.

1896

Mayor--Jacob Betz. Clerk--John E. Williams. Attorney--C. M. Rader. Treasurer--John W. McGhee. Marshal--M. Ames. Justice--E. H. Nixon. Health Officer--Wm. G. Alban. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Council--M. Evans, J. P. Kent, E. H. Massam, John Lamb and A. K. Dice.

1897

Mayor--Jacob Betz. Clerk--Clark N. McLean. Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Treasurer--John McGee. Marshal--J. J. Kauffman. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Council--continued.

1898

Mayor--Jacob Betz. Clerk--C. N. McLean. Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Treasurer--J. W. McGhee. Justice of the Peace--J. J. Huffman. Marshal--J. J. Kauffman. Assessor--Fred A. Colt. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Street Commissioner--D. A. McLeod. Council--E. H. Nixon, Marshall Martin, J. F. Brewer, Albert Niebergall.

1899

Mayor--Jacob Betz. Clerk--R. P. Reynolds. Marshal--J. J. Kauffman. Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Treasurer--Le F. A. Shaw. Justice of the Peace--Wm. Glasford. Assessor--W. L. Cadman. Street Commissioner--W. H. Brown. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Council--G. W. Babcock, F. M. Pauly, E. S. Isaacs.

1900

Mayor--Jacob Betz. Marshal--J. J. Kauffman. Clerk--R. P. Reynolds. Treasurer--Le F. A. Shaw. Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Justice of the Peace--Wm. Glasford. Assessor--W. L. Cadman. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Health Officer--W. E. Russell. Council--J. F. McLean, Marshall Martin, J. F. Brewer, Albert Niebergall.

1901

Mayor--G. W. Babcock. Clerk--R. P. Reynolds. Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Treasurer--Le F. A. Shaw. Marshal--J. J. Kauffman. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Justice of the Peace--Wm. Glasford. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Council--J. F. McLean, W. A. Williams, Marshall Martin, J. Z. Smith, J. F. Brewer, John Kirkman and Albert Niebergall.

1902

Mayor--Gilbert Hunt. Clerk--R. P. Reynolds. Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Treasurer--Le F. A. Shaw. Marshal--J. J. Kauffman. Justice of the Peace--Wm. Glasford. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Health Officer--W. G. Alban. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Council--J. F. McLean, J. Z. Smith, W. P. McKean, J. F. Brewer, John Kirkman, F. W. Martin.

1903

Mayor--Gilbert Hunt. Treasurer--Le F. A. Shaw. Justice--J. J. Huffman. Marshal--Alvah Brown. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. City Attorney--H. S. Blandford. Surveyor--E. S. Clark. Assessor--W. F. Merchant. Clerk--R. P. Reynolds Health Officer--C. P. Gammon. Council--Henry Osterman, Wm. Glasford, J. Z. Smith, J. C. Scott, A. J. Gillis, Eugene Boyer, W. P. McKean.

1904

Mayor--Gilbert Hunt. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Justice--J. J. Huffman. Marshal--Alvah Brown. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. City Attorney--H. S. Blandford. City Surveyor--W. G. Sayles. Assessor--R. J. Berryman. Health Officer--J. W. Ingram. Council--J. G. Bridges, W. P. McKean, J. B. Brewer, Fred W. Martin, Wm. Glasford.

1905

Mayor--Gilbert Hunt. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Justice--J. J. Huffman. Marshal--Alvah Brown. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Surveyor--J. B. Wilson. Clerk--R. P. Reynolds. Assessor--R. J. Berryman. Health Officer--J. W. Ingram. Council--Wm. Glasford, W. P. McLean, W. H. Kirkman, J. Z. Smith, Fred W. Martin, J. P. Bridges.

1906

Mayor--Geo. E. Kellough. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Marshal--Alvah Brown. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Surveyor--J. B. Wilson. Assessor--W. S. Cadman. Clerk--T. D. S. Hart. Health Officer--Dr. A. E. Braden. Council--J. P. Kent, R. H. Johnson, Eugene Tausick, Wm. Glasford, John Bachtold, W. P. McKean.

1907

Mayor--Geo. E. Kellough. Clerk--T. D. S. Hart. Marshal--Mike Davis. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Attorney--Oscar Cain. Health Officer--A. E. Braden. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Council--J. P. Bridges, W. P. McKean, C. H. Whiteman, John Bachtold, Eugene Tausick, J. F. Stack, J. A. Dunham.

1908

Mayor--Eugene Tausick. Clerk--T. D. S. Hart. Treasurer--R. G. Parks. Attorney--Oscar Cain. Marshal--M. Davis. Surveyor--Lew Loehr. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Health Officer--A. E. Braden. Assessor--M. Toner. Council--Fred Hull, Fritz Lehn, C. H. Cummings, Albert Niebergall, J. B. Stack, C. H. Whiteman, Alfred Bachtold.

1909

Mayor--Eugene Tausick. Clerk--T. D. S. Hart. Attorney--Oscar Cain. Marshal--Michael Davis. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Assessor--M. Toner. Health Officer--E. E. Shaw. Surveyor--Lew Loehr. Council--C. H. Whiteman, Alfred Bachtold, Fred Hull, Albert Niebergall, J. F. Stack, Fritz Lehn.

1910

Mayor--Eugene Tausick. Clerk--T. D. S. Hart. Attorney--J. W. Brooks. Treasurer--Perry Lyons. Marshal--Michael Davis. Chief of Fire Department--Wm. Metz. Street Commissioner--H. H. Crampton. Assessor--A. R. Dorwin. Surveyor--W. R. Rehorn. Council--C. H. Whiteman, Harvey McDonald, Alfred Bachtold, J. F. Stack, Robert Breeze, C. H. Cummings, Albert Niebergall.

COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERNMENT

1911, 1912, 1913

Mayor--A. J. Gillis. Commissioner--A. K. Dice, Geo. Struthers. Attorney--J. F. Watson. Building Inspector--Wm. Metz. Clerk--C. Arthur Jones. Engineer--W. R. Rehorn. Fire Chief--Wm. Metz. Health Officer--C. E. Montgomery. Justice--T. M. McKinney. Librarian--Ellen Garfield Smith. Marshal and Chief of Police--Michael Davis. Registrar Water Works--R. C. Stack. Street Commissioner--R. A. Stockdale. Superintendent of Schools--O. S. Jones. Superintendent of Water Works--R. F. McLean. Treasurer--John McGhee.

1914, 1915, 1916

Mayor--M. Toner. Commissioners--A. K. Dice, H. H. Crampton. Clerk--1914, 1915, M. A. Powers--1916, Fred G. Wills. Treasurer--John McGhee. Attorney--J. P. Neal. Water Superintendent--R. F. McLean. Police Judge--T. M. McKinney. Water Registrar--E. T. Churchman. Fire Chief--Geo. Guthridge. Chief of Police--James Martin. City Engineer--W. R. Rehorn. Health Officer--C. E. Montgomery.

As the last glance at the political history of the City of Walla Walla we insert here the report of the financial condition of the City of Walla Walla June 30, 1917, as compiled by the Commissioner of Finance and Accounting, A. K. Dice:

Assessed valuation of the City of Walla Walla this year is $9,411,099, according to the report of the county assessor's office, filed this morning with the city commission. The assessment of the city this year shows an increase in valuation of approximately $100,000, last year's assessment having been $9,310,655. The report of the county assessor is as follows:

Assessed valuation of the City of Walla Walla, 1917:

Old city limits $8,738,839 First addition 254,366 Second addition 94,460 Third addition 3,890 Fourth addition 250,260 Fifth addition 19,200 Sixth addition 46,084 ---------- Total $9,411,099

The total includes valuation of public service corporation properties within the city limits, taken from the 1916 tax rolls.

The semi-annual report of the city clerk was also filed by Clerk Fred Wills this morning, the report showing the city's financial condition on July 1, 1917, and showing the receipts and disbursements from January 1, 1917, to June 30, 1917, inclusive. A summary of the report is as follows:

Receipts, January 1 to June 30, 1917:

Licenses $ 3,108.00 Fees, fines, etc. 5,574.70 Water department receipts 38,985.85 Cemetery department 2,761.72 Cemetery perpetual care 4,343.69 Cemetery trust 8,421.64 Interest on cemetery trust 211.40 General taxes 110,979.81 Road and bridge tax 2,578.48 Water works sinking fund 28,228.33 Interest on above 483.69 Firemen's relief and pension 201.41 Transfers 549.19 Local improvement district taxes 85,913.76 ----------- Total $292,341.67

Disbursements, January 1 to June 30, 1917, by the various city departments:

Administration $ 3,272.60 Streets 18,218.73 Water 29,180.86 Fire 15,316.26 Police 6,722.74 Treasury 797.79 Clerical 836.87 Bridge and creek 1,047.20 Engineering 1,578.18 Library 2,000.00 Park 5,901.06 Mounted police 399.70 Cemetery 1,790.11 Health 3,294.82 General expenses 970.63 Public buildings 859.93 Legal department 763.70 Firemen's relief and pension 278.75 Judicial 252.00 Electrical 302.80 General bond interest and redemption 3,403.40 Cemetery trust 12,067.46 Special assessments on city property 515.05 Water sinking fund 38,491.03 ----------- Total $148,311.57

The operation of the municipal warrants and the local improvement district bonds and warrants during that period was as follows:

Municipal warrants:

Outstanding January 1 $73,356.69 Issued 148,311.57 ----------- Total $221,668.26

Redeemed 187,472.45 Outstanding June 30 34,195.81 ----------- Total $221,668.26 L. I. D. bonds and warrants outstanding January 1 317,523.49 Issued 48,186.80 ----------- Total $365,710.29 Redeemed 85,732.37 ----------- Outstanding June 30 $279,977.92

The cash balance is given as follows:

Total cash on hand January 1 $24,961.57 Total receipts 292,341.67 Municipal warrants outstanding June 30 34,195.81 L. I. D. bonds and warrants outstanding June 30 279,977.92 ----------- Total $631,476.97

Cash on hand June 30 34,516.31 Disbursements 206,080.48 Municipal warrants outstanding January 1 73,356.69 L. I. D. bonds and warrants outstanding January 1 317,523.49 ----------- Total $631,476.97

ELECTIONS IN WAITSBURG

A summary of the municipal elections in the history of the second city in size in the county may properly appear at this point.

The town at the junction of the Touchet and the Coppei, first known as Delta, became Waitsburg in 1868 by vote of the inhabitants. On February 23, 1869, W. P. Bruce plotted the first townsite. On February 8, 1881, the town was incorporated. An election on February 28 resulted in the choice of G. W. Kellicut, William Fudge, Alfred Brouillet, M. J. Harkness and E. L. Powell as trustees, with the first named as chairman. Later in that year a decision by Judge Wingard invalidated the incorporation of all the cities in the territory, except Seattle and Walla Walla. By reason of this Waitsburg was reincorporated by charter from the Legislature. Under this new charter an election took place on May 1, 1882, in which the city officials chosen were these: G. W. Kellicut, mayor; William Fudge, A. L. Kinnear, P. A. Preston, D. W. Kaup and M. J. Harkness, councilmen.

The mayors of the city in order, beginning in 1883 and extending annually to 1905, were as follows: W. N. Smith, W. S. Mineer, E. L. Powell, P. A. Preston, re-elected in 1887 and 1888, C. N. Babcock in 1889, S. W. Smith in 1890 and 1891, Frank Parton in 1892, J. H. Morrow in 1893 (and during this year the important step in municipal development was taken of a city water system), J. W. Morgan in 1894 and 1895, T. L. Hollowell in 1896, D. V. Wood in 1897, E. W. McCann in 1898 and 1899, J. H. Morrow in 1900, T. M. McKinney in 1901 and 1902, E. L. Wheeler in 1903, C. W. Preston in 1904.

Beginning with 1905 and extending to 1917 the mayors and councilmen have been these:

1905--Mayor, D. V. Wood. Councilmen--E. M. Denton, W. J. Earnest, T. J. Hollowell, M. H. Keiser, Frank McCown.

1906--Mayor, J. B. Caldwell. Councilmen--E. M. Denton, H. D. Conover, W. S. Guntle, J. B. Loundagin, P. C. Perkins.

1907--Mayor, Geo. M. Lloyd. Councilmen--Dr. R. E. Butler, L. H. Macomber, H. D. Conover, J. B. Loundagin, W. F. Pool.

1908--Mayor, R. M. Breeze. Councilmen--L. H. Macomber, H. D. Conover, J. B. Loundagin, H. E. Boynton, George Kruchek.

1909--Mayor, R. M. Breeze. Councilmen--J. W. Taylor, L. H. Macomber, J. C. McAninch, H. E. Boynton, E. M. Denton.

1910--Mayor, M. O. Pickett. Councilmen--H. P. Petersen, Dr. R. E. Butler, W. J. Earnest, W. G. Shuham, Geo. M. Lloyd.

1911--Mayor, E. L. Wheeler. Councilmen--H. P. Petersen, W. G. Shuham, D. P. Hayes, R. G. Eichelberger, L. R. Perrine.

1912--Mayor, E. L. Wheeler. Councilmen--L. R. Perrine, D. P. Hayes, R. G. Eichelberger, Geo. M. Lloyd, A. G. Loundagin.

1913--Mayor, E. L. Wheeler. Councilmen--W. D. Wallace, A. J. Woodworth, Roland Allen, Forrest Carpenter, D. P. Bailey.

1914--Mayor, W. D. Wallace. Councilmen--D. P. Bailey, A. J. Woodworth, W. S. Guntle, D. B. Stimmel, J. W. Taylor.

1915--Mayor, E. L. Wheeler. Councilmen--W. D. Wallace, A. J. Woodworth, J. W. Taylor, O. B. Smith, E. J. Call.

1916--Mayor, E. L. Wheeler. Councilmen--E. J. Call, W. D. Wallace, A. C. Macomber, A. C. Spafford, A. J. Woodworth.

1917--Mayor, E. L. Wheeler. Councilmen--W. D. Wallace, E. J. Call, A. J. Woodworth, A. C. Macomber, A. C. Spafford.

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II. DISTINCTIVE FEATURES IN HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

We have already given a general view of the first settlement on the Touchet, in what is now Columbia County. But a valuable paper by Judge Chester F. Miller of Dayton, prepared for a club at that city and published in the Chronicle of April 8, 1916, offers some material so fitting for an introduction that we avail ourselves of it here. Judge Miller discusses the meaning of the names of the local streams as follows:

"It is rather unfortunate that the original Indian name Kinnooenim was not retained instead of the rather harsh sounding name of Tucanon. Many people have the idea that Tucanon derived its name from the tradition that some early expedition buried two cannon on its banks when pressed by the Indians, but the early expeditions, both explorers and Indian fighters, did not carry cannon, they did well if they got over the country with their muskets. The first cannon in this section that we read about were at Fort Taylor, at the mouth of the Tucanon, built by Colonel Wright in 1858, which was some time after the creek had received its present name. I am inclined to adopt the theory that the name is derived from 'tukanin,' the Nez Percé name for cowse or Indian bread root, which was generally used by the Indians in making bread. I have some early recollections of trying to eat some Indian bread made from crushed cowse, flavored with grasshopper legs.

"The name Patit, called by the Indians Pat-ti-ta, is somewhat in doubt, one Indian having told me that it was a Nez Percé word meaning small creek. The word Touchet has never been properly identified, but Ed Raboin thought it was from the French, and came from the exclamation 'touche' used in fencing with foils, when one of the fencers touched the other over a vital spot."

The second extract deals with the expulsion of the settlers in the Indian war of 1855:

"Nathan Olney, the Indian agent at The Dalles, made a trip to the Walla Walla country seeking to pacify Peupeumoxmox, but this chief refused the presents offered and repudiated the treaty. Mr. Olney at once ordered all settlers to leave the country. At this time Chase, LaFontain and Brooke left their cabins on the Touchet in Columbia County on their way to The Dalles for supplies; on arriving at the mouth of the Umatilla, they were informed of the Indian uprising, and returned to Whitman mission, where a conference was had, and all the whites agreed to convert the house of Mr. Brooke, just below the present Huntsville, into a fort and stay with the country. Chase and LaFontain returned to their ranches at Dayton and on the day agreed on for the meeting at the Brooke cabin, LaFontain went down to confer with them, and learned that all the others, who had agreed to stay and fight it out, had concluded to abandon their places and leave the country. Chase and LaFontain concluded to stay, and commenced to fortify the Chase house, which was located in the vicinity of the present Pietrzycki residence. They had three transient hired men, who at first agreed to stay, but on the following day the hired men concluded that they had not lost any Indians, and took their departure. Chase and LaFontain completed their stockade, ran a bucketful of bullets, stocked the cabin with provisions, and dug a tunnel to the banks of the Touchet for water in case of siege, and waited for the Indians.

"They remained for ten days longer, when the constant standing guard and waiting for the Indians, who had not appeared, began to wear on their nerves, and they started for the country of the friendly Nez Perces, picking up Louis Raboin on the Tucanon, and at that time not a white man remained in Southeastern Washington. On the next day after they had left the Indians came and burned the Brooke and Chase houses."

Still another interesting extract tells of the controverted point as to the rights and wrongs of the tragic death of Peupeumoxmox, of which we have spoken in the chapter on Indian wars:

"During this Indian war no fighting was done in Columbia County and I will not mention it further than to say that on December 9, 1855, the battle of the Walla Walla was fought, in which Peupeumoxmox was killed by the guards while held as a hostage. Some 1,500 Indians were engaged in this battle against 350 volunteers. The results were twenty volunteers killed and wounded and 100 dead Indians.

"Some writers, particularly Colonel Gilbert, claim that this chief was murdered, and his body mutilated by the guards, but I don't believe it. My father was one of the guards, and he has told me that when the battle commenced this chief began waving his hands and shouting to his warriors, giving them directions in regard to the battle, and that Colonel Kelley rode up and said, 'Tie them or kill them, I don't give a damn which,' and that when the guards proceeded to tie them the Indians began to struggle, and one by the name of Wolfskin broke away and stabbed Sergt. Maj. Isaac Miller in the arm, and that the guards then began to see red, and the whole thing was off."

In Judge Miller's paper there is also a most valuable view of the permanent settlements on the Touchet following the close of the wars:

"In 1859 the Indian troubles having ended, the Touchet country was declared safe for settlers. The first to arrive were Indian traders, usually squaw-men, who settled at the different crossings of the old Indian trails and engaged in the business of trading bad whiskey to the Indians for their cayuse ponies. Some of these probably slipped in during the fall of '58, as they were here in the spring of '59 when the first homesteaders arrived looking for locations. Bill Bunton, George Ives and Clubfoot George were at the crossing of Whiskey Creek; Freelon Schnebley, known as 'Stubbs,' and Richard Learn, known as 'Big Red,' at the crossing of the Touchet, where Dayton is located; Bill Rexford was at the crossing of the Patit, and John Turner at Pataha City; these were all bad citizens and all squaw-men except Rexford, and it was generally said among the Indians that he was too mean for a squaw to live with. In addition to these, the following squaw-men, who were much better citizens, were here at that time: Louis Raboin, who lived where the trails crossed the Tucanon, having returned to his old place after the Indian troubles; William and Martin Bailey, who lived with their squaws on what is known as the Rainwater place at the upper end of town, and Joe Ruark, known as 'Kentuck,' who lived with his squaw near the Star schoolhouse. The first real settlers to arrive came in the spring of 1859, most of them from the Willamette Valley, many of them having seen the country while serving as volunteers in the Indian wars. They located claims along the Touchet, laid a foundation of four logs, and posted notices that they had taken the claims, and gone to the valley for their stock, and would return in three months.

"As near as I can learn, the only one who remained at that time was Israel Davis, usually known as 'Hogeye' Davis, who settled where the trails left the Hogeye Creek, and raised a small crop that year. This is conceded to be the first crop raised and harvested in the county. Davis was a bachelor, and two years later was killed by the jealous husband of a woman who was cooking for him. The next who came to stay were Sam Gilbreath and his young wife, and John Wells and Tom Davis, both bachelors, who came in August, 1859. Gilbreath took up a homestead and built his first cabin where the trails entered the valley. This would be where the Smith orchard is now located. Tom Davis bought a location from 'Stubbs' and built a cabin in the vicinity of the Railroad Primary; Wells also bought a location from 'Stubbs' and built across the Touchet from the mouth of the Patit. Lambert Hearn and wife came in October, first locating where the Columbia schoolhouse now stands, but afterwards selling out to the Paynes and moving to the Hearn homestead across the Touchet from Dayton.

"Jesse N. Day was among those who located their claims and returned to the valley for their families; he did not return until the fall of 1860. His claim was where the Chandler slaughter house is now located. He looked over the present site of Dayton, but was afraid Chase and LaFontain might return and make him trouble, and located farther down. Many of those who made their locations in the spring came back in the fall and built cabins. The settlers of 1859, traveling from the crossing down the Touchet were as follows: Wells, Davis, Hearn, Gilbreath, John Forsythe at the Angell place, James Dill at Pomona, James Bennett at the Bateman place, Joe Starr at the Starr bridge, Dave Fudge at the Blize place, George Pollard at his present place, John Fudge at Huntsville, and the Whittaker brothers just below, James Fudge on Whiskey Creek below Bunton's, and Israel Davis on the Hogeye.

"They were all bachelors except Gilbreath and Hearn, so that we had two white women in Columbia County at that time, although Dill was a widower and had one boy with him. Those arriving in 1860 were Elisha Ping and family, G. W. Miller and family, my mother and I being the family, Jesse N. Day and family, and three bachelors, Henry B. Day and Jack and Newt Forrest; the Forrests were brothers of Mrs. Day. Miller and Ping settled on their previously located homesteads on the Patit, and Jesse Day on the Touchet; the Forrests had located the Richardson place the year before and settled there, selling out to R. G. Newland in 1861; Henry Day having 320 acres in the valley, was not eligible for a homestead, but engaged in the cattle business.

"The immigration of 1861 was as follows: William Sherry settled on the Patit above Miller; Alexander Montgomery, Albert Woodward and Cyrus Armstrong on the Patit above Rexford; Jonathan Buzzard on the old Cross place in Johnson Hollow, near Dayton; Ambrose Johnson where the trails crossed Johnson Hollow; Tom Whetstone where the trails entered Whetstone Hollow; Amasa West between Stubbs and the Baileys; Uncle Zeke Hobbs between the Baileys and 'Kentuck;' John Winnett and Henry Owsley farther up the Touchet, and Uncle Tom Winnett and his sons, Bill, Dock, Bob and Lew, on Whiskey Creek and the Hogeye. There were three young fellows with the Winnetts, who do not seem to have taken up land at that time; they were Simon Critchfield, Cy Mathew and Fred Yenney. This year the Paynes bought out Hearn at Columbia schoolhouse, and the Forrests sold to R. G. Newland. During this year my father rented the Stubbs place, broke out a portion of the land and fenced it with cottonwood rails made where the Main Street Bridge now crosses the stream.

"The settlers up to this time were stock men, settling along the stream and grazing their stock on the hills in every direction; they raised a little hay and some oats on the fertile bottom lands; the hills were considered of no value except for grazing; wheat was not raised because there was no available market; surplus oats were hauled to Fort Lapwai, but on account of the distance and crude roads this was not very profitable. When the valleys were taken up the growth of the country stopped and the increase in population was very slow."

ESTABLISHMENT OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

We have given in the last chapter of Part II the story of County division. By act of the Territorial Legislature on November 11, 1875, a line was drawn from Snake River south to a point on the Touchet two miles above Waitsburg; thence south six miles, then east six miles, then south to the state line. All west of that line continued to be Walla Walla County, and that east to the Snake River was included in the new County of Columbia.

By the act, Dayton was the county seat until the next general election, when the seat was to be permanently located by popular vote.

Eliel Oliver, Frank G. Frary, and George T. Pollard were named first commissioners to organize the county. In pursuance of their functions, they met on November 25th and became duly qualified to act. Mr. Frary became chairman of the board and D. C. Guernsey was appointed clerk. Precincts were established as follows: Independent, with polls at Dayton; Patit with polls at schoolhouse near A. Walker's residence; Tucanon, at Platter schoolhouse; Calloway, at Central schoolhouse; Pataha, J. M. Pomeroy's residence; Asotin, usual voting place; Touchet, Washington schoolhouse.

The election occurred on December 21, 1875, and as a result the first officers in Columbia County were duly elected as follows: County commissioners, E. McDonnell, Joseph Harris, H. B. Bateman; Sheriff, S. L. Gilbreath; auditor, A. J. Cain; treasurer, D. C. Guernsey; assessor, R. F. Walker; probate judge, William Ayers and R. F. Sturdevant had a tie of 283 votes each; school superintendent, T. S. Leonard; surveyor, William Ewing; coroner, W. W. Day. The Board of Commissioners met on January 1, 1876, and organized by the election of Mr. Harris as chairman.

Taking up the tie in the office of probate judge, the position was declared vacant, and at the next meeting R. F. Sturdevant was appointed.

Mr. Ewing not qualifying for surveyor, the vacancy was filled by appointment of Charles Truax.

Thus Columbia County was launched upon its career. The chief settlements at that time were on the Touchet, and Dayton was not far from the center of that region. But the county included a great area to the north and east, and though as yet sparsely settled, it was obvious that upon the Tucanon, Pataha, Alpowa and Asotin, and upon the vast plateau between the Blue Mountains and Snake River there would ere long be a large population which would be so remote from Dayton as to make it an inconvenient seat of government.

In fact, hardly had the new officers become installed before there arose the inevitable county-seat fight. It would seem as though the contest would have assumed, even then, the form of a demand for a new county rather than for the location of the seat. Such, however, was not the case, and Marengo on the Tucanon, the historic spot of the home of our active old friend, Louis Raboin (Maringouin, "mosquito," in the French) became a rival of the Touchet metropolis for official headquarters. In the election which took place on November 7, 1876, Dayton received 418 votes and Marengo 300. The latter vote pretty nearly represented at that time the population in the eastern two-thirds of the county, and the result of the election laid the foundation of the speedy demand for another county division.

The officers of Columbia County for the period up to the setting off from it of Garfield County in 1881, may properly be inserted at this point.

Those of the first election in 1875 have already been given. The results of the election of 1876 were: County commissioners, John Sanders, N. C. Williams and W. E. Ayers; probate judge, C. M. McLeran; sheriff, R. P. Steen; auditor, Oliver C. White; treasurer, D. C. Guernsey; assessor, Alonzo L. Sanford; surveyor, Charles E. Truax; coroner, J. H. Kennedy; superintendent of schools, J. E. Edmiston. Surveyor Truax and Probate Judge McLeran resigned, and the vacancies were filled by Alfred T. Beall and Thomas H. Crawford, respectively.

The election of 1878 resulted in the choice of the following: For the Legislature, Councilman L. M. Ringer (joint with Whitman and Stevens counties), and for representatives, T. C. Frary and D. C. Guernsey; county commissioners, E. Oliver, W. W. Sherry and D. B. Pettyjohn; sheriff, R. P. Steen; auditor, Oliver C. White; probate judge, J. A. Starner; treasurer, H. H. Wolfe; assessor, T. J. Mewhinney; surveyor, E. D. Miner; coroner, W. W. Day; superintendent of schools, F. M. McCully. For Constitution, 426; against Constitution, 513.

The officers chosen in 1880 were: Joint councilman, A. H. Butler; councilman for Columbia County, George Hunter; representatives, William Clark, R. P. Steen, W. L. Freeman; county commissioners, W. W. Sherry, Casper Plummer, Allen Embree; probate judge, tie again on J. A. Starner and Walter F. Jones, with 357 votes each, decided by lot in favor of the former; sheriff, John Mustard; auditor, J. W. Jessee; attorney, J. K. Rutherford; treasurer, F. C. Miller; assessor, T. J. Mewhinney; surveyor, E. D. Miner; superintendent of schools, F. M. McCully; coroner, J. Clark; sheep commissioner (a new office created by the preceding Legislature), Charles McCable. There seems to have been in the four elections in Columbia County prior to the subtraction of Garfield, a remarkably even distribution of the two parties. In 1880 there were ten republicans and nine democrats.

A slight change in the county line was made by the Legislature in 1879, by which township 8 north, range 38 east, was subtracted from Columbia and added to Walla Walla.

Most of the events concerned with the industries, newspapers and politics of the Columbia County region, while it was still part of Walla Walla, have been treated of in preceding chapters. We did not, however, trace the organization of the pioneer schools or pioneer churches or give any data in respect to those now existing in Columbia County.

THE FIRST SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY

was organized in 1865 in what was called District No. 15 of Walla Walla County. The house was located on the old Lewiston Road, a mile and a half east of Dayton, near the subsequent residence of John Rowe, lately destroyed by fire. Like most of the pioneer schoolhouses, it was built of logs, with oiled paper windows, big rock fireplace, puncheons for seats and desks with pegs for legs. W. H. Elliott was the teacher in that initial school. At the time of county organization in 1875 there were but few schools, but the number rapidly increased, and a report of January, 1879, gives statistics from thirty-eight districts. A report of November, 1881, shows sixty-two districts. That number was, however, nearly cut in half by the erection of Garfield County, for only thirty-four districts were left in the diminished Columbia.

A report of the superintendent for the year closing August 31, 1882, shows some interesting figures for comparison with others that are to follow:

Number of teachers in county, Males 22 Females 28

Amount expended for teachers' wages $7,800.00

Amount for buildings, exclusive of voluntary contributions 2,500.00

Value of school property 19,488.00

Census of school children 481

Movements looking to graded schools for Dayton were in progress soon after county establishment. After various rebuffs the advocates of progress were gratified by the fulfillment of their aspirations. An excellent building was erected and furnished in 1880, at a cost of $8,000.00. The women of the town bestirred themselves and, as is usual in such cases, they made things go by the formation of an Educational Aid Society. By means of festivals, "feeds" and other allurements such as ordinarily play havoc with the hearts, stomachs and purses of the masculine citizens, this society raised sufficient funds for equipping the rooms and improving the grounds.

When the tasty building was opened to the children of Dayton in October, 1880, it provided for the first graded school in Eastern Washington. The schools of Walla Walla were, of course, larger, but up to that time had not been graded. Supt. C. W. Wheeler of Walla Walla County called attention to that rather discreditable fact in 1881, and within a year the mother county followed the daughter. The teachers in that first graded school in Columbia County were: Principal, F. M. McCully; assistants, J. S. Windell, Sina Coleson, Stella Bowen. During the summer of 1881 two additional buildings were erected and a high school department was added, in charge of S. G. Burdick and Lizzie Geary and Emma Kinnear.

In 1882 the principalship was conferred upon a teacher destined to become a prominent educator, Prof. J. H. Morgan, subsequently superintendent of public instruction for the state, and for many years afterwards connected with the Normal School at Ellensburg.

For the sake of topical clearness we will take a long step in time and present here the essential features in the report of the superintendent of schools for the county, and that for the superintendent of the Dayton schools for 1917.

We learn from the report of County Superintendent W. W. Hendron for 1916-17 the following:

Total number of districts in Columbia County 43 Number of teachers 83 Number of pupils enrolled 1,721 Value of school property $146,500

In this estimation of value of school property, the Pietrzycki bequest, spoken of later in connection with the Dayton schools, is not included. It may be observed that while there has been a large gain since 1882, there has been relatively a slow increase compared with the industrial and commercial parts of the state. This region has had the phenomenon usual in purely agricultural sections, the absorption of many of the lesser grain farmers by the greater. It is very observable, however, that the schools have made very great gains in organization and equipment.

The present faculty of the Dayton school system is as follows:

C. A. Livengood, superintendent.

S. F. Atwood, principal of high school and instructor in chemistry and algebra.

C. G. Greenslade, instructor in algebra and United States history.

Fred Irvine, instructor in general science and physics.

Laura Wheat, instructor in English and botany.

Jeannette Twyman, instructor in English history, geometry and English.

Jane Olive Jones, instructor in Latin and German.

Waite Matzger, instructor in manual training.

Martha Lyons, instructor in domestic science.

The grade teachers are as follows, in order from the eighth grade to the first, there being subdivisions of each:

W. W. Hendron, principal.

May Meade, Bernice Osborn, Katherine Sharp, Cora Gollihur, Alice Gentry, Cora Gerkon, May Foreman, Nona Richardson, Winnifred Jellum, Anna M. Earhart, Helen Fogg, Pansy Gregg, Olive Peck, Mary George, Elsie Gough, C. Blanchard Smith, music.

From Superintendent Livengood we learn that the value of the Central Building, in which the high school and higher grade students meet, together with the three primary buildings, is assessed, with grounds and equipment, at $76,673. There is, however, a much larger property in possession of the district, and that is found in the properties bequeathed by Dr. Marcel Pietrzycki. This property, consisting of the home in Dayton, with outlying buildings, now employed by the district for school purposes, together with endowment funds, is reckoned at $110,000.

The history of the Pietrzycki bequest to Dayton makes up the most interesting and unique chapter in the history of the town.

Doctor Pietrzycki was born of Polish parents on April 25, 1843, in Galicia, Austria. He established himself in medical practice in Dayton in 1880. He became a successful practitioner, but his mind turned in many directions outside of his profession. Through fortunate land investments in the region between Dayton and Starbuck, he finally acquired an estate, which he called the Lubla Ranch, containing 5,500 acres. He also became president and manager of the Lubla Cattle Company, which owned about 3,500 acres adjoining the ranch. In caring for the products of his ranches the doctor also became owner of the Lubla mills and warehouses at Starbuck.

Doctor Pietrzycki was a man of profound thought along political and sociological lines, and possessed also of a philanthropic nature. He decided to turn his great ranch property into a colonizing enterprise along co-operative lines. His plans were a curious composition of socialistic and feudalistic features. Brought up in Austria with its feudalistic society, he had, nevertheless, by his experiences in America and by his own mental development, become very liberal in his views. He built a veritable castle on the Lubla Ranch, containing twenty-six rooms, doubtless the most expensive farm dwelling in the state. He was endeavoring to execute his plans of bringing colonists from Austria when failing health, together with obstacles in the way of his first plan, induced him to make a change in the disposition of the property. Doctor and Mrs. Pietrzycki--who was a daughter of Rev. J. H. Warren of California, one of the great pioneer church builders of that state, and a woman of great culture and noble character--had been bereaved in the loss of their children and felt that their property might well go to benefactions which would reach the children of the region where their most active years had been spent. Accordingly, after making ample provision for his wife, the doctor left half of his ranch as a legacy to Dayton District for the purpose of maintaining an industrial department in the schools. Upon the death of Mrs. Pietrzycki the home property in Dayton went also for the use of the district, and part of the school units meet there.

Doctor Pietrzycki died in 1910. In the message of Mayor J. A. Muirhead on January 3, 1911, we find the following reference to the bequest:

* * * "Pietrzycki Park, donated to the city by our late esteemed townsman, Dr. Marcel Pietrzycki, and the no less magnificent bequest in his last will and testament, by which the City of Dayton is named as the beneficiary of the greater part of his estate to be used for the establishment of an industrial school in our midst. It is estimated that the amount which will be available for this purpose when the estate is settled up and all bequests paid, will exceed $100,000."

By the terms of the will the judge of the superior court, the mayor of the city, and the clerk of the school board were to be the trustees. But as the doctor, among his other peculiarities, insisted on drawing his will and other papers, without any lawyer's assistance, it was found that the language was such as to compel personal names instead of ex officio appointments, and as a result, Judge C. F. Miller, Dr. C. H. Day and Attorney E. W. Clark became permanent trustees for the management of this unique and valuable bequest.

The practical measures for full realization of the Pietrzycki Foundation are as yet largely tentative, but the fund is in process of application, and within a few years Dayton will have, without question, one of the best equipped industrial schools in the country.

CHURCHES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY

The history of the early churches of the Touchet country is similar to that of Walla Walla. The preachers of that early day had to do pretty much everything of secular as well as spiritual nature. Like other pioneers, those preachers were wholesouled, hearty, often robustious, and representative of the Church Militant and Triumphant as well as the Church Spiritual. They were usually men of eloquence and power, stronger on revivals and "hell-fire" than most of the pastors of this cooler and more scientific age, but playing a noble part in the foundation building of early days.

The Methodists seem to have been the pioneers on the Touchet, and of them Presiding Elder W. Calloway was the first to hold regular services. That was in 1866, and the meetings were held in the schoolhouse on the Touchet. The first regularly organized church dates its beginning on March 20, 1875. Among the pastors of that early church was Rev. S. G. Havermale, who became one of the early settlers in Spokane, filing a homestead claim on the Island, new in the heart of that city, a claim of enormous value, but the profits of which inured more to others than to the pioneer preacher.

The old camp-meetings at Shiloh, just above Huntsville, witnessed many a scene in those days, religious and otherwise.

There was a famous camp ground also on Mill Creek, about six miles above Walla Walla, in the Dudley grove. One of the preachers and authors of national reputation, L. A. Banks, now of Boston, author of that charming book, "An Oregon Boyhood," and other books of wide celebrity, started his career at those old camp grounds of Shiloh and Walla Walla.

One of the some group, who started as a "boy-preacher" in the early '70s was G. W. Kennedy. In recent years he has written a very interesting book called "The Pioneer Campfire." From it we make these extracts, not all of which belong to the Touchet, but to the wider area:

"The Oregon country had no better people than had settled about Rock Creek and the Molalla. I love to remember the annual meeting with these. There were the Boyntons, Morelands, Sanders, Owens, McGowans, Mores, Dimmicks, and others, whose religious zeal was of the pioneer type.

"'Father' Jesse Moreland was a leader, had a deep spiritual life, and often preached an able sermon from the pulpit.

"Those hard-working, intelligent, gospel-inspired, soul-loving preachers and pastors of those early days did a work with which no part of Christian evangelism can show a brighter record, if indeed a parallel. No wonder the people revere those Christian heroes, who laid the foundations in godliness for a stalwart commonwealth.

PASTORAL WORK

"I will speak of a characteristic case of pastoral visiting. It was given me by a man, who at one time was a wild cowboy on our borders; afterwards was converted, and became an 'evangelist.' This is the way he told it:

"'God in His goodness sent a little preacher down to that country. One day we saw a man come riding across the prairie, singing:

"'Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly.'

* * * * *

"He came to the ranch, got down and said: 'Boys, I want you to put my pony up and feed him. I am a Methodist circuit rider, and have come out here to stay with you.' We had not asked him, and he did not wait for an invitation. I looked at him and loved him, but I was afraid to get close to him. My heart would not beat right. I was afraid to ride his horse to water for fear it would fall down and kill me. Brother, his horse was religious. His saddle bags would put you under conviction. When we sat down to eat and went to help ourselves as usual, he said, 'Wait, men, I am going to ask a blessing.' Everything was as still as death, and he turned loose, and at once my mind went back to my boyhood, when I had heard the old father ask a blessing in the mountain home. The boys began to eat, and before they were through he said: 'Now, men, don't leave here until we have prayers. After supper we want to have prayers.' I was afraid to go. After supper he took his Bible, and sat down and read a chapter with a good deal of about hell in it. He read as long as he wanted to. He was boss of the devil. He got down on his knees and prayed just as loud as a man could, and just as long as he wanted to pray. He shook us over the very pit. I saw billows of hell. My heart went awful fast, then it would seem to stop dead; it seemed like I was going to die. He told God about everything we had ever done--all the stealing, lying, fighting and cursing. He had the thing in hand. He never consulted us as to how long or how loud he should pray. He did it up exactly right. When prayers were over we were just barely able to walk out, but we got out as quickly as possible. The next morning the preacher asked the blessing again, and said, 'Don't you boys go out until we have had prayers, then I will have to leave you (he talked as though it would nearly break our hearts), but I will be back in about a month.' After breakfast he prayed until it nearly broke our hearts, then he got on his pony and rode away. About a month rolled around, and we got sort of anxious to see the man again. As mean as we were, when we saw a fellow that was straight, we respected him, and we just knew he was. He came again and acted about as he had the other time, but some of us didn't do just as we did before. When he was through the evening prayer, I went out with the boys; told them that prayer had been down on my nerves for a month, I couldn't bear it any longer, that I would quit then and there the blasphemous life I was living. Then went into the bushes and told it all to God. I tell you, before the next day dawned, I was a changed man.' Many a faithful pastor found the stars for his crown, out there among the roughest of men.

PERSONAL CONTACT

"In 1870-71 I was teaching school in Walla Walla. The Methodist Church held its quarterly conference. Rev. H. K. Hines was presiding elder, and Rev. H. C. Jenkins, preacher in charge. They called me into the council and said: 'Brother Kennedy, we think you ought to preach the gospel. Will you accept license and go to work?' Of course I had done the thinking about it before. I replied immediately: 'Yes, if you will bear the responsibility, and stand for the damages that may follow.'

"Soon after that a protracted meeting began in the old mission church at that place. The pastor told me, one evening, at the close of the meeting, that I must preach the next night. 'No, you must excuse me, Brother Jenkins, I have never preached a sermon in my life, your meeting is growing, and now needs the best preaching.' 'I am older in the work than you are,' he replied, 'and know the meeting better, and I know the expectations of the church in you; you must preach.' That settled the matter. I went home to think and pray and study.

FIRST SERMON

"Before breakfast next morning, the Lord had given the text, Rom. 1-16. 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God, unto salvation, to every one that believeth.' Into the grove I went, with my Bible, formed my outlines, and went at the preparation in dead earnest. On my knees with the Bible, before God, I had the struggle of my life. Every temptation came before me. 'What if this was not God's plan?' 'What if I should miserably fail?' 'What if the meeting should fail on my hands?' No one but the young preacher approaching the pulpit for the first time can feel such a burden.

"Father and mother were with me, and we had to walk a mile to church that night. I had told them what was on my mind. We got in late. The church was crowded. Scarce standing room in the aisles. I crowded through, walked onto the platform and went down on my knees behind the pulpit. I had promised the Lord all day that if he would give me liberty and help me to preach that sermon, I would always after preach his word. In a moment, kneeling there, that cloud of burden was lifted, and I had the victory. O, how the Holy Spirit did take that poor sermon of mine, and put His inspiration into it, and His power under it, and make it a power of God, to souls that night! The little that I had put into it was so augmented by the divine. I seemed like a Gideon, shorn of his army, yet working out a great victory. There was victory in my soul and my purpose, and victory in all that meeting that night.

CAMP MEETING

"Our camp meeting that summer (1871) came in June, and was held at the old grounds on Mill Creek, five miles above Walla Walla. There was a very large attendance of people. The old veterans of the pulpit were there, and we 'raw recruits' joined them, making the pulpit force very large. Quite a number of the young men had been put into the work that year. There I heard Dr. L. A. Banks preach his first sermon. There wasn't in him then the prophecy of his remarkable career.

"That meeting was a triumph. Commensurate with the beginning of the meeting was the awakening of souls; and that awakening grew to the most intense inquiry. The altar was filled with 'seekers' night after night. All plan for regular hours for closing was given up, under the press of 'inquiring souls.' On Sunday night quite a number were forward for prayer. There was a tardiness about getting into the life giving light. Late, the benediction was pronounced, and most of the people retired. Most of those seeking souls remained in prayer, determined to get the victory. Some of us remained to pray and exhort and sign. And the meeting went on. One after another 'came through.' Shouts were heard, and the songs went on, and the meeting continued until every one of those struggling ones was brought out into the 'light and liberty of the children of God.' Such shouting of triumph I had never before seen the equal. The sun rose over a new day, and still that meeting didn't close, for we went on singing the triumph of new born souls among the camps of the people.

ANOTHER

"Another camp meeting was held the same year, on the Touchet River, four miles beyond Waitsburg. An equally large attendance there. Rev. A. J. Joslyn and myself went up to help Brother J. H. Adams, preacher in charge. That meeting ran over two Sundays, and when finally it closed, there was not left a single person on the ground that had not become a Christian.

"That year, 1871, in August, our conference was held in Portland, Bishop James presided. I attended, and was admitted as a 'licentiate.' In my class there were John N. Denison, W. T. Chapman, A. J. Joslyn, Ira Ward, J. M. Luark and F. D. Winton. Some of these made noble records in after years.

"I continued teaching in Walla Walla until the next conference. Summer of 1872 I taught the school called the 'Old Mission District'--Whitman Mission--called then Waiilatpu. As a missionary to the Cayuse Indians, Doctor Whitman settled there, in 1836, and continued until the awful massacre of November 29, 1847. That awful afternoon the doctor, his wife and eleven others fell under the murderous tomahawk, thus baptizing the soil of Oregon with their blood, to the cause of Gospel truth. When I stood first on that sacred spot, where yet is the coal and ashes of their burnt mission, and looked just beyond the road, the mound heaped over the thirteen fallen heroes, what memories--what reflections--what communion of soul, bore me away to those scenes of missionary devotion to save a heathen race, and to sacred fellowship with that martyr company! I seemed still treading in the footsteps of the noble Whitman, and to hear still his voice, 'turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die, O, wandering people.' If it is ever your privilege, go and stand by that monument, now marking the spot. There is something about a monument peculiar to itself. It sanctifies the place. With Moses at the 'Burning Bush' you feel the impulse to remove your sandals, 'for the place whereon you tread is holy ground.' Monumental inscriptions are history in epitome. Here are recorded the deeds of the heroic; great men, great places, and times.

"Our conference was held in Salem that year, where Bishop Foster appointed me to the Yakima circuit, in Washington.

INDIAN POPULATION

"Of course, the whole country there originally belonged to the Indians, and they were always a menace to settlement. On the Simcoe Reservation there were about 3,000 Indians. Then came the Yakima Valley proper; then across on the Columbia at Priest Rapids, there was the Smoholla band of about five hundred. Then Chief Moses and his band were just a little beyond, on the Wenatchee.

"During all the early settlement, there was constant alarm. The spring of '73 the Modoc war came on. The Indians all over the interior were uneasy and many of them took the 'warpath.'

"At the culmination of the battle at the lava beds those treacherous Modocs proposed a treaty, and General Canby, Doctor Thomas, Agent Dyer, and Superintendent Meacham went out to treat with the Indians. But Captain Jack and those four others came with concealed weapons, and at a signal struck down and murdered the peace commission. This inflamed the whole Indian population of the Northwest. At this time I must go to the upper valley and meet my appointments, forty miles away, and through the Indian range, without a single settler. Dodging through as best I could, I found the people badly scared and ready to fort up. Old Chief Smoholla and his band of 200 had come over from Priest Rapids and were camped within the valley.

INTO THE HOSTILE CAMP

"All the people came out on Sunday. Monday came; something must be done to relieve the terrible strain. Accordingly, four of us saddled our horses and started for Smoholla's camp. We went unarmed, thinking it safer to meet them on square footing of friendship. We took them completely by surprise. We asked to see the chief. The Indians spoke in the jargon tongue, and told us to tie our horses and wait the appointment of Chief Smoholla. We took a position on a hill in the middle of their camp, and had a full view. Not long after we saw all the Indian men going down to the council tent. Then they sent out an escort for us.

"As we entered the door of that long wigwam, nearly every warrior was present, ranged on both sides, the chief at the rear end. He looked like a king. Stolid as a statue. He was the war leader of the Columbias. We thought of the treachery of the Modocs, but we could not back out now. On we went until just before the chief. He motioned us to stand there; then asked the reason for our coming. I spoke to him in jargon and explained the purpose of our meeting. Then said we wanted first to preach a sermon to him and his people from the 'white man's book of heaven.'

"That seemed to relieve all apprehension on his part and such a stillness I never saw in any audience before. For the space of half an hour not a muscle moved; not an eyelid quivered. Rigid attention.

"I then told them that our people had become alarmed, for they thought so large a band of Indians meant hostility. And that God had made us all brothers and not enemies. So the Great Father wanted us all to live together in peace on earth. Then the old chief spoke: 'If we are all brothers, why has the white man taken our lands from us? Has the white man any rights here in Kittitas that the Indian has any right to respect? The Indian came first.'

"Well, that was an unanswerable speech. But I excused the white man all possible. 'That we could plow and plant where they could not and still let them hunt and fish.' And I promised utmost friendship on the part of the white brothers.

"We gave them our handshake and pronounced benediction of God on them, and Chief Smoholla agreed to accept that as the 'pipe of peace.' We finally got a change of countenance in that stern face; his hearty farewell--'Klose tillacum mika,' and then under those balm and fir trees we most devoutly thanked God for saving us from savage treachery and rode away.

"It was the influence of Father Wilbur's agency over those Yakimas that kept them quiet--for he certainly was a major general in the management of Indians.

FATHER WILBUR ON THE INDIAN AGENCY

"The Indians at once feared and loved him. While at the agency one time he told us the following story: A German brought a wagon load of liquor on to the reservation and began selling to the Indians. Down near the Satas River, twelve miles away from Fort Simcoe, he built his booth--set a tent--fixed a counter and shelves--put his stock in and was dealing out the 'fire water' as independently as if wholly protected by law. Some of the Indians were getting drunk when Father Wilbur discovered it. He sent word to the sheriff of Yakima County to go down there and arrest the intruder. The sheriff (I well knew him) sent word back that he knew that young German too well. That, having a large family on his hands to support he must let out that job to someone else; that he could have it if he desired. Next morning Father Wilbur saddled his riding mule, took a good riding horse with saddle and some ropes tied on behind. Then he called to his aid an Indian with saddle horse. Together they rode in sight of the booth; they dismounted and tied the three horses to trees. Father Wilbur then gave instruction to the Indian to stay by the horses, ropes in hand, and come to his help when called. With no kind of weapon, he approached the place. The proprietor was ready for him--recognizing the agent--and had a double-barrel shotgun loaded and lying across his counter. When Wilbur got within forty feet the German took up the shotgun, saying, 'if you come any farther I will kill you.' Wilbur stopped; stood with a steady eye upon him, spoke not a word. The German began to pour out a volley of oaths, and after he was exhausted with cursing he took up a whiskey bottle, poured some out into a glass and drank it. While engaged in that act, Wilbur moved up several steps. Then the man took up the shotgun again and swore he'd shoot if he came another step. After another rage of oaths, he took up the bottle and was pouring some more liquor. Seeing now his chance Wilbur sprang, like a cat upon a mouse, right upon that demon--threw him backward on the ground, and was over him. But the German was a young and very stout man--he threw his hand back to his belt, grabbed his sheath knife, and made his aim at Wilbur's side. Seeing the move, he brought his foot with such force against the man's arm that the knife flew clear across the booth. Now, the Indian was on hand, and with the ropes they securely tied the man. Brought the horse--lifted him into the saddle, and soon were out on the road; and within two hours they had that 'demon' locked safely in the 'guard house.' Once a day Father Wilbur would go to his cell and take in bread and water. The man would curse. On going in on the third day he called to Wilbur: 'I have acted the fool, Mr. Wilbur, now if you will release me I will go down to my store of 'fire water'--pour out the last drop of it, go home, and live like a man the balance of my life.' 'I'll take you at your word,' said Wilbur. He saddled the horses and the two rode down to the twelve-mile place. True to his word that German poured out all his whiskey, then telling Father Wilbur 'good-bye' turned away to go home to the Spokane country. 'Hold,' said Wilbur, 'you will need money on your journey, here is twenty dollars--go now, and God bless you.'

"About ten years after Father Wilbur was over in the Palouse country on a preaching tour. Held night meeting at a certain place. At the close of the meeting a good looking, strong young man came forward to shake his hand. 'Father Wilbur, I suppose you will not recognize me. I am far from the place where you last saw me, and a very different man; thanks to God and to yourself. I am the man that tried to ruin your Indians with liquor, and you kept me on bread and water for three days. That little experience made me the man I now am. Come back here, I want to introduce you to my wife and children.' He had kept his word, and was now the strongest man in that church.

OUR CONFERENCE

"Convened in July that summer in the City of Walla Walla--first session of Columbia River Conference. Bishop Merrill presided. There were twelve preachers present, and that made the entire membership of the conference. Those twelve men covered the entire field embraced in the great district, called the Inland Empire. The towns were, The Dalles, Walla Walla, La Grande, Baker City, Boise City and the Village of Pendleton. Indeed all of these were but villages. Not one of them was approached by railroad, excepting The Dalles, not one by any other than stage coach or your own conveyance. Laborious travel was unavoidable. My first year in this territory I reached all the settled portions of two counties and rode 3,000 miles on horseback.

DAYTON CIRCUIT

"When I reached Dayton, my appointment, I found the situation about as frontier, in all respects, as the settlements of the Yakima. Dayton was a town of one hundred people. No church within the entire County of Garfield. The homes of the people were cabins and shanties. There I had the most wonderful revival in all my ministry. Brother Koontz helped me. The people came from the whole country 'round. We begun about the 1st of February with a deep snow and cold weather. Religious conditions seemed as cold as the weather. But soon the spiritual stream broke loose, and what a glorious tide of revival--a veritable stream of salvation. Well nigh one hundred were converted, and the whole country was turned from the service of Satan unto God. Dancing ceased, and it was many years before it could again be revived.

"We were able to build a good church in the town that year. This was the coldest winter that I have ever experienced upon this coast. Thermometer went down to 35 degrees below zero, and was near that for a while. I traveled all the time horseback and certainly had good chance to test the cold. One of my appointments was at a schoolhouse called the 'Turkey Pen,' eight miles out from Dayton. I rode out to the neighborhood on Saturday and to Brother Nealy's home. Next morning was bitter cold. We saddled our horses and started to the schoolhouse, which was about two miles away. We were well wrapped, but about half-way over I became unbearably cold. I tried walking a short way, but on arriving and getting into the house, found that both my ears had been frozen stiff. While Brother Nealy built a fire, finding some coal oil, I proceeded to apply it and thaw out. By the time about a dozen people had come in, I could feel the warm blood coursing all through again, and we went on with the meeting. People said I had preached the 'smartest' sermon that day that they had heard. 'Yes, no doubt, I am the smartest preacher you have listened to lately, physically--give the cold weather the credit.' We all consented.

"After dinner I got into the saddle again, and rode five miles right up that mountain, in face of the storm, to meet another appointment on head of the Patit. No one came out, and after various efforts to build a fire, being too cold to accomplish it--I got on my horse and rode him a mile away to the nearest house. When I dismounted I had to be helped into the house.

"I remained with that kind family until the weather moderated. My presiding elder, Rev. S. G. Havermale, traveled a distance reaching from Pendleton to the Colville, encircling the Spokane and the Clearwater country." This much from Brother Kennedy.

* * * * *

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Dayton was organized on September 6, 1874, by Rev. A. W. Sweeney, whose home had been at Walla Walla and then at Waitsburg. He was also a man of much power and connected with all the leading features of church life during that period.

He was succeeded by Revs. R. H. Wills, H. W. Eagan ("Father Eagan," who afterwards lived at Walla Walla and was said to have performed more wedding ceremonies than any preacher in the Inland Empire), and J. C. Van Patten, two of whose sons are noted physicians, one at Dayton and one at Walla Walla, while another son is one of the leading farmers of Columbia County.

The Baptist Church was dedicated on September 22, 1878, Rev. J. B. Bristow being the first pastor. One of the strongest of the early churches of Dayton was the Universalist, organized in 1876 by Rev. A. Morrison. Rev. E. A. McAllister became the pastor the next year and had so strong and enthusiastic a following that his people were able to erect the largest church in town. They could not, however, maintain their lead, and their church, sad to relate, was sold for debt and the congregation disbanded. A Congregational Church was organized and ministered to at intervals by Father Eells, by Rev. E. W. Allen and others, but there was no pastorate of much length till 1890. In that year a notable step occurred in the church life and intellectual life of Dayton, by the coming of Rev. S. B. L. Penrose, one of the "Yale Band," later president of Whitman College at Walla Walla, and one of the leading educators and public speakers of the Northwest. He took up his first pastorate in the Congregational Church at Dayton and remained there from 1890 to 1895, then becoming, after an interval at Honolulu, the president of Whitman College.

A Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized at Dayton in 1877, and three years later a church was built. Their first elder was Ambrose Johnson.

There was also a Presbyterian organization at Dayton during the first decade of its life, but with no building or regular pastor.

At the date of this publication the following churches are in active operation:

The Christian Church, with a membership of 575, Rev. J. Eliott Slimp, pastor; the Congregational, with 140 members, Rev. W. C. Gilmore pastor; Methodist, with 140 members, Rev. A. A. Calendar pastor; Baptist, 90 members, Rev. Lem T. Root, pastor; Episcopal, with 15 members, no settled pastor, but frequently visited by Rev. John Leacher of Pomeroy; United Brethren, 60 members, with Rev. J. H. Wilson as pastor.

DAYTON A CITY OF LODGES

Dayton has been somewhat distinguished as a city of lodges. Their foundation, too, dates to the period of county and city organization. The Odd Fellows secured a charter in February of 1876. On March 8, 1877, Patit Lodge No. 10 was duly organized, the first N. G. being Lee Searcy. The Masons were not much behind in time, for Columbia Lodge No. 26 was organized on October 11, 1877, with J. E. Edmiston as first W. M.

The Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Order of Chosen Friends, the Knights of Pythias, the Good Templars, and the Grand Army of the Republic were all organized during the last years of the '70s or first of the '80s. During the exciting times of the Nez Percé war of 1877 there was a military organization which finally grew into the Columbia Mounted Infantry, and that in turn became the Dayton Grays. This played a somewhat important part in keeping alive a certain interest that made the Dayton country good recruiting ground for the State Guard of Washington, and during the present enrolling year of 1917 very responsive to the national calls.

POLITICAL ANNALS

Resuming the thread of political annals with the election of 1882, the first following the establishment of Garfield County, we find the following tabulation: For delegate to Congress, Thomas Burke, democrat, 673 to 442 for T. H. Brents, republican; for joint councilman from the counties of Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Whitman, J. E. Edmiston, democrat; joint councilman for Columbia and Garfield, N. T. Caton, democrat; representative, Elisha Ping, democrat; joint representative, John Brining, republican; sheriff, J. H. Hosler, democrat; auditor, J. W. Jessee, democrat; probate judge, J. W. Ostrander, democrat; county commissioners, E. Bird, democrat, J. F. Kirby, republican, and E. Crouch, democrat; prosecuting attorney, J. K. Rutherford, democrat; treasurer, F. C. Miller, republican; assessor, Henry Hunter, republican, by a majority of one vote; superintendent of schools, Julia Newkirk, democrat; surveyor, E. D. Miner, republican, without opposition; coroner, Dr. J. Clarke; sheep commissioner, O. E. Mack, democrat.

As will be seen, fourteen of the successful candidates were democrats and five were republicans. The total vote for congressional delegate, which might be considered representative of the general voting population, was 1,115. Thus it will be seen that Columbia County, like Walla Walla, was, during the period before statehood, predominantly democratic, though not by such steady majorities as to be counted on confidently. The gradual transition of those, as of other communities in the state, to prevailing republican dominance, is one of the interesting movements of the times. Various reasons, some good and some poor, may be assigned, varying according to political predilections of the observer. Broadly speaking, the transition was mainly due, in the author's judgment, to that tremendous movement of thought following the civil war, favorable to nationalism, the dominance of nation over state. The strife culminating in the Civil war and reconstruction thoroughly discredited the theory of state sovereignty, and the vast enlargement of Federal power swept into the ranks of nationalists an ever-increasing number of young men. This was more marked in the West than elsewhere, for the reason that state lines and state pride and ties have always been loose and weak in the new land where all sections and nations met on a common footing.

The republican party of the '60s, the party of Lincoln, Seward, Chase and Greeley, was based on a moral issue, that of the inherent wrongfulness of slavery. That of the '70s had rather a political basis, that of national power against local power. The transition again in the period from 1912 to date, whereby the pendulum has swung from republican to democratic leadership, has been based primarily upon economic questions, the conviction having become common that monopoly and privilege had become entrenched behind Federal patronage and that a new order of freedom for the individual must be secured. In the counties under consideration in this volume, as in others in the state and in the West generally, we see the manifestation of these tides of thought and changes of viewpoint. As local studies any one of our counties, Columbia among others, though conservative like most farming sections, furnishes abundant matter for reflection.

The election of 1884 was marked by the short-lived woman suffrage provision. By reason of this the total vote was considerably increased. In Dayton there was a total vote of 1,264, of which women cast 364.

The officials chosen were as follows: Congressman, C. S. Vorhees, democrat, 1,015 to 959 for J. M. Armstrong; joint councilmen, B. B. Day, republican, and C. H. Warner, democrat; representative, A. E. McCall, democrat; joint representative, S. A. Wells, republican; sheriff, J. H. Hosler, democrat; auditor, J. A. Kellogg, republican; county commissioners, J. W. Fields, W. R. Marquis, John Fudge, all republicans; prosecuting attorney, R. F. Sturdevant, republican; probate judge, J. Y. Ostrander, democrat; treasurer, F. C. Miller, republican; assessor, Garrett Romaine, republican; superintendent of schools, R. O. Hawks, republican; surveyor, W. McBride, democrat; coroner, Dr. E. H. Van Patten, democrat; sheep commissioner, H. B. Day, republican. A question of considerable local interest was that frequent one of the building of a courthouse. This proposal carried 986 to 588. Another interesting question before the territory was that of taxing church property. The vote in Columbia County was 802 in favor and 701 against. The proposition, however, did not win in the territory. Twelve republicans and seven democrats were garnered into the official storehouse, as a result of the election of 1884. The tide was turning toward republicanism. In the election of 1886 the republican candidates scored a sweeping success, every county office except that of probate judge being filled by one of that party. The democratic candidate for Congress, however, Charles S. Vorhees, again led the procession with 974 to 940 for C. M. Bradshaw. Wm. Ayers, democrat, was chosen to the council, and George Eckler, a republican, was chosen to the House of Representatives. The local officers were these: Sheriff, W. R. Marquis; auditor, Jay A. Kellogg; county commissioners, John Fudge, J. W. Fields and D. W. Gritman; prosecuting attorney, C. R. Dorr; probate judge, J. H. Gough; treasurer, F. C. Miller; assessor, Garrett Romaine; school superintendent, R. O. Hawks; surveyor, John Patrick; coroner, Dr. E. Bories; sheep commissioner, H. B. Day. There was one rather curious event in that election, leading to a decision by Attorney R. F. Sturdevant, which has some general interest. D. W. Gritman and Alexander Price had an equal number of votes for commissioner, 946. The former was a republican, the latter a democrat. Mr. Sturdevant decided that though the number of votes was equal, Mr. Gritman was entitled to the seat for the reason that the statute provided that no two commissioners should be from the same district and that Mr. Gritman had a majority over the other candidate in his district, while Mr. Price was in a minority in his own district, though having a tie with Mr. Gritman. The decision seems sound and logical. A complication of that sort is avoided by the present law providing for nominations by district, not at large.

The election of 1888, the last of the territorial days, was in an "off" year, and excited comparatively little contest. There were only 1,351 votes as against 1,914 in the preceding election. The falling off was mainly due to the invalidation of the Woman Suffrage law by Judge Langford, and the consequent elimination of women's votes. The democrats came back in this election, results being as follows: C. S. Voorhees for Congress led John B. Allen by one vote. In the territory, however, the election went the other way, and Mr. Allen took his seat in Congress. M. M. Godman, democrat, was chosen to the council and A. H. Weatherford, of the some party, was chosen representative. The county officers were these: Sheriff, W. R. Marquis, republican; auditor, Jay A. Kellogg, republican; county commissioners, Alexander Price and Daniel Lyons, democrats, and J. C. Lewis, republican; prosecuting attorney, E. H. Fox, democrat; probate judge, J. H. Gough, democrat; assessor, M. R. Hanger, democrat; superintendent of schools, G. S. Livengood, democrat; coroner, Dr. E. H. Van Patten, democrat.

To Columbia County, as to the other counties of the state, the year 1889 was a great date, for it was the date of statehood. The general plan for the election of delegates to the state convention provided for the division of the territory into twenty-five districts, each to have three delegates, of which not more than two could be from any one party. Each party, therefore, nominated two candidates. Those for District No. 9, including all of Columbia County and the precincts of Waitsburg, Coppei, Eureka Flat and Prescott, in Walla Walla County, were: democrats, Lewis Neace and M. M. Godman, and, republicans, E. C. Ross and R. F. Sturdevant. Mr. Ross having the least vote, the others were declared duly chosen.

We have given some space to the "life and works" of the Constitutional Convention of 1889 in a previous chapter, and need say here no more than that Columbia County, in the election which followed in October, 1889, did not accept the Constitution. The vote was 468 for and 730 against. In similar manner Columbia County registered her disapproval of Woman Suffrage by 816 to 422, and of Prohibition by 745 to 484. The result on these three important questions was similar in most of the Inland section, and with reference to Prohibition and Woman Suffrage, it was similar over the state.

The Constitution, however, was sustained by a good vote in the territory, and the state government became duly inaugurated.

The officers chosen in Columbia County in that first election under statehood were these: Congressman, John L. Wilson, republican, and for governor, Elisha P. Ferry, republican, both by very slight majorities, twenty-four in the first case and eighteen in the second; the other state officers having practically the same vote, all republican except J. H. Morgan, democrat, for superintendent of public instruction, chosen by ten over the republican candidate; judge of Superior Court, R. F. Sturdevant, republican; state senator, H. H. Wolfe, republican; representatives, H. B. Day, republican, and A. H. Weatherford, democrat; county clerk, U. Z. Ellis, democrat; other local officers were not chosen in that election, as it was an "extra" coming in with statehood.

The number of votes in that election was 1,314. Though the republicans were in the majority in almost all cases, it was by very scanty majorities, and it was plain that the good old democratic region of the Touchet was not yet entirely given over to republicanism. The precarious hold of that political faith was revealed in the election of 1890, for in that year the tide turned again and the republicans were left high and dry on the flats of Salt River, only two, John Woods for superintendent of schools, and J. C. Lewis for commissioner, being able to navigate their political barks into the desired haven. The total vote was 1,338, being an increase over the preceding year of only twenty-four. The results of the choice were as follows: Congressman, Thomas Carroll; representative to State Legislature, M. M. Godman; county attorney, J. E. Edmiston; clerk, U. Z. Ellis; auditor, J. H. Gough; sheriff, J. A. Thronson; treasurer, W. E. Ayers; commissioner, first district, I. N. E. Rayburn; commissioner, second district, J. C. Lewis; commissioner, third district, Daniel Lyons; school superintendent, John Woods, by two votes; assessor, W. J. Honeycutt; surveyor, Wilson McBride; coroner, Dr. E. H. Van Patten.

ELECTION OF 1892

The leading point of interest in connection with the election of 1892 was that it was the first in which the people of Washington participated in the choice of a President. Moreover it was a very strenuous campaign, and as we view it now it marked peculiarly the turning point in political thought toward the new set of issues, questions of labor and capital, money systems, railroad control and other economic problems, beginning to supplant the issues of the war and reconstruction. In that election the populists and prohibitionists appeared both in our new State of Washington and in the country at large. In Columbia County, as elsewhere, there was much scratching. The democrats carried the bulk of the county offices in this election, the republicans securing only the auditor, attorney and one commissioner. In this election, as is apt to be the case in periods of readjustment, the party in power suffered most.

On the vote for presidential electors the result was as follows: Cleveland, 674; Harrison, 618; Weaver, 188; Bidwell, 95.

At that time two congressmen were elected at large, and hence each of the four parties made two nominations.

The result was that Thomas Carroll and J. A. Mundy, democrats, received 656 and 635, respectively, to 592 and 591 for W. H. Doolittle and J. L. Wilson, republican candidates. H. J. Snively, democratic candidate for governor, had 647 to 571 for J. H. McGraw, republican, but the latter was successful in the state. On the Legislative ticket J. A. Kellogg and U. Z. Ellis for senator had a tie with 597 each, while Ernest Hopkins, populist, had 231.

For representative, S. W. Hamill, democrat, was chosen. R. F. Sturdevant, republican, and J. E. Edmiston, democrat, seem to have been almost constantly pitted against each other, and at this time the latter won the superior judgeship over the former. The county officers chosen were as follows: Sheriff, A. H. Weatherford; auditor, A. P. Cahill; clerk, Garl Taylor; treasurer, W. A. Newman; commissioners, I. N. E. Rayburn and R. H. McHargue, democrats, and L. M. Vannice, republican; assessor, W. J. Honeycutt; attorney, W. H. Fouts. republican; superintendent of schools, Charles H. Terpening; surveyor, T. B. Hicks; coroner, Dr. E. H. Van Patten.

Although there was a tie in Columbia County on vote for senator, and although the democratic candidate for superior judge received a majority, yet in both cases the republican had a majority in the district, composed of Columbia, Garfield and Asotin, and therefore Mr. Kellogg and Mr. Sturdevant occupied those places respectively.

The election of 1894, coming in the very midst of the hardest of the "hard times"--floods, strikes, Coxey armies, bank failures, "30-cent wheat," and general turmoil--was reflected in the great gain in the populistic ranks. This was largely a revolt of democrats against the Cleveland administration, very much as the election of 1892 was a revolt against the extreme tariff and other alleged "monopoly" tendencies of the Harrison administration.

The result was the triumph of the republican candidates, in the triangular conflict. Every position showed a republican triumph. W. H. Doolittle and S. C. Hyde received 677 and 671 votes respectively, while B. F. Heuston and N. T. Caton, democrats, had to be content with 420 and 417, outrun by the populists, W. P. C. Adams and J. C. Van Patten, with 426 and 446. Cornelius Lyman was chosen representative with 668 to 510 for M. M. Godman. The county officials were: Sheriff, Conrad Knobloch; auditor, A. P. Cahill; treasurer, J. H. Fudge; clerk, J. L. Mohundro; attorney, W. H. Fouts; assessor, R. F. Matkin; superintendent of schools, H. B. Ridgeley; coroner, Dr. G. M. Burns; commissioners, C. M. Grupe and Granville Hewitt.

The election of 1896 was characterized by a sweeping reversal of its predecessor. That was the year of the "Peerless Leader" with his "Cross of Gold." A new deal was on and the old democracy was slipping to its final doom. A new democracy, under the oriflamme of the People's Party, a real democracy this time, instead of the pseudo-democracy of the southern slave baron and aristocrat, was making its appeal East and West, but especially West, the logical home of genuine democracy. Fusion tickets and fusion conventions of democrats, silver republicans, and populists, "three-ring circuses" as they were styled by stand-patters, marked that great political campaign of 1896. In Columbia County the triune ticket agreed on by three conventions meeting simultaneously on September 10th apportioned nominations, so that representative, auditor, sheriff and superintendent of schools were of the populists; attorney, assessor, clerk, surveyor, coroner and county commissioners went to the democrats; the silver republicans were cut rather short with the solitary assignment of treasurer.

The combination adopted the usual designation of People's Party. In the election the republicans saved from the general wreck only the clerk and sheriff, by scanty majorities. The total vote was 1,623, somewhat in excess of any cast in the county up to that date.

The vote was as follows: The Bryan electors 847, the McKinley electors, 776; James Hamilton Lewis and W. C. Jones for Congress and John R. Rogers for governor; joint senator, J. C. Van Patten; representative, George Windust; judge Superior Court, M. M. Godman; sheriff, Conrad Knobloch; clerk, J. L. Mohundro; auditor, Dick Harper; treasurer, G. A. Parker; attorney, E. W. Clark; assessor, G. W. Page; superintendent of schools, Mrs. Ella Terpening; surveyor, Ira Trescott; coroner, E. H. Van Patten; commissioners, J. H. McCauley and J. C. Marckley.

The election of 1898 witnessed the same alignment, republicans against the "fusion" of populists, democrats and silver republicans.

The result, however, was another reversal, and all the places were filled by republicans, with the single exception of superintendent of schools. The vote resulted thus: W. L. Jones and F. W. Cushman for Congress; T. A. Anders and Mark A. Fullerton for Supreme Court; representative in Legislature, C. S. Jerard; sheriff, J. D. Smith; clerk, L. L. Ellis; auditor, H. E. Gilham; treasurer, F. W. Guernsey; attorney, W. H. Fouts; assessor, J. F. Porter; superintendent of schools, Mrs. Ella Terpening; surveyor, Ira Trescott; coroner, G. M. Burns; commissioners, Alexander Duffy and Cornelius Lyman.

The election of 1900 made it seem that the "fusion" formation was down and out, for the republicans carried the field by large or good majorities for every candidate. Results thus appear: Electors for McKinley 899 to 712 for those of Bryan; W. L. Jones and F. W. Cushman for Congress; J. M. Frink for governor by 835 to 760 for Governor Rogers; joint state senator, Edward Baumeister; representative, C. S. Jerard; judge Superior Court, C. F. Miller; sheriff, J. D. Smith; clerk, L. L. Ellis; auditor, H. E. Gilham; treasurer, F. W. Guernsey; attorney, R. B. Brown; assessor, J. F. Porter; superintendent of schools, W. W. Hendron; coroner, J. W. McLachlan; commissioners, Cornelius Lyman and Richard Jackson.

In the election of 1902 there was a considerable falling off, over a hundred votes, from that of 1900, and a marked diminution of interest. This was again essentially a republican victory, their adversaries coming through with only the clerk, attorney and treasurer. The official vote follows: W. L. Jones, Francis W. Cushman and W. E. Humphrey for Congress by an average of 808 votes to an average of 609 for the democratic candidates, Cotterill, Holcomb and Cole; representative, Conrad Knobloch, 740 to 732 for the democrat, M. M. Godman; sheriff, O. M. Stine; auditor, E. V. Thompson; clerk, Clark Israel, democrat by 808 to 665 for R. M. Campbell; treasurer, E. W. Alcorn, democrat by 837 to 638 for D. C. Guernsey; attorney, E. W. Clark, democrat, 792 to 681 for R. B. Brown; assessor, Wilbur Hopkins; superintendent of schools, W. W. Hendron; surveyor, John Patrick; coroner, Dr. C. H. Day; commissioners, R. A. Jackson and C. W. Sanders.

With 1904 comes another presidential election, as well as a full state ticket and the intense interest always belonging to such an election. The result of the presidential vote was significant of the state of the public mind, and Columbia County was in this respect an index of the country at large. Roosevelt was forced upon the unwilling managers and bosses of the "G. O. P." by the tremendous sentiment in favor of trust control and other liberal policies by the masses, while Parker was forced upon the unwilling democratic masses by a coterie of reactionary managers in New York. The result showed that the masses would win every time. Parker was snowed under for all time and the already defunct old-time democratic limited management had a rude jolt in its grave clothes, which, strange to record, the republican management of the same type did not heed, and as a logical result they got their jolts in 1912 and 1916. In Columbia, Roosevelt received an overwhelming majority, the electors for him receiving an average of 1,083 to an average of 480 for the Parker electors. Humphrey, W. L. Jones and Cushman received about 250 majority over their democratic opponents. On the other hand, George Turner, democrat, had 886 to 719 for A. E. Mead for governor.

The joint republican candidate for state senator, S. S. Russell, had 880 votes to 727 for Frank Cardwell, democrat. But, reversing again, F. M. Weatherford, democrat, beat W. H. Fouts for the lower house of the State Legislature. The successful county candidates were: Sheriff, F. W. Bauers, democrat; clerk, Clark Israel, democrat; auditor, E. V. Thompson, republican; treasurer, E. W. Alcorn, democrat; attorney, E. W. Clark, democrat; assessor, Wilbur Hopkins, republican; superintendent of schools, C. B. Leatherman, republican; surveyor, Wilson McBride, republican; coroner, Dr. C. H. Day, republican; commissioners, C. W. Sanders and C. E. Shaffer, both republicans.

The election of 1906 resulted thus:

1906

Representatives to Congress-- Party Vote

W. E. Humphrey Republican 795 Wesley L. Jones Republican 800 Francis W. Cushman Republican 801 Wm. Blackman Democrat 550 Patrick E. Byrne Democrat 538 Dudley Eshelman Democrat 538 A. Wagenknecht Socialist 30 J. H. Barkley Socialist 29 Emil Herman Socialist 29 A. S. Caton Prohibition 35 J. M. Wilkin Prohibition 35 Wm. Everett Prohibition 36

State senator, Tenth District, covering Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties. Stevenson, Senator; Godman was Representative.

State Rep., Eleventh Dist.--John R. Stevenson Republican Successful candidate M. M. Godman Democrat Successful candidate Sheriff--F. W. Bauers Democrat Successful candidate County Clerk--Alvin Harms Democrat Successful candidate Auditor--Walter A. Frary Republican Successful candidate Treasurer--Thos. E. Gentry Republican Successful candidate Attorney--R. M. Sturdevant Republican (No opposition) Assessor--W. S. Hunt Republican Successful candidate School Superintendent--Nellie V. Gregg Democrat Successful candidate Surveyor--F. W. Guernsey Republican Successful candidate Coroner--Dr. John Huntington Republican Successful candidate County Commissioner Second District--Chas. Shaffer Republican Successful candidate County Commissioner Third District--C. J. Thronson Democrat Successful candidate

No record of election of 1908.

Though there is no official record, the county proceedings indicate the following choices:

State Senator, Tenth District (joint)--John R. Stevenson Republican Successful candidate State Representative, Eleventh District--R. A. Jackson Republican Successful candidate Sheriff--Ed M. Davis Democrat Successful candidate Clerk--J. H. Swart Republican Successful candidate

(Mr. Swart resigned July 1, 1910, to accept appointment as county auditor, R. R. Cahill appointed to fill vacancy, Cahill resigned September 1, 1910, account leaving to attend school and W. L. Jackson appointed to fill vacancy. All republicans.)

Auditor--Walter A. Frary Republican Successful candidate

(Mr. Frary resigned July 1, 1910, to accept appointment as postmaster and J. H. Swart appointed to fill vacancy.)

Treasurer--Claude Beckett Republican Successful candidate Attorney--R. M. Sturdevant Republican (No opposition) Assessor--A. E. French Democrat Successful candidate Superintendent of Schools--W. H. Kintner Republican Successful candidate Coroner--Dr. John Huntington Republican Successful candidate Engineer--F. W. Guernsey Republican Successful candidate Commissioner First District--C. B. Bowman Democrat Successful candidate Commissioner Second District--A. P. Cahill Republican Successful candidate Commissioner Third District--W. C. Woodward Republican Successful candidate Superior Judge, Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties--Chester F. Miller (No Opposition)

1910

Representatives of Congress-- Party Votes

Wm. L. LaFollette Republican 820 Harry D. Merritt Democrat 431 David C. Coates Socialist 43 State Representative, Eleventh District--J. A. Fontaine Democrat Successful candidate Sheriff--Ed M. Davis Democrat Successful candidate Clerk--J. F. Clancy Democrat Successful candidate Auditor--J. H. Swart Republican Successful candidate Treasurer--Claude Beckett Republican Successful candidate Attorney--R. M. Sturdevant Republican (No opposition) Assessor--A. E. French Democrat Successful candidate School Superintendent--Flora Morgan Republican Successful candidate Engineer--Wilson McBride Democrat Successful candidate Coroner--B. D. Wiltshire Republican (No opposition) Commissioner First District--Geo. Spalinger Democrat Successful candidate Commissioner Second District--C. J. Thronson Democrat Successful candidate Commissioner Third District--W. C. Woodward Republican Successful candidate

(Owing to county being redistricted thought necessary to elect new commissioners throughout.)

1912

Party Votes

Presidential Electors Republican 672 Presidential Electors Democrat 855 Presidential Electors Socialist 172 Presidential Electors Socialist Labor 2 Presidential Electors Prohibitionist 59 Presidential Electors Progressive 803

Congressmen at Large-- J. E. Frost Republican 818 Henry B. Dewey Republican 836 E. O. Connor Democrat 820 Henry M. White Democrat 826 M. E. Giles Socialist 150 Alfred Wagenknecht Socialist 150 N. A. Thompson Prohibition 49 J. W. Bryan Progressive 611 J. A. Falconer Progressive 619

Congressman Third District-- Wm. L. LaFollette Republican 831 Roscoe M. Drumheller Democrat 999 Robt. Burnes Martin Socialist 136 F. M. Goodwin Progressive 481

Governor-- M. E. Hay Republican 830 Ernest Lister Democrat 986 Anna A. Maley Socialist 148 Abraham L. Brearcliff Socialist Labor 2 Geo. F. Stevers Prohibition 46 Robert T. Hodge Progressive 513

State Senator, Tenth District--J. C. Weatherford Democrat Successful candidate State Representative, Eleventh District--J.A. Fontaine Democrat Successful candidate Superior Judge, Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties--Chester F. Miller (No opposition) Sheriff--F. W. Bauers Democrat Successful candidate Clerk--J. F. Clancy Democrat Successful candidate Auditor--J. H. Swart Republican Successful candidate Treasurer--James Bradford Democrat Successful candidate

(Mr. Bradford died July 29, 1913, and M. Riggs, democrat, appointed to fill vacancy.)

Attorney--E. W. Clark Democrat Successful candidate Assessor--Claude Beckett Republican Successful candidate

(Mr. Beckett died July 7, 1914, and Blanch Beckett, his wife, appointed to fill vacancy.)

School Superintendent--Maude L. Tucker Democrat Successful candidate Engineer--Wilson McBride Democrat Successful candidate Coroner--Dr. J. M. Miller Democrat Successful candidate Commissioner Second District--R. H. Prater Republican Successful candidate Commissioner Third District--J. H. McCauley Democrat Successful candidate Superior Judge, Asotin, Garfield and Columbia Counties--Chester F. Miller Non-partisan

1914

United States Senator-- Wesley L. Jones Republican 1,126 W. W. Black Democrat 880 Adam H. Barth Socialist 118 Ole Hanson Progressive 223 A. S. Caton Prohibition 122 Representative Third District-- Wm. L. LaFollette Republican 1,229 Roscoe M. Drumheller Democrat 847 John Storland Socialist 112 M. A. Peacock Progressive 234 J. V. Mohr Prohibition 114 State Representative, Eleventh District--John F. Rockhill Republican Successful candidate Sheriff--W. T. Wooten Republican Successful candidate Clerk--E. D. Cleveland Democrat Successful candidate Auditor--J. F. Clancy Democrat Successful candidate Treasurer--M. Riggs Democrat Successful candidate Attorney--R. M. Sturdevant Republican Successful candidate Assessor--Blanch Beckett Republican (No opposition) School Superintendent--Maude L. Tucker Democrat Successful candidate Engineer--F. W. Guernsey Republican Successful candidate Commissioner First District--Geo. Spalinger Democrat Successful candidate Commissioner Third District--E. L. Lindley Republican Successful candidate

1916

Presidential Electors Republican 1,148 Presidential Electors Democrat 1,164 Presidential Electors Prohibition 25 Presidential Electors Socialist 108 Presidential Electors Socialist Labor 2 United States Senator-- Miles Poindexter Republican 1,269 Geo. Turner Democrat 1,004 Walter J. Thompson Progressive 2 Jos. A. Campbell Prohibition 24 Bruce Rogers Socialist 100 Representative, Fourth District-- Wm. LaFollette Republican 1,321 Chas. W. Masterson Democrat 944 Walter Price Socialist 104 Governor-- Henry McBride Republican 1,082 Ernest Lister Democrat 1,241 Jas. E. Bradford Progressive 3 A. B. L. Gellermann Prohibition 29 L. E. Katterfield Socialist 94 Jas. E. Riodan Socialist Labor 1 State Senator, Tenth District--Elgin V. Kuykendall Republican Successful candidate State Representative, Eleventh District--Geo. Spalinger Democrat Successful candidate Sheriff--W. T. Wooten Republican Successful candidate Clerk--E. D. Cleveland Democrat Successful candidate Auditor--J. F. Clancy Democrat (No opposition)

(Clancy resigned June 4, 1917, account condition wife's health, and Dick Harper, democrat, appointed to fill vacancy.)

Treasurer--M. Riggs Democrat Successful candidate Attorney--R. M. Sturdevant Republican (No opposition) Assessor--Blanch Beckett Republican (No opposition) Superintendent of Schools--W. W. Hendron Republican Successful candidate Engineer--Wilson McBride Democrat Successful candidate Coroner--Dr. J. M. Miller Democrat Successful candidate Commissioner First District--John R. Blize Republican Successful candidate Commissioner Second District--R. H. Prater Republican Successful candidate

(Mr. Prater resigned January 24, 1917, for business reasons and C. F. Actor, republican, appointed to fill vacancy.)

Superior Judge, Asotin, Garfield and Columbia counties--Chester F. Miller, Non-partisan (no opposition).

(We wish to acknowledge here the valuable assistance of Mr. J. F. Clancy of the auditor's office in compiling these records of election returns.)

MUNICIPAL POLITICS

Turning from the political history of the county to that of the towns, we will give our attention first to Dayton.

Of the founding and of the earliest days of the metropolis of the Touchet we have spoken already. We have also spoken of the schools and churches. It remains to take note of the municipal history and organization and of the journalism of the town. A petition from the citizens looking to incorporation is worthy of preservation, by reason of the fact that it was the first step in that direction, and still more from the fact that it contains what might be regarded as practically an authorized record of the business men of the town of that time. It is dated May 5, 1876, and is addressed to the county commissioners. We are indebted to the "History of Southeastern Washington" for this excerpt:

To the Honorables, the County Commissioners of the County of Columbia, in the Territory of Washington:

We, your petitioners, do most respectfully represent that we are citizens of the Town of Dayton in said county and are qualified electors under the laws of this territory; that we have resided in said town for thirty days and upwards next preceding the date of this petition; that we are desirous that said town should be incorporated, and a police established for our local government; that the territory we wish incorporated is bounded and described as follows, to-wit: The east half of the northwest quarter, and northeast quarter of section 30, and the east half of southeast quarter of section 30, and west half of southwest quarter, and southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 29, all in township 10, north, range 39 east; also north half of northeast quarter of southwest quarter and north half of northwest quarter of southeast quarter of section 30, town 10 north, range 39 east, in the County of Columbia and Territory of Washington, a plat of which is hereunto annexed and made a part of this petition. And your petitioners do further represent that said town contains over one hundred and fifty inhabitants and we do most respectfully pray that you incorporate said town. Dated April 27, 1876.

John Mustard, A. L. McCauley, A. Vallen, R. F. Sturdevant, Mc. C. Lyon, J. S. Thomas, R. T. Watrous, F. Maynard, D. C. Guernsey, A. J. Cain, W. O. Matzger, O. C. White, M. Riggs, E. Tatro, F. G. Frary, A. M. Sparks, I. G. Abbott, L. L. Davis, W. W. Day, J. W. Maddox, James Gough, J. M. Hunt, J. M. Sparks, B. Magill, J. N. Day, G. A. Opperman, A. J. Dexter, Wiley Sparks, Salmon Park, G. L. Kirk, C. Hansen, J. H. Lister, P. Stedman, H. S. Critchfield, Thomas T. Elliott, A. Jacobs, J. M. Grinstead, J. H. Kennedy, J. L. Smith, William Hendershott, S. M. Wait, W. S. Newland, George W. Giles, W. A. Belcher, J. Kerby, D. S. Richardson, D. F. Spangler, C. W. Frick, H. P. Keach, W. A. Moody, Thomas Smith, L. E. Harris, R. A. Rowley, R. H. Condon, J. B. Armstrong, W. A. Sparks, C. A. Clark, William E. Coney, Con. Ruttlemiller, L. Ritter, J. H. Kennedy, Edward Owens.

The commissioners granted this request and in pursuance of the territorial law empowering commissions to grant incorporation, they appointed May 22d the date for electing trustees. Apparently the record of the results of that election is not available, but the trustees chosen a year later were J. F. Martin, Perry Steen, George Eckler, William Metzger and W. S. Strong. The assessor reported the population of the town at that time as 526.

In 1877 a sentiment developed that the existing form of incorporation was undesirable, and as the result of a petition by the citizens the trustees appointed an election for July 1, 1878, upon the question of the abandonment of that charter. The decision of the citizens at that election was to abandon the organization and to substitute another. In pursuance of that decision an election for mayor, common council of seven, and a marshal, was held on July 16th. D. C. Guernsey was elected mayor, and the councilmen chosen were J. B. Shrum, G. K. Reed, J. Mustard, J. L. Smith, J. K. Rainwater, Frank Pierce and D. B. Kimball. Edward Tatro was chosen marshal.

One of the interesting points called up by old-timers in that stage of Dayton's history is the development of what is now known as "Brooklyn" or first styled "Across the Patit." Between September, 1878, and March, 1879, fifteen houses were erected. F. M. Day is said to have been the first to build in that new tract, followed soon by Mr. Dunkle and Mr. Brewer. That was for a number of years one of the most popular suburbs of Dayton. Somewhat separated from the business part of the town by the pretty little stream of the Patit, and embowered in trees and shrubbery, it still impresses the visitor as a very charming village section. Dayton Heights in the eastern part of the town has, however, taken the lead as a growing residence section during the past dozen years.

A curious situation in regard to the town government developed. As a result of doubt about the validity of the existing municipal government, Jesse N. Day, the father of the city, refused to pay taxes levied by the county in 1878. County treasurer, H. H. Wolfe, instituted legal proceeding by levying upon property owned by Mr. Day. The latter accordingly brought suit, with David Higgins as his attorney, to secure restitution of his property. N. T. Caton of Walla Walla appeared as counsel for the county. This suit was called January 14, 1880. The result was a decision by Judge Samuel C. Wingard of Walla Walla, judge of the Territorial District Court, that the incorporation of the city was invalid.

The effect of this decision was to necessitate a new incorporation. By common agreement Judge Wingard was requested to give informal advice upon the legal status of the community and the steps that should be taken to give it a proper judicial character. Thus appealed to the judge gave the opinion that Dayton had been organized as a town and was still upon that footing, and that the town might incorporate as a city under territorial laws. Accordingly the old town government resumed and continued until the issuance of a new charter by the Territorial Legislature in 1881, which went into effect with the opening of the next year.

Under the new charter the Government was to consist of mayor chosen yearly; seven councilmen, chosen for two years, three elected in one year and four the next; a marshal chosen by popular vote; and justice, clerk, attorney, treasurer, health officer, surveyor, street commissioner and assessor, appointed by Council. The charter named as mayor and councilmen the following: Mayor, O. C. White; councilmen, G. E. Church, L. E. Harris, J. L. Smith, John Brining, J. E. Edmiston and W. A. Belcher.

The period of inauguration of the new charter was marked by three disasters, a severe fire on December 13, 1880, and another much more serious, on April 2, 1882, by the latter of which a loss of $90,000, partially covered by insurance, was sustained. The other disaster was much greater, and is still referred to with almost bated breath by old-timers. This was the dreadful smallpox scourge in the fall of 1881. It was reported that there were 167 cases and twenty-one deaths. The excitement was great, nearly reaching the proportions of a panic, and as is apt to be the case at such a time, there were "hard feelings" and charges of criminal negligence. Dr. M. Pietrzycki, one of the best physicians and one of the most unique and interesting characters of the city, was health officer at that time, and the testimony seems to be on all hands that his course was firm and wise and that he saved many homes from the deadly scourge.

Meanwhile the charter question was not settled. A memorial was presented to the Territorial Legislature in 1886, setting forth the imperfections of the existing charter and petitioning for still another. This memorial preserves the names of the mayor and councilmen of that year as follows: Mayor, D. B. Kimball; councilmen, D. C. Guernsey, T. J. Taylor, E. Ping, H. H. Wolfe, D. H. Hardin, H. F. McCornack, D. M. Vaughn.

This memorial was not, however, sustained, and the unsatisfactory charter continued in force for a number of years. At a municipal election of July 11, 1904, by a majority of one only of the whole vote of 404, the city voted to abandon the old charter and to adopt the new form of city government. Under that general charter Dayton has remained to this day. Since that new municipal organization went into effect the incumbents of the different offices have been the following:

The city election of December 6, 1904, resulted in the choice of G. T. Jackson for mayor, W. A. Frary for treasurer, R. M. Sturdevant for clerk, H. E. Hamm for attorney, C. H. Day for health officer, and for councilmen, Add. Cahill, G. E. Barclay, Lars Nilsson, E. S. Ryerson, L. F. Jones, W. L. Jackson, and W. H. Van Lew. The entire number of seven were chosen at that first election, one at large, three for two years, and three for one year. Hence in subsequent years there were regularly chosen three for the different wards and one at large each year.

In the election of December, 1905, the officials chosen were: G. T. Jackson, mayor; W. A. Frary, treasurer; R. M. Sturdevant, clerk; Leon B. Kenworthy, attorney; C. H. Day, health officer; Add. Cahill, L. F. Jones, Everett Eager and W. H. Van Lew, councilmen. In that case, as usually, the practice of re-election was held in honor.

In the election of December 4, 1906, results were these: A. Wilson, mayor; G. W. Jackson, treasurer; E. W. Clark, attorney; Jesse Matzger, clerk; C. F. Schlitz, health officer; Add. Cahill, J. D. Israel, Frank Gemmel, C. W. Powell, J. A. Muirhead, councilmen.

Results in the election of 1907 were these: R. L. Nottingham, mayor; G. W. Jackson, treasurer; R. O. Dyer, clerk; E. W. Clark, attorney; C. F. Schlitz, health officer; G. T. Jackson, J. A. Muirhead, L. M. Vannice, H. A. Kaeppler, councilmen.

On December 8, 1908, there were chosen: H. C. Benbow, mayor; G. W. Jackson, treasurer; R. O. Dyer, clerk; E. W. Clark, attorney; C. H. Day, health officer; John Carr, J. D. Israel, Edgar Eager, F. C. Hindle, councilmen.

Choices in December, 1909, were these: J. A. Muirhead, mayor; G. W. Jackson, treasurer; H. B. Ridgeley, clerk; E. W. Clark, attorney; C. H. Day, health officer; Lars Nilsson, L. M. Vannice, Asa Johnson, J. C. Fair, C. H. Torrance, John Carr, councilmen.

On December 6, 1910, the following were chosen: J. A. Muirhead, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; J. L. Wallace, clerk; E. W. Clark, attorney; J. M. Miller, health officer; E. C. Eagleson, George Brown, Oscar Griffis, R. O. Dyer, E. H. Van Patten, councilmen.

On December 5, 1911, there were chosen: J. C. Fair, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; J. L. Wallace, clerk; E. W. Clark, attorney; J. M. Miller, health officer; Dick Harper, W. G. Thompson, A. Nilsson, C. R. Rogg, councilmen.

In December, 1912, we find the choices as follows: Dick Harper, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; J. L. Wallace, clerk; L. B. Kenworthy, attorney; W. W. Day, health officer; C. E. Shaffer, C. F. Schlitz, George Brown, E. E. Eager, councilmen.

In 1913 the choices were: W. C. Goddard, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; L. B. Kenworthy, attorney; J. L. Wallace, clerk; W. W. Day, health officer; C. E. Shaffer, C. R. Rogg, G. F. Price, J. A. Hanger, councilmen.

The election of December 8, 1914, resulted: W. C. Goddard, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; J. L. Wallace, clerk; H. E. Hamm, attorney; W. W. Day, health officer; A. P. Cahill, Willis Wilson, George Carpenter, W. L. Jackson, councilmen.

In 1915 results were: C. H. Day, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; J. L. Wallace, clerk; H. E. Hamm, attorney; A. P. Cahill, C. R. Rogg, A. J. Knight, G. F. Price, J. A. Hanger, councilmen.

The election of December 5, 1916, was thus: H. E. Barr, mayor; J. G. Israel, treasurer; J. L. Wallace, clerk; H. E. Hamm, attorney; Willis Wilson, Lee Rinehart, George Carpenter, W. L. Jackson, councilmen.

It is interesting to note here that the assessed valuation of Dayton in 1917 was $1,027,244.

Various miscellaneous happenings of much interest occurred from time to time during the years covered by the political history which we have been tracing out. Dayton seems to have been peculiarly unfortunate about fires. In addition to those which we have mentioned, there was one on July 17, 1883, which destroyed the Weinhard brewery, and in January, 1884, an attempt, generally supposed by incendiaries, to burn the planing and flour mills of Wait and Prather. A famous criminal suit against C. F. McClary, Frank Taylor and D. Hutchings was brought on the charge of incendiarism, resulting in the acquittal of the first, the discharge of the third by nolle prosequi, and the conviction of Taylor upon his own confession. On September 25, 1884, there was another fire, also supposed to be incendiary, and on March 27, 1885, the Woolen Mills went up in flames, thus ending its untoward career after so promising a start. June 24, 1887, witnessed still another devastation by fire, the worst known in the history of the town, entailing a loss of $112,000.

In 1890, August 11th, there was still another visit of the "fire fiend," causing as great a loss, though not affecting so large a number of individuals. There was yet another fire, not so great, in August, 1891. These hard experiences with fires led to the establishment of a number of fire companies and hose companies, the details of whose history it would be interesting to follow, did space permit. The Columbia Fire Engine Company seems to have been the longest-lived of these, continuing from 1882 to 1892. Since inauguration of the municipal gravity waterworks there have been no destructive fires.

In the year 1890 there was a curious outbreak of burglaries and other light fingered works of art resulting in numerous criticisms of the authorities and a final appeal to Judge Lynch. Leroy Burris, who had been engaged as foreman in the printing office of the Inlander, was implicated in the charge of burglarious practices, was seized by Vigilantes, and after having been brought face to face with a rope was let off with banishment.

In 1892 the general unrest and hard times led to various ugly forms, and one of them was an attempt to imitate Tacoma in the banishment of the Chinese. The effort to run out the Orientals proved a fiasco, however, as the general sentiment of the majority of the citizens was strongly against it, and the sheriff was firm in his announcement of the probable outcome of any violation of the peace. Gradually the agitation subsided and the Chinese, who were few in numbers and were peaceable and law abiding, and who in no manner stood in the way of the rights and privileges of white citizens, remained unmolested. Dayton was saved from that most contemptible and inexcusable of all forms of public riot, a "race war."

The part which Dayton and Columbia County took in raising men for the Washington Volunteer force in the Philippine war is worthy of some special note. Not that the other counties and towns were in any degree deficient in their service, but the number of enlistments at Dayton was remarkable in comparison with the population. The Dayton men were enrolled in Company F of the First Washington Volunteers. Chester F. Miller, whose name has so often appeared in this history in connection with legal and judicial matters, was chosen captain of the company; Charles A. Booker was first lieutenant; George B. Dorr, second lieutenant. The company, like the others of the Washington Volunteers, bore itself with all honor. One member of the company, Edward W. Strain of Pomeroy, a member of one of the most conspicuous pioneer families of Garfield County, was killed in battle, and George B. Fargo and R. A. Chrystal lost their lives by sickness.

Columbia County is so entirely a farming country that there are practically no cities and towns of any considerable size except Dayton.

THE TOWN OF STARBUCK

There are, however, several villages whose records, had we space for them, would afford much matter of interest. The leading one of these is Starbuck. This has become within the last few years a railroad point of much importance, being a division and locomotive station on the O. W. R. & N. System, and, as the result of this, providing homes for a number of families and being the center of a very considerable business. It is the junction of the Pomeroy branch with the main line, and as an immense business is done on that branch, there is the prospect of a steady increase in the business centering at Starbuck. The picturesque and piscatorial Tucanon, of historic fame, and the drainage stream of one of the richest and most beautiful valleys in the state, passes right through the town, and its bright waters impart a needed verdure to the rather arid land as well as diffuse a grateful coolness to the sometimes intense heat which the low altitude and bluffy hill shoulders on either side impose upon the place.

Starbuck may be said to have come into existence with the construction of the railroad and the erection of a warehouse and section house in 1882.

It is referred to in the Chronicle of Dayton in December, 1886, as Starbuck Station. Mention is made also of Col. George Hunter as receiving at that time the appointment as railroad agent. Colonel Hunter was noted as a pioneer and was the author of a book on pioneer life, entitled: "Reminiscences of an Old Timer."

Upon the completion of the Pomeroy branch line in 1886 considerable building ensued. McIntosh Brothers established a store, a depot building and several other buildings were put up. Sad to relate these buildings were destroyed by fire the next year.

In 1888-9 a new era of building came on, the most important structures being the round-house, machine shops, section houses, agent's house, turn-table, and some minor buildings, constructed by the railroad company. But Starbuck seems to have rivaled Dayton in disasters by fire. On May 18, 1893, the valuable structures of the railroad company, with much oil and coal and a number of locomotives, became victims of a fire. The loss to the company was $500,000.

In 1894 Mrs. Mary McIntosh undertook to lay out a town site. The plat was filed on June 1st. In October of the same year Woodend's Addition was platted. In 1906 Starbuck became incorporated as a city of the fourth class.

The municipal officers of the first government were: W. E. Sprout, mayor; C. A. Blackman, John Roddy, Frank Actor, W. F. Gardner and M. Ray, councilmen.

Within the decade following incorporation, Starbuck has increased in population from about four hundred to about seven hundred and fifty. The increased railroad force and added buildings in connection with division headquarters has made substantial increases in business, and at the present the metropolis of the Tucanon is a busy, bustling little city, with a fine school building, several churches, a flourishing bank, a number of stores, and many pleasant homes embowered in trees.

The present city government of Starbuck is composed of the following: Mayor, W. H. Barnhart; councilmen, Wallis Brundson, C. H. List, M. V. McCool, J. H. Walters, L. E. Hukill; treasurer, Sam Walters; clerk, D. C. Guernsey; marshal, James Smith.

There are three churches in Starbuck: Episcopal, of which the pastor is Rev. John Leacher, also pastor of the Episcopal Church at Pomeroy; Christian, the pulpit of which is occupied by Rev. Mr. Diggins of Walla Walla; the Methodist, in which services are maintained, but at present without a stated pastor.

As in all typical towns in the Northwest, Starbuck takes just pride in her schools and makes generous provision for them. The approximate value of the school building, with its equipment, is $35,000. There is a high school department with three grades, having at the present date nineteen pupils. The enrollment in the eight grammar school grades is 121. The faculty at the present time is: Principal, H. C. Hayes; high school instructor, Bertha Botts; grade teachers in order from eighth grade to first, Fred Lehman, Ethel Krouse, May Betts, Mrs. Myrtle Pettyjohn, Mrs. Ethel LeDuc, Mrs. Brooks Harris.

One narration of much interest connected with the near vicinity of Starbuck is the attempt on the part of Dr. Marcel Pietrzycki of Dayton, physician, capitalist, philanthropist, and newspaper proprietor, to establish a sort of co-operative ownership organization on a large ranch a few miles south of Starbuck.

We have given in connection with the Dayton schools the main features of his enterprise.

It would indeed have been an experiment of much interest in sociological lines, but hardly had the good doctor inaugurated his plans when failing health and his lamented death brought the great scheme to an untimely end. A few years later the ranch became the property of the Grote Brothers, who rank among the most extensive farmers of the Northwest. But--lamentable to relate--the mansion which had been the central feature of the builder's roseate schemes, was lost by fire, and the land which was to have been the scene of a great sociological demonstration has become a wheat and cattle ranch.

In the near vicinity is another notable place, the property of one of the most notable families in the region. This is the immense Jackson ranch. This place was founded and developed by Richard A. Jackson, one of the foremost of the builders of old Walla Walla County. He became the most extensive sheep raiser in Columbia and Garfield counties, his holdings belonging to both. His home was established in a fine house upon the Tucanon, and the great areas of grain and pasture land extended for miles from the creek, embracing in all about fifteen thousand acres. Upon the death of Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Jackson, with several of her capable children, continued the business with equal success, and at the present date maintains the former leadership in the production of wool. At the Lewis and Clark Fair at Portland in 1905, and the Alaska Yukon Exposition at Seattle in 1909, there was on exhibition a wool fleece from the Jackson ranch, which was said to be the largest fleece ever known, weighing the almost incredible amount of sixty-nine pounds. At present price of wool that fleece would be worth over thirty dollars.

Still another enterprise of more than local interest, of which the office and headquarters are at Starbuck, is the extensive irrigation project on the Snake River, a short distance above Riparia, founded and mainly owned by Pres. E. A. Bryan, known throughout the state and country as for many years the president of the State College at Pullman. The irrigation tract has been laid out with scientific accuracy and has become a valuable property under the management of A. W. Bryan, son of President Bryan.

A weekly paper, the Starbuck Standard, with a circulation of about four hundred, is published at Starbuck by H. G. Roe. It is now in its fourth year, and performs an excellent part in maintaining publicity in the vicinity. In a recent number of the Standard we note the interesting fact of a mass meeting in the town to prepare for placing the town upon one of the Chautauqua circuits of the Ellison-White Company for the coming year. That a town and community of so small population should undertake so extensive an enterprise is good evidence of the ambition and intelligence of the people.

JOURNALISM IN COLUMBIA COUNTY

As an essential element in the view of the institutions of Columbia County we will give a sketch of its journalism.

At the risk of repetition we will go back to the beginnings, when Dayton was still in Walla Walla County, for the discovery of the first newspaper. That pioneer in the journalistic field was the Dayton News. It first saw the light of this evil world in September, 1874. It was launched largely for the purpose of "booming" the idea of a new county with Dayton as the seat. It was simply a four column sheet. Its politics were democratic. A. J. Cain was the first editor, and Elisha Ping was the financial backer. Mr. Cain had quite an eventful career, both before and after, as a lawyer, writer and soldier, playing an important part in the Nez Percé Indian war of 1877. The News had a varied career, passing through a number of hands, with brief tenure, and in 1881 came into the possession of J. Y. Ostrander as editor, and Walter Crosby as business manager. But it was near its demise. For in August, 1882, it, like other valuable possessions in Dayton at that time, went up on a chariot of fire, and never came down. It had played a good part in the installation of the new county, with Dayton as its official head.

The Columbia Chronicle came into existence on April 20, 1878. It was designed as the republican offset to the News. T. M. May and H. H. Gale were the first proprietors, with E. R. Burk acting a short time as business manager. A "cute" announcement in the first issue is as follows: "Afloat--We have launched the Chronicle and spread sails for a long newspaper voyage, and we do not see any long breakers ahead. If we do not find a breeze, we will make one and sail right along. Fare, $3. All aboard!"

In a somewhat more sober vein the salutatory of the paper, entitled, "Our Bow," proceeds thus: "Friends and fellow-citizens; today we present to you the initial number of the Columbia Chronicle. Not deeming it advisable to salute the public with a lengthy preamble and platform of pledges, about what we will do and what we will not do, we will say in brief: The intention is to establish a newspaper here which shall work for the social and commercial interest of Columbia in particular and Eastern Washington in general. In starting a newspaper in Dayton we believe we are only keeping pace with these modern reading times and the wants and demands of the people.

"We shall endeavor to make the Chronicle a reliable newspaper, advocating the interest of the farmer, stock raiser, and business man, and to aid in developing the resources of this magnificent country. We shall pay special attention to gathering local, territorial and general news, and make the Chronicle interesting as a home paper. Printing our own outside we shall have room for numerous correspondents.

"The Chronicle will be republican in politics, and in all our political and public affairs it will be our aim to advance the best interest of the people, censuring the wrong and advocating the right on general principles."

That initial number of the Chronicle contains local items and advertisements of much interest. Among the former we find mention of the school, in charge of Prof. J. E. Eastham, and containing fifty scholars. Parents are exhorted to co-operate with the teachers in making the school reach its best attainments.

Notice is taken of the death near Lewiston of the Indian Levi, who, with Timothy, had saved Steptoe's command from destruction in 1858 in the disastrous expedition from Walla Walla to Spokane.

There is also an item calling attention to the advisability of tree culture, and settlers are advised to investigate the claims of the Eucalyptus tree, which is stated to have been found very valuable in California. The paper asserts that nothing grows so fast as that tree, unless it be a farm mortgage bearing 1-1/2 per cent interest per month, compounded. Trees in California, it declares, have made a growth of from sixty to seventy feet in ten years.

In the advertising columns of that first number of the Chronicle, we find some names well known throughout the history of Dayton.

The Columbia Hotel appears, of which the proprietors are announced as John Brining and Lane Gilliam. There are a number of cards of lawyers and physicians. Among the former we note T. H. Crawford, R. F. Sturdevant and M. A. Baker. Among the latter are T. C. Frary, J. H. Kennedy, H. R. Littlefield and W. H. Boyd, and the Homeopathists W. W. Day and J. P. VanDusen.

Of the business advertisements we observe the Standard Soap Works, conducted by W. W. Gardner and M. S. McQuarrie. J. A. Gavitt announces his saddle and harness supplies. W. P. Matzger appears as the producer of artistic photographs. D. B. Kimball, contractor, builder and undertaker, occupies space. There is quite an ad. for H. I. and E. A. Torrance as blacksmiths and wagon makers. Also J. Hutcheon and A. Nilsson call attention to their blacksmithing business.

D. C. Guernsey and H. H. Wolfe announce their grand opening for the spring trade of 1878. I. N. Arment announces his extensive stock of watches, clocks, cigars, tobacco, musical instruments, fishing tackle, etc.

Mr. R. E. Peabody, now the proprietor of the Chronicle, set up that first number of the paper and has been connected with it ever since, except during an absence of about a year in Montana. Mr. Peabody is without doubt the dean of all the newspaper men of Eastern Washington. He, in company with O. C. White, became proprietor in 1890, and in a short time the retirement of Mr. White left him the sole proprietor.

In 1908 Dr. Marcel Pietrzycki had an interest in the Chronicle for about four months, during which time he endeavored to advance some radical views on methods of taxation. The connection of the doctor with the paper was suddenly dropped when it became apparent to him that his views were not meeting with popular support.

Doubtless next to Mr. Peabody as a continuous factor in the newspaper field in this region is Al Ricardo. Mr. Ricardo was born in Mexico of Spanish parentage. He came to Walla Walla in 1885, and was connected with the Statesman for fifteen years. In 1900 he went to Dayton and became interested in two papers, the Courier, a democratic paper, and the Press, a populist paper. These papers were combined in 1900 by a company, but in the next year Mr. Ricardo acquired the entire control, which he has continued to the present.

The third of the newspapers is the Dispatch. This was founded in 1903 by Mr. Harris. The unique feature of it was the effort by Mr. Harris to maintain it as a daily. This was the only paper in the district covered by this history outside of Walla Walla, which carried on a daily issue. It soon appeared that the attempt was an undertaking beyond the resources of the field, and in 1905 Mr. Harris sold out to H. C. Benbow, a former resident of Pomeroy, where he had been active both as a teacher and a journalist. Mr. Benbow reduced the Dispatch to the weekly edition and has maintained it to the present on those lines. Its official name is Columbia County Dispatch, and it is now in its sixteenth volume.

The three Dayton papers are clean, well conducted, high-class weeklies, reflecting with accuracy the conditions of the community, as well as exercising a wholesome force in aiding to mobilize the rich resources which center at Dayton. As fulfilling with marked power their functions they may well be a source of pride to their proprietors and of approval to the citizenship.

TWO REMARKABLE CRIMINAL CASES

One feature of life in Columbia County seems to demand some attention, and that is the criminal record. This is not for the sake of mere sensationalism, but because of some features so remarkable that they become interesting as a study of the possibilities of human nature and life.

The first case that we shall touch upon was that of the murder of E. H. Cummins, railroad agent at New York Bar on Snake River. The story has been told in various forms. We derive our information mainly from Dr. E. H. Van Patten of Dayton. The mutilated body of the agent was discovered early on the morning of July 27, 1882. It was evident upon inspection that he had been murdered for the purpose of robbery. The station had been rifled of all valuables, including money. Late in 1882 Canada Owenby, who lived near Pomeroy, was arrested on account of suspicious circumstances. It was known that he had been destitute of money but that soon after the murder had become possessed of considerable money. He was known to have been in Pataha the day before the murder, then to have disappeared, returning the next morning, and getting a blacksmith to remove the shoes of his horse. He had purchased in Pomeroy cartridges for a pistol which he was known to own, which was of just the size which appeared to have been used for the crime. After his arrest he made desperate efforts to escape, leaping, handcuffed, from a second-story window. He had tried to bribe a guard to swear that he saw him in Pomeroy the night of the murder. Again he sought to induce the guards by bribes to let him escape. Still further he asserted that his wife would testify that he was at home the night of the murder, but when she was called to the stand he took advantage of the right to refuse to allow her to be a witness. A bloody shirt was found which appeared to belong to him. The chain was drawing irresistibly around him. The preliminary trial occurred at Dayton on January 13, 1883. Without being put under any "tenth degree inquisition," Owenby was evidently in a dreadful state of mind, and soon after the discharge of the jury through disagreement, he confessed, first to a fellow prisoner, and subsequently to the sheriff and clerk. The confession was somewhat confused and contradictory, but it involved the assertion that three other men, James McPherson, Ezra Snoderly, and one Porter, were concerned in the crime. The three were arrested and brought to Dayton. The officers became so well satisfied that Porter was innocent that he was released.

In June, 1883, Snoderly and McPherson were tried in the district court, presided over by Judge S. C. Wingard. It was an intensely exciting trial. J. K. Rutherford was prosecuting attorney at the time. Judge Godman, Judge Caton, Judge Sturdevant and Colonel George, the most prominent attorneys in the region at that time, were concerned in the case.

The result of the trial was that all three men were convicted of murder, though both McPherson and Snoderly maintained to the last that they were innocent. Great efforts were made for a reprieve. Judge Caton secured a stay of proceedings for McPherson. The news of this excited great feeling throughout the community where the conviction was strong that the three were alike guilty in the revolting crime. During the afternoon of August 4th little knots of men, mainly farmers, might have been seen talking earnestly, breaking up their groups whenever any one not in their confidence approached. It was evident that something portentous was at hand.

The old vigilante organization had representatives in the community. With that element as a nucleus, a committee called the committee of the hundred and one, was speedily organized and about midnight a strong body of men gathered in the courthouse square. They speedily stormed the jail, in spite of the firing of the guard, overpowered him, broke into the cell where McPherson was chained, took him out and hanged him.

On the 7th of August, Snoderly was subjected to a legal execution, in presence of a huge throng, protesting his innocence to the last and extending his hand to Owenby as he passed his cell, with the words, "You are taking my life, the life of an innocent man, but I forgive you and I hope the Lord will forgive you." The sentence of the law was then duly executed.

Owenby was taken to the jail at Walla Walla, still admitting his guilt and declaring that he wished to be hanged, as the deserving punishment.

But--strange to tell--within a few months, on December 25th, he, with a fellow prisoner, escaped. As Sheriff Thompson was going through the corridor of the jail he was struck to the floor by a brick, evidently hurled by one of the prisoners. The jailer rushed to the sheriff's assistance and was stabbed with a pocket knife by one of the convicts. Rushing from their cells, which had been unlocked, the two men opened the outer door with the key taken from the sheriff, and escaped. Securing horses they made their way to the mountains in the vicinity of Weston, Ore. They there captured two more horses, killed a Chinaman, and robbed his body of a considerable sum of money. But within a few days Owenby, his feet frozen and himself in a starving condition, was found in a barn on the DeHaven ranch near Milton. Being taken to Dayton, where some lynch talk was started, but soon abandoned, Owenby lingered a few days, and then died, declaring that all his assertions of the crime were true, and that he and the other men were all guilty and worthy of death.

THE HILL CASE

Of this second remarkable case we shall give but a brief account. Its singular features will appear as we proceed.

A man was shot in a saloon brawl in Colfax, lingered on some days and then died. There was mixed evidence as to who fired the fatal shot, but one of the drunken crew named Hill was charged with the offense and arrested. Feeling was high in Colfax, and Hill's lawyer, the famous Tom Griffiths of Spokane, regarded as one of the greatest criminal lawyers at that time and a prominent politician, secured a change of venue to Dayton. Associated with Mr. Griffiths was J. K. Edmiston, a leading lawyer of Dayton, one of the most prominent citizens and of the highest type of man. Mr. Edmiston seems to have sincerely believed that Hill was innocent. Griffiths made every effort to get Dr. Van Patten of Dayton to testify that a wound of the nature of that received by the murdered man was not necessarily fatal, but that death was the result of drugs administered after the wounding. Dr. Van Patten declared that only six per cent of the wounds of that type had resulted in recovery. He was not called to the witness stand. A Doctor Harvey of Spokane was brought down as an expert witness, and having taken the stand swore that there was evidence that bichloride of mercury had been used with the wounded man, and that death resulted from that and not from the pistol shot. Griffiths worked this testimony with his accustomed skill and success, and the verdict rendered let Hill off with a sentence of six months in the county jail.

Dr. Van Patten remembers that in conversation with Mr. Edmiston, upon the announcement of the verdict, he said, "You have got Hill off with a light sentence, but it will do him little good if he is ever taken to Colfax." Within two weeks after Hill had been returned to the Colfax jail the doors were broken in, the prisoner was hurried into the yard by a group of determined men, and there he was swung from a rope in front of the courthouse.

It would not be safe to venture an opinion as to the rights and wrongs of that Hill tragedy, but on the surface it looks a good deal like one of those cases of "expert testimony" which is sometimes the legitimate parent of lynching cases.

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