USA > Washington > Skagit County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 39
USA > Washington > Snohomish County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 39
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SKAGIT COUNTY
lap, Republican, 1,292, Albert Taylor, Democrat, 951. Eichholtz, People's party, 575; sur- veyor. J. W. Mechan, Republican, 1,229, J. C. Par- sons, Democrat, 861, R. J1. Stevens, People's party, 623; coroner, W. B. Dunbar, Republican, 1,260, J. A. Dorman, Democrat, 838, L. A. Blackwell, Peo- ple's party, 634; commissioner, first district, John Dale, Republican, 1,096, F. W. Conn, Democrat, 913. Frazer, People's party, 787; com- missioner, second district, J. W. Dicks, Republican, 1.211, Fred Graham, Democrat, 630, H. A. Wright, People's party, 821; commissioner, third district, John Sutter, Republican, 1.388, R. E. Cochrchan. Democrat, 156, J. B. Wiley, People's party, 575: wreckmaster. Tom Sharp. Republican, 1,031. John Benson, Democrat, 70%.
Notwithstanding the rapid growth of the Peo- ple's party during the next two years the balance of power remained with the Republicans in the campaign of 1891, as the power of the Democratic party declined proportionately. From this it will be seen that the new third party was drawing its recruits principally from Democratic ranks, fore- shadowing the complete merger of the two parties two years later when the fusion ticket swept county and state.
The Republicans were first to hold their con- vention, assembling at Sedro, September 6th. A full ticket was nominated. Of local interest are the fifth and sixth planks of the platform adopted, which read as follows:
"Resolved. That we pledge the best efforts of our representatives in the state legislature to use all honorable means to secure an appropriation for opening a public highway through the Cascade range for the connection of Skagit county with the mineral stores of that mountainous range and the agricultural districts of Okanogan and Stevens counties.
"Resolved, That it is the sense of this conven- tion that the assessment of real estate of this county annually imposes an unnecessary expense and bur- den on our citizens, and that our representatives be instructed to use their utmost endeavors to secure an amendment to our laws so that an assessment of real property be made not oftener than once in three years."
The senatorial district convention was held at Anacortes, September 29th, and Fred C. Harper, of San Juan county, nominated.
On the ?? d of September the Democrats and the Populists convened respectively in Anacortes and Burlington, holding harmonious conventions. No local issues of especial importance were brought out by either party. From the official vote, which follows, the results at the polls may be ascertained : Judge supreme court, R. O. Dunbar, Republican, 1,165. M. J. Gordon, Republican, 1,110, J. L. Sharpstein, Democrat. 489, Thomas N. Allen. Democrat, 466. J. M. Ready, People's party, 952,
HI. L. Forest, People's party, 900; state senator, Fred C. Harper, Republican, 1,039, Fred E. Pape, Democrat, 610, E. C. Nordyke, People's party, 981 ; representatives, Herbert S. Conner, Republican, 1.124. A. M. Moore, Republican, 1,097, Chas. Moore, Democrat, 428. John J. Sec. Democrat, 512, John Z. Nelson, People's party, 1,050. W. T. Mor- rison, People's party, 912; prosecuting attorney. George A. Joiner, Republican, 1,114, D. M. Wood- bury, Democrat, 485, J. P. Houser, People's party, 1,031 ; commissioner, second district, L. L. Andrews, Republican, 596, N. W. Carpenter, Democrat, 303, Grant Knight, People's party, 441 ; commissioner, third district, Thomas Conmey, Republican, 247, George A. Ilenson, Democrat, 133, John P. Flick, People's party, 282 : county clerk, F. B. Lippincott, Republican, 1,045, Paul S. Hogan, Democrat, 876, William T. Flagg. People's party, 171; auditor, V. J. Knapp. Republican, 945, Harrison Clothier, Democrat, :11, Hiram Hammer, People's party, 1,034: sheriff. P. J. Maloney, Republican, 1.032. James O'Loughlin, Democrat, 594, W. E. Perkin- son, People's party, 1,066 ; treasurer. James Dunlap, Republican. 1.266. Daniel Sullivan, Democrat, 415. Oscar Ball, People's party 996; assessor, H. C. Howard, Republican, 1,126, F. W. Conn. Democrat. 618. N. S. Cody, People's. party, 936 ; school super- intendent. W. B. Davis, Republican, 1,254, Lewis Sandell, Democrat, 390. J. P. Edwards, People's party. 1,020; coroner. M. B. Dunbar, Republican. 1.212. J. A. Dorman, Democrat. 462. John W. Ben- son, People's party. 946; wreckmaster, Thomas Sharp, Democrat, 596, A. J. Crookham, People's party, 985: surveyor, J. W. Meehan, Republican, 1.161. H. H. Barber, Democrat, 622, J. T. Lohr, People's party, 852.
In political circles the year 1895 in this state was marked by the formation of a notable geograph- ical combination, known as the Northwestern County Association. It was occasioned by the candidacy of Honorable John S. McMillin, of San Juan county. for the United States senate. He was defeated by John L. Wilson, but the political combination then formed for his support remains to this day. Among its prominent achievements were the selection of Henry McBride of Skagit as lieutenant-governor, and Albert Mead of Whatcom as governor in 1904.
The spectacular, epoch-making campaign of 1896 is still vivid in the memory of all but the very young. There have been few campaigns, probably. which have so completely engrossed public atten- tion and which have so profoundly stirred the American people. For two things it will take a most important place in American history if for nothing else, namely, the apparently permanent settlement of the financial policy of the United States and the institution of what has been termed the "campaign of education." whose most promi- nent feature is the distribution of an almost incom- prehensible amount of printed matter.
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POLITICAL
The local Republicans initiated the campagn Tuesday, August 11th, in Skagit News hall, Mount Vernon, by the organization of a Mckinley club, with a charter membership of seventy-five. Its officers were: President, G. E. Hartson ; vice-presi- dent, W. F. Patten; secretary. Frank Farrar : treasurer, W. S. Ribblett ; executive committee, James Kean, A. L. Crawford, J. F. St. John, R. W. Williams and J. W. Prilliman. The county convention was held in Mount Vernon five days later. As was expected, the silver question resulted in the organization under one banner of all who favored Bryan's financial doctrine. The People's party, the great mass of Democrats and the Silver Republicans united here in Skagit, as elsewhere in the United States, forming a fusion party. The Fusionists held their county convention at Burling- ton. September 30th, and nominated a ticket com- posed of seven Populists, four Democrats and two Silver Republicans. Later J. P. Houser, a former member of the People's party, was nominated for the superior judgeship of this district, while the Republicans selected Henry McBride for the same position.
At the polls on election day the Fusionists swept the county, as will be seen from the official vote which follows: Presidential electors, L. B. Andrews, Solomon Smith, John N. Conna, W. K. Kennedy. Republicans. 1,268, 1,265, 1,261 and 1,255 votes respectively, Thomas Burke. George Stapleton, Yancey C. Blalock, Wilbur S. Year- sley, Democrats, 50, 45, 41 and 40 votes respectively, Nathan Caton, Isaac Maxwell, John B. Hart, De- witt C. Newman, People's party, 1,573, 1,564, 1,557 and 1,554 votes respectively. D. T. Denny, J. J. Ashby, R. F. Whittum, O. G. Gist, Prohibitionists, 28, 22, 22 and 21 votes respectively, Chas. Goddard. Boyd Teeter. John B. Redford. P. H. Peter, Na- tional party, 2, 3, 2 and 3 votes respectively ; repre- sentatives in congress, S. C. Hyde, Republican, 1,217, WV. H. Doolittle, Republican, 1,246, James Hamilton Lewis, People's party, 1,646, William C. Jones. People's party, 1,593, C. A. Slayer, Prohi- bitionist, 27. Martin Olsen, Prohibitionist, 20 ; gov- ernor. P. C. Sullivan, Republican, 1,206, John R. Rogers, People's party, 1,615. R. E. Dunlap, Prohi- bitionist, 64; lieutenant-governor, John W. Arra- smith, Republican, 1,248. Thurston Daniels, Peo- ple's party, 1,580, T. A. Shorthill, Prohibitionist, 39, A. C. Dickinson, National party, 3; secretary of state, James H. Price, Republican, 1,281, Will D. Jenkins, People's party, 1,564. C. L. Haggard, Pro- hibitionist, 32 : treasurer, J. A. Kellogg. Republican, 1.212, C. W. Young. People's party. 1,562, John Robin, Prohibitionist, 28: auditor. J. E. Frost, Re- publican, 1,284. Neal Cheetham. People's party, 1,554, C. C. Gridley, Prohibitionist. 30; attorney- general, E. W. Ross, Republican, 1,291, Patrick H. Winston, People's party. 1,531. Everett Smith, Prohibitionist, 48; judge supreme court, John P.
Hoyt, Republican, 1,257, James B. Reavis, People's party, 1,585, E. H. Livermore, Prohibitionist, 28; commissioner public lands, William T. Forrest, Re- publican, 1,226, Robert Bridges, People's party, 1,596, .A. E. Flagg, Prohibitionist. 45; superinten- dent of public instruction, E. L. Brunston, Repub- lican, 1,221. Frank J. Browne, People's party, 1,600. C. E. Newberry, Prohibitionist, 43; state printer, O. C. White, Republican, 1.265, Gwin Hicks, Peo- ple's party, 1,5:1, Homer L. Bull, Prohibitionist. 32 ; state representatives, R. H. Ball, Republican, 1,161, Emerson Hammer, Republican, 1,301, Frank Wilkeson. People's party, 1,586, John Z. Nelson, People's party, 1,538; superior judge for Skagit and San Juan, Henry McBride, Republican, 1,270, J. P. Houser, People's party. 1,604 ; sheriff. W. E. Gilkey, Republican, 1,224, J. P. Millett, People's party, 1,631 ; clerk, F. B. Lippincott, Republican, 1,148. 1. A. Boyd, People's party, 1,611 ; auditor, E. S. Dodge, Republican, 1,296, H. Hammer, Peo- ple's party, 1,583 ; treasurer. W. R. Wells, Republi- can. 1.376, Oscar Ball. People's party. 1,498 ; prose- cuting attorney, M. P. Hurd, Republican, 1,358, I. E. Shrauger. People's party, 1,50% ; assessor, J. J. Stiles, Republican, 1,245, Paul S. Hogan, People's party, 1,612 ; superintendent of schools, W. B. Davis, Republican, 1,306, B. R. McElreath, Peo- ple's party, 1,583 ; surveyor. C. H. Allerton, Repub- lican, 1.264, Henry Gay, People's party, 1,582 ; cor- oner, B. R. Sumner. Republican, 1,269, J. L. Hutchison. People's party, 1,516; commissioner, first district. John Dale, Republican, 1,197, Gus Hen- sler, People's party. 1,661 ; commissioner, third dis- trict, Otto Klement. Republican, 1,355, A. H. Rogers, People's party, 1,502; wreckmaster, D. H. Byrnes, Republican, 1,463 ; for constitutional amend- ment, 186. against constitutional amendment, 475; for township organization, 681, against township organization, 455.
The sun of the People's party reached its zenith in 1896, however, and, politically, the year 1898 is noted as marking the beginning of its decline. The Democrats, Populists and Silver Republicans met in joint convention at Burlington, August 20th, and after a spirited debate, fusion was effected, except in the case of a large number of Populists who bolted and formed an independent aggregation. As finally agreed upon the Populists were granted the state senatorship and the county offices of auditor, assessor, clerk, one county commissioner, both repre- sentatives, superintendent of schools, surveyor and coroner.
The bolters, commonly known as "middle-of- the-roaders," held a convention at Burlington Sat- urday, October 1st, nominated a full ticket, which polled so few votes as to be hardly classed as a party, and adopted the following platform :
"Whercas, We have seen with sorrow and indig- nation the late People's party convention of the state of Washington and of the county of Skagit
1st
SKAGIT COUNTY
turned over soul and body to the Democratic party of said state and county, by the most disreputable, high-handed and outrageous proceedings that ever disgraced any political convention in the state of Washington or in the county of Skagit.
"Whereas, The following are a few of the many footprints of the blackest trails of absolute de- bauchery and abject shame which marked the pro- ceedings of those bodies and the latent and obscure movements preceding it :
"First, the neglect and refusal of the chairman of the state central committee and members thereof, in our own and several of the counties, in not giving the proper information in calling the state, county and primary election, the design of which was to keep the true reformers from the polls and attend- ing the elections.
"Second, the packing of the caucuses in the most scandalous manner, wherein sinister aims and means were used that life-long reformers in nearly every county and precinct were displaced and over-ridden by men who were never known to vote the reform ticket.
"Third, we point to the unprecedented and scan- dalous action of the court-house caucus that ap- pointed the committees of three Fusionists each in every precinct, for the purpose of keeping reformers out of the county and state conventions, thereby giving the Democrats absolute control.
"Fourth, we point to the unprecedented action of the chairmen of the committees of the county convention in using every device in their power to subserve the combination bosses, under circum- stances calculated to suppress a free expression on the part of true reformers ; and combining and con- spiring to have our deliberations squashed and flooded by a lot of fusion hirelings and Democratic bosses.
"Fifth, that every cunning and device known to man's intelligence and ingenuity has been and is being brought to bear by the ring bosses and their agents to tear down and destroy and annihilate, if need be. the Rural Home, the only reform paper in the county.
"Now, therefore, in view of the above facts, we (leclare that we repudiate the whole proceedings of the county convention, and declare to the county that the result of the triple convention held in Burlington, Skagit county, Washington, on the 20th day of August, 1898, does not express the sentiments of the reformers of Skagit county."
The Republicans met at Woolley. September 10th, and nominated their standard bearers. The campaign was a comparatively quiet one and on election day the following vote was cast according to the official returns of the board of canvassers : Representatives, Francis W. Cushman. Republican. 1,329. Wesley L. Jones, Republican, 1,321. James Hamilton Lewis, Fusionist, 1,215, William C. Jones, Fusionist. 1,086, C. L. Haggard, 39. A. C. Dickson, 1
36. Walter Walker, 32. M. A. Hamilton, 31; judge of supreme court. T. J. Anders, Republican, 1,387, Mark A. Fullerton, Republican, 1,363, Benjamin F. Hueston, Fusionist, 1,028, Melvin M. Godman, Fusionist. 1,014, Thomas Young. 62, Thomas Lawry. 11; state senator, Emerson Hammer, Re- publican, 1.124. John Z. Nelson, Fusionist, 1,042; state representatives. N. H. Beals. Republican, 1.131, J. H. Parker, Republican, 1,411, Frank Wil- keson, Populist, 1,017, Charles Elde, Populist, 1,067 ; sheriff, Edwin Wells, Republican, 1,368, J. P. Mil- lett. Populist, 1,044, William E. Perkinson, Inde- pendent. 162 ; clerk, James Haddock Smith, Repub- lican, 1,314. L. A. Boyd, Populist, 1,228; auditor, Grant Neal, Republican, 1.381, W. T. Flagg, Popu- list, 1,151; treasurer, James Dunlap, Republican, 1,529. J. T. Squires. Populist, 1,034; prosecuting attorney. M. P. Hurd. Republican, 1,359, 1. E. Shrauger. Populist, 1,191 ; assessor, William Dale, Republican. 1,340. Grant Knight, Populist, 1,201; school superintendent. Susan Lord Currier, Repub- lican, 1,413, B. R. MeElreath, Populist. 1.148 ; surveyor, John W. Meehan, Republican. 1,3:3, Henry Gay, Populist, 1,145 : coroner. James Vercoe. Republican. 1,414, A. Garl. Populist, 1,023; com- missioner, first district. Melville Curtis, Republi- can, 1,392, Ernest Kasch, Populist, 1,106 ; commis- sioner, second district, W. J. Henry, Republican, 1,418. H. A. Dannemiller, Populist. 1,101 ; for single tax amendment, 512, against single tax amendment, 1,001; for woman suffrage, 414, against woman suffrage, 905.
The Fusionists held their county convention in 1900 at Mount Vernon. Saturday. August 18th, adopting the name of the old-time party, however. .\ month later at the state Democratic convention in Seattle. Ex-Judge E. C. Million of Mount Vernon was nominated as a justice of the supreme court. . The Republicans of Skagit were likewise honored by having one of their number, Henry McBride, also of Mount Vernon, selected as the party's candidate for lieutenant-governor. Their county convention was held at Mount Vernon, July 28th. In comparison with the preceding national election that of 1900 was somewhat undemonstra- tive, although it is noticeable that when election day arrived a full vote was cast by a people seriously intent upon correctly solving the problem of self- government.
The vote in Skagit, as officially returned by the canvassing board, was: Presidential electors, Re- publican, 1.814. Democrat. 1,220, Prohibition, 65. Social Labor. 29. Social Democrat, 115: represen- tative in congress. Francis W. Cushman, Repub- lican. 1.262. Wesley L. Jones, Republican, 1,262, F. C. Robertson, Democrat, 1,244, J. T. Ronald, Democrat. 1.191. Guy Posson, Prohibitionist. 62. J. A. Adams, Prohibitionist, 55. Walter Walker, Social Laborite, 29. Christian F. Larson, Social Laborite, 31. William Hogan. Social Democrat, 111,
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POLITICAL
Herman F. Titus, Social Democrat, 112; judge of supreme court, Wallace Mount, Republican, 1,694, R. O. Dunbar, Republican, 1,760, E. C. Million, Democrat, 1,329, Richard Winsor, Democrat, 1,242, Everett Smith, Prohibitionist, 64, Thomas Young, Social Laborite, 29, Frank Martin, Social Laborite, 36, D. M. Angus, Social Democrat, 106, J. H. May, Social Democrat, 104; for judge of supreme court (unfinished term of Merritt J. Gordon), William H. White, Democrat, 1,361; governor, J. M. Frink, Republican, 1,611, John R. Rogers, Democrat, 1,434, R. E. Dunlap, Prohibitionist, 63, William Mc- Cormick, Social Laborite, 24, W. C. B. Randolph, Social Democrat, 115 ; lieutenant-governor, Henry McBride, Republican, 1,680, William E. McCroskey, Democrat, 1,313, C. I. Hall, Prohibitionist, 70, Matt Matson, Social Laborite, 31, E. S. Reinert, Social Democrat, 106; secretary of state, Samuel H. Nichols, Republican, 1,749, James Brady, Demo- crat. 1.242, J. W. McCay, Prohibitionist, 20, Will- iam Hoag, Social Laborite, 25, James H. Ross, Social Democrat, 114; state treasurer, C. W. May- nard, Republican, 1,758, W. E. Runner, Democrat, 1,238, C. C. Gridley, Prohibitionist, 75, Eric Norl- ing. Social Laborite, 22, J. J. Fraser, Social Demo- crat, 114; auditor, John D. Atkinson, Republican, 1,765, L. J. Silverhorn, Democrat, 1,224, A. W. Steers, Prohibitionist, 68, F. B. Graves, Social Laborite, 27, Charles S. Wallace, Social Democrat, 117 ; attorney-general, W. B. Stratton, Republican, 1,739, Thomas Vance, Democrat, 1,240, Ovid A. Byers, Prohibitionist, 71, John Ellis, Social Laborite, 30, David Phipps, Social Democrat, 114; superin- tendent public instruction, R. B. Bryan, Republican, 1,740. Frank J. Browne, Democrat, 1,261, A. H. Sherwood, Prohibitionist, 63. Raymond Blond, Social Laborite, 26, John A. Kingsbury, Social Democrat, 111: commissioners public lands, Stephen A. Callvert, Republican, 1,745, O. R. Hol- comb, Democrat, 1,232, J. C. McKinley. Prohi- bitionist, 45, W. L. Noon, Social Laborite, 30, Jerome S. Austin, Social Democrat, 115; state representative, J. M. Harrison, Republican, 1,728, F. O. Ehrlich, Republican, 1.663, Will \. Lowman, Democrat, 1,32%, George A. Ilensen, Democrat, 1,331 ; judge of superior court, George A. Joiner, Republican, 1,585, J. P. Houser. Democrat, 1,539 ; sheriff, Edwin Wells, Republican, 1,846, J. P. Mil- lett, Democrat, 1,289; clerk, J. H. Smith, Repub- lican, 1,814, W. A. Hammack, Democrat. 1,311 ; auditor, Grant Neal, Republican, 1,901, F. R. Shafer, Democrat, 1,246; treasurer, R. O. Welts, Republican, 1,688, John L. Anable, Democrat, 1,444 ; prosecuting attorney. M. P. Hurd. Republican, 1,888, John L. Corrigan, Democrat, 1,242 ; assessor, William Dale, Republican, 1,722, John W. Martin, Democrat, 1,350 ; school superintendent, Miss Susan Lord Currier, Republican, 1,910, Miss Phi Smythe, Democrat, 1,220; surveyor, John Meehan, Repub- lican, 1,743, Henry Gay, Democrat, 1,380 ; coroner,
B. R. Sumner, Republican, 1,742, A. C. Lewis, Dem- ocrat, 1,337 ; county commissioner, second district, W. J. Henry, Republican, 1,866, Charles Nelson, Democrat, 1,224; commissioner, third district, D. M. Donnelly, Republican, 1,722, Norris Ormsby, Democrat, 1,378.
Before the next campaign, Skagit county was honored by the elevation of Henry McBride to the governor's chair, Governor John R. Rogers having died. He entered upon a notable term in January, 1902, during which he became the recognized leader of the railroad reform forces in the state. February 6th following his induction into office, Governor Mc Bride appointed Grant Neal, auditor of Skagit county, to membership in the state board of audit and control. The county commissioners appointed Fred Blumberg to fill the resulting vacancy in their board.
The Republican county convention was held at Anacortes, August 30, 1902: the Democrats con- vened at Sedro-Woolley, September 13th, and the Socialists, who this year entered the lists, met at Sedro-Woolley on the 26th of September. The Socialists made no nominations for the offices of prosecuting attorney, superintendent of schools and surveyor. The Prohibitionists also held a county convention, August 26th, at Mount Vernon, but did not place a full county ticket in the field or make legislative nominations. The party polled a very small vote, which does not appear in the official returns presented below :
Judge of the supreme court, Hiram E. Hadley, Republican, 1,915, James Bradley Reavis, Democrat, 1,045, Thomas Neill, Socialist, 15:, William J. Hoag, Social Labor, 14; representatives, Wesley L. Jones, Francis W. Cushman, William E. Humph- rey, Republicans, 1,932, 1,935 and 1,904 votes re- spectively, George F. Cotterill, O. R. Holcomb, Frank B. Cole, Democrats, 1,104, 1,067 and 1,081 votes respectively, J. H. C. Scurlock, D. Burgess, George W. Scott, Socialists, 163, 155 and 163 votes respectively, A. H. Sherwood, W. J. Mckean, O. L. Fowler, Populists, 37, 38 and 35 votes respec- tively, Jense C. Martin, William McCormick, Hans P. Joergensen, Social Laborites, 14, 15 and 14 votes respectively ; state senator, Emerson Hammer, Re- publican, 1,790, A. C. Lewis, Democrat, 1,288 ; state representatives, F. O. Ehrlich, N. J. Moldstad, E. E. Butler, Republicans, 1.465, 1,562 and 1,634 votes respectively. Pat McCoy, C. P. Dickey. W. G. Beard, Democrats, 1,642, 1.413 and 1,322 votes respectively, E. E. Spear. J. C. Stone. Emil Herman, Socialists, 156, 154 and 149 votes respectively ; sheriff, C. A. Risbell, Republican, 1,599, E. L. Rowland, Democrat, 1,512, E. W. Thurston, Social- ist, 150. George Heathman, Populist, 31 : clerk, W. B. Davis, Republican, 1,834, J. H. Chilberg, Demo- crat, 1,265, H. J. Brann, Populist, 35 ; auditor, Fred 1. Blumberg, Republican, 2,003, John Melkild, Democrat, 1,020, L. W. Smith, Socialist, 13%;
11
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SKAGIT COUNTY
treasurer. R. O. Welts, Republican, 1,968, Danicl Sullivan, Democrat, 1,115, Fred Keino, Socialist, 145; prosecuting attorney, J. C. Waugh, Republi- can. 1.025, John L. Corrigan. Democrat, 1,169, Will- iam 11. Perry. Populist, 33; assessor, F. F. Wil- Jard. Republican, 1,241, Charles Elde, Democrat, 1,320, John Batdorf. Populist, 31 ; superintendent of schools. J. Guy Lowman, Republican, 1,621, Annie McGreal, Democrat, 1,354 ; surveyor, T. G. Hastie, Republican, 1,480, Henry Gay, Democrat, 1,627; coroner. B. R. Sumner, Republican, 1,299, J. M. Warner, Democrat, 1,190, S. P Walsh, Socialist, 135; commissioners, first district, Melville Curtis, Republican, 1,506, Nick Beesner. Democrat, 1,622 ; commissioner, third district, D. M. Donnelly, Rc- publican, 1,523, George A. Henson, Republican, 1,512. David Evans, Socialist, 108, Warren W. Bagley, Populist, 28.
The death of Sheriff Risbell in August, 1904, made the appointment of a citizen to fill that position necessary, and when the board of county commis- sioners met it named W. A. McKenna, a well-known Republican of Mount Vernon, for the placc.
The Republican party held its county conven- tion April 16, 1904, at Sedro-Woolley. In the platform that was adopted the following plank appears endorsing the candidaey of Governor Mc- Bride, who aspired to be his party's nominee for the gubernatorial chair :
"We heartily commend the fearless and ener- getic administration of Governor Henry McBride, the tribune of the people, and endorse the policy that he has pursued in trying to secure a more equitable division of taxes between the railroads and other property owners, and safe-guarding the interests of the people from unjust encroachments of great corporations. We approve the campaign for justice to the people of the state of Washington being pursued by Governor McBride, and we in- struct our delegates to the state convention to be ' lican. 2.449, N. J. Moldstad, Republican, 2,484, J. held on May 11th to use all honorable means to secure his nomination as governor of the state of Washington.'
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