USA > Washington > Asotin County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 37
USA > Washington > Columbia County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 37
USA > Washington > Garfield County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 37
USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > Lyman's history of old Walla Walla County, embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties, Volume I > Part 37
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
As we have seen, E I Ferry was governor at the time of county division in 1875 He held the office until isso WCA Newell was the next governor hold ing the position for four years, when Watson C Squire received the appointment. retaming the place till i&S; Following came Eugene Semple for two years The period of statehood was new 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 (No Hardly more than a boy, and after some adventures in Montana, had reached Walla Walla in 1862. to become from that
HOMES ON PALOUSE STREET, WALLA WALLA
VIEW OF WALLA WALLA HOMES ON BIRCH STREET
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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 through- out 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 be- conie 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 Febru- ary 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 declarc 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 there- of ; that no taxes shall be imposed by the states on lands or property thercin belonging to or which may hereafter be purchased by the United States or reserved for its usc. 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."
OD WALLA WALLACOUNTY
In accordance with the Enabling Act, the Constitutional Convention of Wash- ngton Territory met at Olympia, July 4. 1859. The constitution prepared during the fifty day session was ratified at the polls on October 1, 18%). Of the seventy- tive 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 lus fellow citizens could repose confidence, while the per onal character of cach 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 dunce 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 fore- mont lawyers of the territory, Judge B. 1. Sharpstein, whose long life left a legacy ot 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 mai 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 pro vision 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 expxe- rience 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 Presi dent Fairbanks. The delegates from Columbia County were M M. Godman, a democrat, one of the leading lawyers and foremost politicians of the state, subse- quently a member of the Public Service Commission of the State, and R. F. Stur- devant, 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 appor- tioned 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 representa lives, and Walla Walla composed the Eighth District with two senators, and in the House three representatives.
The first legislature of 1889-o 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
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OLD WALLA WALLA COUNTY
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 Gar- field, 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 Wall: · 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, Washing- ton, 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, Wash- ington, and Small, the Eleventh District with one representative; and the Third and Fourth wards of Walla Walla City, with the precincts of Wallula, French- town, 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 sen- atorial 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 candi- dates 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 peni- tentiary.
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
Vol. I- 19
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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 oí 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 1900. 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 'gos, in which many of the farmers of Walla Walla and Columbia counties were next door to ruin, it is re- membered 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 in- dividuals, 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, Fran- cis 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 busi- ness 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
1
Warden's Residence Work Shops The Hospital Administration Building
The Jute Mill
BUILDINGS OF THE WASHINGTON STATE PENITENTIARY
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also that the products of that labor might go far 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 institu- tion 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 Mos- grove, 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, Cob- lentz, seeing that conviction was inevitable and knowing that if he himself became an inmate 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
Both have been talents of comunedi gre ase thinker and lathropists, and have mangurated chanced methods which have played the Washington penitentiary in the front rank of well conducted institutions of its class.
Turning news from state connections to matters local to Walla Walla County it may be said that there was during the period of 1875 82 a marked tendency to that political conversation 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 "inis" which swept the country in the "Sos and gos, populistic move- ments as represented by Bryan and other great leaders, in general received the cold shoulder from Walla Walla. That statement should be qualhed 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 "It to 1."
There were also, even in conservative Walla Walla, many enthusiastic fol lowers of Governor John R Rogers, "Wheat Chart" Jones, Judge Ronald, and that most brilliant and spectacular of all the politicians of the period, the "pik- whiskered" James Hamilton Lewis, whose great abilities, even under the out- ward guise of certain "airs" and "fopperies." have been conceded by his critic- 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 cer tain historie joint debate in Walla Walla on October 22, 1898, even the brilliant "Dude Lewis" was somewhat seriously "beaten up." metaphorically speaking. by Wesley I. 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 con tinnous service in Congress as representative and senator from 18) to the present .1.110.
A few figures of elections during that period will be found of interest. in 1850. Ferry, republican candidate for governor, the first under statchood, received m Walla Walla County 1.433 votes to 1.186 for Semple, the democratic candidate. In 1812 MeGrass, republican, had 1.211 10 1.322 for Snively, democrat. There were a few votes for Greene and Young in the latter election, so that the total vote in 1912 was 2.817, as against 2010 in 18%).
The presidential vote of 1812 shows that Walla Walla County cast for the highest republican elector 1.302 ballots and for the highest democratic 1.313. with a few for the people's party and prohibitionists, a total of 2,8%. In the presi- dential election of 1.8%), the republican vote was 1,50%. 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 3.340. Comparing these figures with those of 1009 and 1016, the following interesting results appear : in 108. Bryan, 1,660; Taft. 2,843; a few for others, so that the total was 4.676;
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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 in- crease 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 WVest 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 more 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 com- parison 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; Spo- kane, 104,402. In 1917, estimated: Walla Walla, 25,000; Seattle, 330,843 ; Spo- kane, 125.000. The enormous increase in population upon the Sound as a com- mercial 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 can- not expect to keep pace with those marked out by nature for commerce and manu- facturing.
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 manu- facturing 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
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