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.