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: