Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 / Embracing Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin counties

by William Denison Lyman

In 1898 in Asotin, as throughout the country, populism was on the ebb tide, that is, so far as votes were concerned. It would be a great error to consider its influence declining. It had accomplished a permanent mission, the effects of which the country feels today. In the election of 1898 W. L. Jones and F. W. Cushman, republicans, restored the prestige of their party in Congress. In the Legislature of the state, J. F. Crisman, republican, was the choice of the county. Of the local officers we find: J. L. Wormell, sheriff; Elmer Waldrip, auditor; A. G. Burnett, clerk; W. S. Rogers, treasurer; M. J. Garrison, assessor; J. B. Jones, superintendent of schools; Walter Brooks, attorney; C. L. Swain, surveyor; Charles Iseke, coroner; S. C. Downen and G. W. Cummings, commissioners. Of the above all were republicans except J. L. Wormell.

The election of 1900 showed a great increase in the vote. On the presidential ticket it was 757, of which the republican electors secured 398. Cushman and Jones were re-elected. John R. Rogers, democrat, held a slight lead over his republican adversary for governor. For joint senator Edward Baumeister was again victorious, by increased majorities. J. F. Crisman was re-elected for the House. The local officers were: J. L. Wormell, for sheriff; W. G. Woodruff, for clerk; John B. Bell, auditor; C. S. Florence, treasurer; Walter Brooks, attorney; W. J. Garrison, assessor; J. B. Jones, superintendent of schools; L. K. Brown, surveyor; Charles Fairbanks, coroner; B. W. Yeoman, Alexander Robinson, commissioners. All republicans except Sheriff Wormell, Clerk Woodruff, and Surveyor Brown.

The election of 1902 being an "off" year, there was something of a recession of interest. The people's party having nearly vanished, the contest came between the G. O. P. and the populized democratic party, to the general discomfiture, however, of the latter. The republicans carried the election for congressmen and representative, and all the county offices except one commissioner, surveyor, and clerk. The successful county candidates were G. W. R. Peaslee, representative; Robert H. Richards, sheriff; W. G. Woodruff, clerk; J. B. Bell, auditor; C. S, Florence, treasurer; E. E. Halsey, attorney; R. A. Wilson, assessor; Lilian Clemans, superintendent of schools; J. Swain, surveyor; H. R. Merchant, coroner; Jackson O'Keefe, C. D. Cowan, commissioners.

The year 1904 witnessed another presidential election. It was the period of flush times. The shadows of the previous decade seemed to have been dispelled and general activity and a new rush of population, investment, rising prices, increase in land values, a spirit of speculation, railroad building, and apparent general progress characterized the period. As might be expected the tendency to sustain the party in power, especially in view of the announced and supposed progressive views of President Roosevelt, became manifested in tremendous republican majorities. A socialist ticket appeared in the county, for the first time. The vote cast, 1,066, was the largest yet known in Asotin County, and gives evidence of a marked increase in population, as well as a profound interest in results. The republican presidential electors, five in number, headed by S. G. Cosgrove, had an average majority of 525 over the democratic. W. E. Humphrey, W. L. Jones, and F. W. Cushman, for Congress, had nearly four hundred majority over the democratic candidates. A. E. Mead, republican for governor, had 528 to 469 for George Turner. For joint state senator, S. S. Russell, republican, had 603 to 375 for Frank Cardwell, democrat. H. C. Fulton, republican, was chosen representative by 563 to 440 for J. L. Wormell, democrat, and 34 for Christian Frost, socialist. For local officers the choices were: C. S. Florence, auditor; W. G. Woodruff, treasurer; R. H. Richards, sheriff; M. P. Shaughnessy, clerk; G. H. Rummens, attorney; Lilian Clemans, superintendent of schools; Frank E. Brown, assessor; Jay Swain, surveyor; H. R. Merchant, coroner; S. C. Downen and Frank Body, commissioners. All of the candidates chosen were republicans except Mr. Woodruff.

With 1908 we reach another presidential year and another republican victory. The electors for President Taft received an average majority of 290. Miles Poindexter, as a republican candidate (it seems desirable to indicate clearly in his case which particular ticket he was on each time) received a decisive majority, as the first in his long series of meteoric successes. S. G. Cosgrove had a majority of 365 over his democratic adversary, Wm. Goodyear. J. R. Stevenson of Pomeroy and E. E. Halsey of Clarkston had strong majorities for State Senate and House respectively. The local candidates chosen were: G. N. Ausman, auditor; Homer L. Post, clerk; M. P. Shaughnessey, attorney; E. H. Dammarell, treasurer; R. A. Campbell, sheriff; Mary Brannan, superintendent of schools; Jay Swain, surveyor; C. N. La Fond, assessor; J. R. Walthew, S. D. Hollister, Jr., commissioners.

The election of 1910 gives results similar to its predecessors so far as the political complexion was concerned. In this election M. F. Gose of Pomeroy, a man in whom all parties in the judicial district had confidence, and who had in the mutations of time transferred his allegiance from democratic to republican party, received the unanimous support for the non-partisan supreme judgeship. W. L. La Follette of Whitman County carried Asotin, as well as the district, for congressman. E. E. Halsey was re-elected for representative. For local places, we find J. L. Wormell for sheriff; Homer E. Post, clerk; E. H. Dammarell, treasurer; G. N. Ausman, auditor; C. N. La Fond, assessor; S. D. Steininger was chosen for superintendent of schools, but did not qualify and Mary Brannan was appointed to the place; J. C. Applewhite, attorney; Jay Swain, surveyor; H. C. Fulton and Eli Bolick, commissioners; H. R. Merchant, coroner. In this as in previous elections, it may be said that Judge Chester F. Miller of Dayton received constant support for superior judge.

Reaching the year 1912, we find ourselves again facing a great national crisis, out of which momentous history has come. We may note here some changes in precincts in the county and give them as recorded in that election: Anatone, Asotin, Bly, Clarkston, Cloverland, Grande Ronde, Grouse, Pleasant, Theon, and Vineland. The total vote in that year was 1,901, the large increase being due to the inauguration of woman suffrage. The vote for presidential electors was: Progressive, 513; republican, 579; democratic, 551; other parties, 158. For Congress, the republican candidates, Frost, Dewey, and La Follette, received majorities; M. E. Hay, republican, for governor, had 802 to 501 for Eugene Lister, democrat. For state senator, G. N. Ausman, republican, was chosen, and E. E. Halsey was again elected for representative. C. F. Miller again received the vote for superior judge. For local positions: J. L. Wormell, sheriff; L. A. Closuit, clerk; R. M. Snyder, auditor; E. R. Downen, treasurer; J. C. Applewhite, attorney; W. G. Woodruff, assessor; W. J. Jerome, superintendent of schools; J. E. Hoobler, H. C. Fulton, and Eli Bolick, commissioners. That was something of a democratic year, as Messrs. Wormell, Snyder, Applewhite, and Woodruff belonged to that party.

In the election of November 3, 1914, there was a total vote of 2,046. In that year the long contested question of prohibition came to a decision on the Initiative Law No. 3, providing for prohibition with a permit system for individual importation. In this decision, the county vote was overwhelmingly affirmative, being 1,447 to 425. W. L. Jones was chosen United States Senator by 803 to 608 for Black, democrat, and La Follette for United States representative by 818 to 567 for Drumheller, democrat. For representative to State Legislature, E. E. Halsey was again chosen. For local officers the choices: F. M. Halsey, sheriff; J. W. Stephens, clerk; Delta Krausdelt, auditor; E. R. Downen, treasurer; W. S. Woodruff, assessor; W. J. Jerome, superintendent of schools; V. S. Shelman, engineer; R. C. Stone, O. E. Bailey, commissioners. These officials were quite evenly divided as to party, the sheriff, clerk, auditor, assessor, and commissioner, Stone, being democrats, the others republicans.