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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 761 |
| 1904 | 67 |
828 stories
- The Political Auction of Senator Foster's Seat
Railroad lobbyists are allegedly moving to replace Senator Foster with a hand-picked stevedore, sparking a fierce debate over corporate influence in Washington politics.
- Commissioners Weigh $10,000 for Stubblefield Home
Walla Walla County Commissioners face a showdown over a $10,000 appropriation for a proposed charitable home as taxpayers threaten legal action.
- The Railroad Lobby's Secret Campaign in Eastern Washington
Critics expose a scheme to install a puppet candidate in the governor’s office to prevent the creation of a railroad commission.
- The Fight to Bring the Stubblefield Home to Walla Walla
Legal opinion finds county commissioners are authorized to donate public funds to secure a landmark charitable trust.
- He Tracked His Runaway Wife to Seattle — and Got Arrested for the Gun in His Pocket
A Walla Walla County farmer drew $200 from the bank, pocketed a revolver, and went hunting for the boarder who ran off with his wife. Seattle police found him first.
- Walla Walla Says Yes to Carnegie's $25,000 Library
The city council unanimously accepts Andrew Carnegie's gift for a free public library—and pledges $2,500 a year to keep the doors open.
- The Quest for Walla Walla's Future Water Supply
City council moves to hire an expert engineer to investigate new water sources for the growing city.
- The Great Rain of 1903
A record-breaking two-week downpour across Eastern Washington threatens to destroy the wheat harvest and the livelihood of local farmers.
- Indictment Reveals Political Manipulation of Citizenship
A Walla Walla politician faces perjury charges for allegedly manipulating immigrant naturalization to influence local elections.
- The Fight for Utility Regulation
Following the city's costly struggle with a water monopoly, the Statesman warns that a new, loosely-worded electric franchise will lead to predatory billing.
- The Blacksmith Who Wasn't: A Stranger’s Fatal Mistake in Walla Walla
S.F. Olson, a visitor from Touchet, died after being struck by a hack in downtown Walla Walla. His identity was only confirmed by a receipt from a local hardware store, leaving his family and origins unknown.
- The Taxpayers' League vs. The Railroads: A Battle for Fair Valuation in Columbia County
In May 1903, local citizens and tax experts challenged the massive capitalization of the Oregon Railway Navigation Company, arguing that its true value warranted a higher tax assessment to fund public services.
- The Electric Robe Wars: A Spokane Doctor’s Threat and a Walla Walla Professor’s Defense
In the early days of electrical therapy, two men clashed over patents and health claims in the pages of the Evening Statesman.
- The Walla Walla Man Who Wanted to Buy the Rails
In 1903, B.D. Crocker—former collector of internal revenue and local favorite—shocked railroad executives by offering to buy the Columbia River & Northern line, sparking rumors of a secret deal with the powerful Oregon Railway & Navigation Company.
- The Scandal of the 'Ragged One': How Pendleton's Victory Sparked a Riot in Walla Walla
When the local team lost to Colfax and Pendleton took first place, the crowd’s frustration boiled over into violence against a theater patron.
- The Electric Robe Wars: A Spokane Doctor’s Patent Battle in Walla Walla
Two physicians engage in a public spat over who invented the 'electric bath robe,' turning a local newspaper's letters page into a courtroom for medical innovation.
- The Governor’s Gamble: McBride Pledges War on Corporate Corruption
In the wake of Teddy Roosevelt’s fiery Spokane address, Washington Governor Albert E. McBride declares his intent to uphold the law against wealthy corporations, signaling a shift in state politics.
- The Empire Builder’s Pacific Dream
Railroad tycoon James J. Hill argues that the future of Northwest agriculture depends not on Europe, but on aggressively securing trade routes to China.
- Road Supervisor Jailed for Embezzlement
A local official faces charges after allegedly pocketing road tax cash and failing to perform the required public works.
- City Saloons Flouting Curfew and Liquor Laws
Walla Walla parents report minors drinking at local bars, raising concerns about the city's 'wide-open' policy.
- A Horse Driven to Exhaustion
A young man is fined after driving a stable horse twenty-five miles in extreme heat for a joyride.
- The Bank and the High School Tax Feud
A local bank refuses to pay school taxes, sparking a fierce debate over civic duty and the funding of Walla Walla’s newest school.
- Convicts to Pave the Way?
Walla Walla's Commercial Club debates a new state law to employ penitentiary inmates in road construction.
- Drought Threatens Walla Walla's Wheat Harvest
Farmers and weather observers warn that a record-breaking dry spell is devastating crops in the Walla Walla Valley and Garfield County.
- The Day Gambling Died in Walla Walla
New state legislation turns the tide on local gaming as businesses scramble to pull slot machines and shut down tables.