The Persistent Ambition of Judge Turner

Judge Turner, of Spokane, who is desperately anxious to succeed Hon. John B. Allen as United States senator, has the somewhat undesirable distinction of being one of the most indefatigable and persistent office seekers in the state of Washington. He is one of those peculiar men who are never happy when they are not feeding at the public crib. Judge Turner came to this commonwealth in 1884 after having had a long and not altogether creditable career as a Federal official in the South. He came with a Federal commission in his pocket, and for three years thereafter served as one of the judges of the territorial court. By 1888 the time of his judgeship had expired, and he promptly appeared as a candidate for delegate to congress. He failed to secure this, but a few months later was elected a member of the constitutional convention from Spokane county. Before the duties of this position were altogether finished he was at work to secure the United States senatorship. He was a candidate before the first legislature for the seat now held by Senator Allen and received but twenty votes. One year later he bobbed up as a candidate for congress against Representative Wilson and was badly defeated in the Spokane county primaries. In consequence of this defeat he secretly endeavored to secure the defeat of his successful rival at the polls. This alleged treachery, however, does not seem to have interfered with his once more pressing his claims for office, for he is now in the field as a candidate for United States senator.