The Railroads' Man in the Senate Race

The Spokesman-Review, the leading paper of Spokane, on Tuesday made the following statement regarding John L. Wilson and his connection with the railroads:

"There is no further doubt about where Wilson has focused," said a politician yesterday. "He has succeeded at last in getting in with the corporations. He has been tried and found to be reliable. He has voted for every corporation measure ever entrusted to him ever since he has been in Congress. There was nothing big enough to be rolled in before, and therefore nothing that would suit his soul. He has long been looked upon as a willing tool, but never known to be a safe vote until after the last campaign. When he returned to Congress the railroad bill came up. It was a measure to increase the profits of railroad carriers, to take authority out of the hands of the Interstate Commerce Commission and make it all for the railroads to pool and divide their rates under a showing that the roads were not making enough to pay a given rate of profit on their capital stock, and compel the people to pay the carrying companies their profits. The railroads had been working almost three years to get such a law passed. It was one that required careful management, as it was pretty certain to bring the bitterest criticism down on the heads of members of Congress voting for it. Congressman Wilson voted for this bill. As soon as the bill had passed the House of Representatives, the big railroad corporations put Mr. Wilson on the list, and the order was sent out to use him in his senatorial fight to the greatest extent possible. The Northern Pacific had already jumped to aid, and the indications are that the Great Northern is making the necessary preparations.

"The Northern Pacific has already sent its agents out all over the state giving the word to all of its employees, and they are to use their utmost efforts. The Great Northern is also to act. It has never organized for political campaigns, and this is its first fight; the machinery is slower to revolve, but it is getting there.

"The Northern Pacific and Great Northern are likely to make a strong fight together for their candidate. The Northern has a powerful organization, but it has no money that it can use without an order from Judge Hanford, which they are now able to attempt; so they are using the next best. They are putting all their energy to work and placing their workers far and wide. It is also known as Hill's personal management, and the understanding is that Hill is to aid the Northern Pacific with some cash, and together they will make the best fight possible for Mr. Wilson.

"The corporations are also for Fred Heustis, the big railroad and lumber man of Tacoma and the Gray's Harbor country. He has been spending his money religiously the past month. It was Heustis who went to Chehalis, Pacific, Lewis and other counties last year and nominated Wilson, putting up the Wilson candidates, and in many instances paying the expenses of those who were favorable to the scheme. It was almost wholly due to the endorsement by Heustis that Wilson carried such a strong following in that part of the state."