A $10,000 Railroad Check and a Whispering Campaign in Olympia

OLYMPIA, Jan. 13.—Special.—An impetus was given to the campaign today by the arrival of a considerable number of legislators and others who came in by train and boat. Nothing is more definitely settled, but the stir and bustle set men talking. The newcomers sought news, and again the gossip of the past few days was told. This gave a certain tone to the talk, and the general conclusion could not fail to be that Mr. Ankeny has unquestionably the largest vote, but whether he is assured of enough to elect is known only to the managers of his campaign, and they merely remark, 'We are not bragging.' Wilson has some active workers and a small but fixed vote—not more than one quarter, however, of the Republican vote. Wilson's friends were very 'cocky' last night, and manifested a confidence about something or another which was not fictitious. The story is told that Wilson received a remittance last night of $10,000 from the Southern Pacific railroad, and that he had altogether in the hotel chests representing— Now this may not be true, but it is pretty generally believed, and it is an act of kindness to Mr. Wilson to let him know such rumors are afloat. Whispered denials and abuse of the Post-Intelligencer will hardly offset them. Nothing short of an authoritative denial from him will suffice. If he makes it, he will be entitled, in fairness, to the fullest publicity. Wilson is pretending to want a caucus, but he is coupling it with so many conditions that his sincerity is doubted. One who is counted for him, and who will, no doubt, vote for him for a few ballots, said today: 'I don't object to going into caucus, but I am not willing to go in on Wilson's terms, which mean that if the result suits him, he will abide by it, and he won't if it doesn't. What is he afraid of? It looks to me as if he had bought some votes and fears they will not be delivered. The only object in having a caucus is to give each man a chance to declare his preference without fear or favor. In Republican caucus each man casts his ballot, and the majority rules. That is the only kind of a caucus I believe in. Every caucus I ever heard of made its own rules after it assembled—unless there was some jiggery-pokery behind it.' Mr. Ankeny preserves a dignified attitude, pleasantly receiving callers and talking to them of state and national policy. The contrast between his headquarters and Wilson's is curious. Ankeny is a man of some means, but his headquarters consist of a few rooms, modestly furnished, and with the doors all thrown open. Wilson is not only a man without means, but admits his indebtedness to amount to $10,000, yet he has a suite of eleven rooms, including two of the best in the hotel; the doors are kept closed, and there is whispering, mystery everywhere. Morrison's hold on the speakership is assured. If he is not elected it will be because he relinquishes it to some other county in a spirit of magnanimity, but this will probably not be called for. In this, as in many other matters affecting organization, the senatorial candidates must not overlook the fact that the great body of legislators are earnest men who will not tolerate any political jobbery. They want to organize, then go into caucus and select a senator, elect him, and settle down to legislative work. An illustration of the Wilson method of political scheming is afforded by a scheme exposed this evening. Wilson has been closeted with Dr. Cloes, of Pierce, at intervals all day, and tonight it is announced that Wilson promises the governorship two years hence if Pierce will fall into line for Wilson. It is laughable, but only a sample of the jobs and schemes to which the railroad candidate is driven. The call for a caucus on organization of both houses has issued, and there is no doubt it will be fully responded to, at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. The call embraces all members, irrespective of party. The indications now are that the caucus will result in the election of the following persons to positions in the senate: T. G. Nicklin, of Whatcom, secretary of the senate; Joe Mitchell, of Pierce, sergeant-at-arms; Conner, of Whitman, assistant secretary of the senate. Nicklin has been chief clerk of the house four times, twice in territorial days and twice since statehood. Nicklin's chief competitor is A. R. Cowles, of Thurston, father-in-law of ex-Senator Claypool, of Pierce. Mitchell has no opposition for sergeant-at-arms of the senate. He claims he was really nominated for sheriff at the last Pierce county convention, but was counted out during the rumpus for which the convention was so notorious. He was one of Gov. Grier's richest supporters in Pierce county when McGraw ran two years ago. The following will probably be the successful applicants for positions at the house caucus: Morrison of King for speaker. Morrison's only competitor now is Gars of Spokane, all the others having retired. Finch of Chehalis for chief clerk of the house; Milrey King for sergeant-at-arms; Carroll of King for reading clerk. Joe Smith, formerly ex-something Harrison's brother-in-law, is also a candidate for clerk. Finch's most formidable competitor for that position is Porter of Spokane. Alexander of Spokane is slated for his old position of assistant clerk of the house. The rumor that Gov. Laughton is a candidate for secretary of the senate proves to be unfounded. Laughton is here, but apparently has no object in view other than once so familiar to him. There are not less than 200 applicants for clerkships and minor positions, and the prospect is that the order will go out that the Republicans satisfy the former large number of employees of both senate and house will be greatly reduced. At the preceding sessions $50,000 has been appropriated for each session's expenses, but this amount will be materially reduced this session. Lieut. Gov. Luce favoring even so low an appropriation as $20,000. The rumor current for some time, affirmed and as often denied, that Senator R. A. Hutchinson, of Lincoln, elected as a Democrat two years ago, has decided to go into caucus with the Republicans, may now be assumed to be correct. If Senators Campbell and Foss, of Pierce, hold to their determination, there will be three to add to the ordinary Republican ranks, making 51 in all, so that a caucus majority would be 31.