A Senate Seat, a Caucus, and a Yakima Ditch Deal

OLYMPIA, Jan. 16.—Special.—Many prominent Republicans from various parts of the state arrived today and are interesting themselves in Ankeny's election. Among those who came from Seattle were A. H. Stewart, S. H. Piles and Jacob Furth. Judge Struve also came over to assist Allen. There has been little if any change in the situation within the past twenty-four hours, except that the lines are being more sharply drawn each hour between the two leading candidates, Ankeny and Wilson. Both are equally confident of success and both claim to have enough votes to control the Republican caucus when it is held.

That the contest is plainly between Ankeny and Wilson all concede. McMillan and Shaw have only a few votes each, and Allen has only nine Republican votes, giving him the benefit of every doubt. He has been coquetting with the Populists and expects to obtain Populist support when the time comes. It is only through Populist and Democratic votes that he can ever hope to be elected, and for that reason Allen and his followers are opposing a caucus. They do not want a caucus, for that means the death-knell to all of Allen's hopes.

But there will be a caucus. The managers thoroughly discussed the matter and expressed the utmost willingness to have a caucus if the Republican supporters of both Ankeny and Wilson desire to settle the matter that way, and they do so desire by a very large majority. Therefore it may be safe to state that a caucus will be held before Tuesday, and that the Republicans will settle the contest in this manner.

An informal caucus was called for this evening, more for the purpose of discussing the advisability of calling a caucus than anything else, but owing to the disagreeableness of the weather and a misunderstanding regarding the matter, the meeting was abandoned and nothing was done. It is probable, however, that arrangements for a caucus will be made at an early date.

One of the most influential men in the state senate is Senator Helm, of Kittitas county. He is quiet and unobtrusive, and his work is of that character which always counts in legislative circles, and his counsels command the most respectful consideration from the other members of the senate. His prior experience in the upper house, combined with his constant attention to matters which affect the welfare of the state, particularly that portion lying east of the mountains, has paved the way for the position of prominence which he now occupies in the senate. This well-known characteristic of the Kittitas legislator is without doubt the reason for the liberal appropriation which he secured for the state normal school located at Ellensburg at the last session of the legislature, and while appropriations for other state normal schools were either greatly reduced or disallowed altogether, the appropriation for the state institution at Ellensburg safely passed both houses and received the approval of Gov. McGraw.

Prominent among the Wilson workers at the Hotel Olympia are several Spokane men, described as men of pleasing presence, smooth tongues and well-developed imaginations. In the face of the fact that a large portion of Spokane's business is optioned to John L. Wilson's candidacy, it is a little odd to the outsider that men should be here working so vigorously for Wilson, but there is an explanation, and this explanation increases the opposition of Republicans to Mr. Wilson. The story is vouched for by a gentleman who knows whereof he speaks, while the public records verify it beyond dispute. Two years ago, according to the account, a scheme was formed for organizing a big irrigation ditch company in the Yakima country. It was necessary to cross the Yakima Indian reservation with a water ditch to reach certain lands near the town of Yakima, and the government would not allow the crossing without a special act of Congress. Men had time and again mapped out the possibilities of a successful ditch company but were compelled to stop. It is believed that Wilson conveyed the idea to one of his old workers, and that an agreement was made by which Wilson was to get Congress to pass the bill giving the company the right-of-way across the reservation. A company was formed, and even a big block of stock, it is alleged, was reserved for John L. Wilson. Both men kept the matter quiet; John L. worked hard and got the bill through. During the summer work was going on steadily on the surveys, and the prospects of a money-making scheme were bright.