Yakima Democrats Nominate Full Slate at 1892 County Convention

Much interest has been manifested in the result of the county Democratic convention. Candidates were not numerous and in almost every instance urging measures had to be resorted to and in most cases the shibboleth 'the good of the party' was used with force. The efforts of all seemed to be directed to get those men on the ticket who were best qualified for the offices for which they were named and who would be most satisfactory and every Democrat can point to his ticket with pride and say that every man upon it is worthy of the confidence and suffrage of the voters of Yakima.

The convention was called to order Saturday morning at ten o'clock by J. B. Heavis, chairman of the county central committee. Capt. J. T. Kingsbury was made temporary chairman and C. W. Liggett temporary secretary. On motion the chair appointed the following committees and then adjourned until one o'clock to give them an opportunity to prepare their reports:

Credentials—G. J. Hill, John A. Stone, E. W. R. Taylor, Joseph Stephenson, S. P. Vivian. Organization, Rules and Order of Business—Sam Vinson, John Loudon, B. M. Savage, J. M. Baxter, Frank Bartholet. Platform and Resolutions—T. M. Vance, H. W. Creason, H. J. Snively, J. T. Eshelman, J. H. Conrad.

The afternoon session opened with the reading of the reports, all of which were adopted. The committee on credentials reported the following as entitled to seats as delegates:

Ahtanum—A. J. Chambers, S. P. Vivian, S. H. Jackson. Cowychee—John Loudon, H. R. Garrett, Jasper Weddle and F. M. Weddle. Kiona—Samuel Thurber, John Chisholm and Charles T. Giesentanner. Lone Tree—William Paulhamm, H. W. Creason, E. W. R. Taylor and M. L. Weston. Wide Hollow—J. L. Morrison, Dr. B. M. Savage, Joseph Stephenson, J. W. Heck, T. M. Vance, O. Beck, Thomas J. Chambers. Tampico—J. H. Conrad, Willie Smith. Yakima City—Oscar Vanasyckle, L. Kerr, Dr. Thomas McAualan, W. Dooley, Peter Gervaie. Naches—John A. Stone, John McPhee, C. Clemas, P. J. Eachbech. North Yakima—A. F. Knelling, S. J. Lowe, Dr. G. J. Hill, Samuel Vinson, J. M. Baxter, E. M. Reed, W. A. Cox, T. F. Maher, Frank Bartholet, M. G. Wills, Dr. W. G. Coe, Ed. Molligan, C. W. Liggett, J. T. Eshelman, Fred Mehler, A. L. Fix, J. T. Kingsbury. Wenas—H. J. Taylor, J. H. Purdin, A. McGee, William Flynn, John Cowan.

The committee on organization, rules and order of business recommended, among other things, that the temporary organization be made permanent.

The committee on platform brought in the following sterling and ringing resolutions which were enthusiastically received:

Resolved, That we, the Democrats of Yakima, in convention assembled, do reaffirm our confidence in the principles of the Democratic party and ratify the nominations and the platform adopted by the Democratic national convention at Chicago.

Resolved, That we pledge all of our nominees to the faithful, honest and economical discharge of all of their duties that will devolve upon them if elected.

Resolved, That we pledge our candidate for the legislature to make every effort for the passage of a mechanic's lien law that will secure to all laborers and mechanics their wages, the present one having been virtually annulled by the supreme court; to secure the passage of a law that will enable persons having stock killed upon the railroad to recover the value thereof under due process of law and also laws regulating freights and fares on railroads and the general relations of the state and the public to public corporations; to secure legislation to perfect our irrigation laws; to obtain appropriations for artesian wells in the Cowiche, the Ahtanum and Wenas and other valleys in our county; to obtain the passage of a law excluding Pinkertonism in this state; to amend the existing road laws so that what is a public institution shall be supported by public funds, and to obtain the passage of such other legislation as is needful for the better government and happiness of our people.

Resolved, That we are in favor of an investigation by the next legislature of any and all acts of the present executive of our state government or its representatives that were productive of public scandal and denounce as noxious and indecent the acts of said executive or its representatives in regard to the railroad commission bills and the action of his appointees on certain state commissions, particularly the agricultural college commission.

The balloting for delegates to attend the state convention at Olympia August 24th resulted in the choice falling on the following gentlemen: M. L. Weston, H. J. Snively, E. M. Reed, John A. Tom, M. G. Wills, Samuel Vinson and J. T. Eshelman. The alternates are A. J. Chambers, Dr. B. M. Savage, C. W. Liggett, E. W. Dooley, Frank Bartholet, G. A. Feebler and T. M. Vance.

The nomination of Thomas M. Vance for representative was made by acclamation and amid much applause and calls for 'Vance.' Mr. Vance responded with a speech that was thoroughly Democratic, in which he pledged his best efforts if elected in advancing the honest, economical government of state affairs and to expose and call to judgment the rottenness of the past administration as exemplified in the agricultural college commission and various other scandals. Mr. Vance's remarks were received with frequent and hearty applause, and it was plain to be seen that the delegates realized that their choice was well made.

In the other nominations there was no contest except over the office of treasurer, assessor and sheep commissioner, and all seemed to abide by the result with good feeling. The ticket as nominated throughout is as follows:

Representative—T. M. Vance. Prosecuting Attorney—F. H. Rudkin. Clerk—James R. Coe. Auditor—P. D. Eshelman. Treasurer—W. A. Cox. Sheriff—James T. Foster. Assessor—James W. Morrison. School Superintendent—E. P. Greene. Surveyor—Samuel Storrow. Sheep Commissioner—M. L. Weston. Coroner—W. G. Coe. Commissioners—First district, John McPhee; second district, Joseph Stephenson; third district, Henry W. Creason. County Central Committee—T. F. Maher, North Yakima, first precinct; Sam Vinson, North Yakima, second precinct; E. W. R. Taylor, Lone Tree; A. J. Chambers, Ahtanum; John A. Stone, Naches; B. M. Savage, Wide Hollow; John Chisholm, Kiona; Charles Anderson, Tampico; John London, Cowychee; P. T. Gervaie, Yakima City; E. J. Hardison, Parker Bottom; J. H. Purdin, Wenas; W. R. Jones, Moses; James Clements, Kennewick; Jacob Howe, Bedrock.

A resolution was introduced by A. F. Snelling instructing the delegates to the state convention for James Hamilton Lewis, which resulted in some opposition from delegates Weston, Eshelman and others and was finally tabled, as were amendments offered by Messrs. Vance and Eshelman. While the convention was strongly in favor of Lewis, it did not seem to be the sense of the meeting that its representatives should be so tied down as not to take advantage of circumstances which might arise by which it would be inexpedient and useless for them to be irrevocably pledged to support Mr. Lewis for governor.

After the adjournment the central committee met in the court room and prepared for a vigorous campaign. Samuel Vinson was elected chairman, T. F. Maher secretary, C. W. Liggett assistant secretary, and Dr. B. M. Savage treasurer.