The 'Infamous Thirteen' and the Political Trade-Offs of 1903
A secret meeting among King County senators reveals the transactional nature of regional power and shifting loyalties in Washington politics.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The six republican holdover senators from King County, who have the distinction of belonging to the 'infamous thirteen,' held a secret meeting a few days ago and it is said decided to oppose Sam Piles' candidacy for the United States Senate and to support one of their number, Doc Smith, president of the state Senate, for the office of governor. There is little doubt that Smith was promised this nomination by the Ankeny-Stevenson lobby last winter as a partial consideration for his betrayal of Harold Preston. It is now plain that Smith sold out Preston in order to boost himself as a candidate for governor. But ever since the days of Judas decent people have despised traitors and it is not on record that they have elected such men to public office after finding them out.
“It is now plain that Smith sold out Preston in order to boost himself as a candidate for governor. But ever since the days of Judas decent people have despised traitors.”
The rhetoric regarding 'bought' politicians and backroom deals remains a cornerstone of Washington state political discourse. The skepticism directed toward legislative leadership in 1903 mirrors modern concerns about influence-peddling and the role of political lobbies in shaping electoral outcomes.
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