The Railroad Lobby's Secret Campaign in Eastern Washington
Critics expose a scheme to install a puppet candidate in the governor’s office to prevent the creation of a railroad commission.
It now seems to be the plan of the railroad lobby to select as the republican candidate for governor next year some eastern Washington man who has never committed himself on the question of a railway commission, but who can be depended on to serve the railroads after he has fooled the farmers into voting for him in the belief that he will be true to their interests. It is the hope of the lobby that in this way the republicans of eastern Washington may be induced to desert Mcßride and allow the railroads to name their man. As a part of the plan to undermine the support of Mcßride, nearly every county known to be favorable to his candidacy will be encouraged to bring out a candidate of its own for governor. The lobby will then combine all its strength from the western counties to overwhelm the advocates of a railway commission and to nominate some pliable candidate from the eligibles of eastern Washington.
“The people of this state still have some regard for manhood, moral courage and honesty and they will not blindly sacrifice the interests of the commonwealth in order to vote the ticket of their party.”
Corporate influence over regional politics remains a hot-button issue in Washington state. The battle here between populist reformers and the 'railroad lobby' mirrors modern debates over regulatory capture and political fundraising in the state capital.
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