Cleaning House at Olympia
A political scandal involving 'boodlemen' and an anti-corruption push in the Washington State legislature.
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 press of the state is at present emulating Hercules. It has met with a very objectionable object in the person of Representative Clark, of Spokane, and it is turning the hose of public opinion on him with telling effect. It is openly asserted at Olympia that there are some thirty or forty 'boodlemen' in the house, and an effort was made to organize an anti-boodle society. This leaked out through a scribe overhearing Representative Moultray reading off to a fellow representative a list of the suspected boodlemen. Moultray’s list divided the members of the house into three classes: the known boodlemen, the anti-boodlemen, and the doubtful ones. There is to be an investigation.
“It is openly asserted at Olympia that there are some thirty or forty 'boodlemen' in the house.”
Political corruption and the influence of lobbyists—the 'boodlemen' of the 19th century—remain a consistent source of civic tension. This early report on legislative transparency and 'watchdog' journalism mirrors modern concerns over campaign finance and legislative ethics.
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