The Governor’s Labor Commissioner Jumps into the Race
In a move that surprised local political circles, State Labor Commissioner William Blackman has announced his candidacy for Governor against his own boss, Governor McBridge.
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.
Walla Walla friends of State Labor Commissioner William Blackman will be surprised to learn that he has announced himself as a democratic candidate for governor to succeed Governor McBride. The announcement is said to have been privately made a few days ago while Mr. Blackman was in Seattle. Blackman was first appointed labor commissioner under the late Governor John R. Rogers, who was Blackman's father-in-law. When Rogers died and McBride succeeded to the office, he retained Blackman as his labor commissioner. The fact that Blackman, an appointee of McBride, is to oppose McBride, who is an avowed candidate for re-election, apparently is very strange.
“The fact that Blackman, an appointee of McBride, is to oppose McBride, who is an avowed candidate for re-election, apparently is very strange.”
Political infighting within the same administration is a timeless feature of state government. This local story illustrates the fragile nature of political patronage in early 20th-century Washington, where personal and family ties often dictated the volatile careers of public officials.
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