Scandal at the State Capital
A political exposé details how legislators used committee clerkships as patronage bribes to maintain illicit affairs, resulting in a public divorce case.
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.
During the sessions of the legislature at Olympia the committee clerkships, or at least those which require no labor except drawing the salary, are given as bribes to newspaper correspondents, who in return puff the members of the committee and gloss over their shortcomings. In some states legislators have their mistresses appointed to committee clerkships. Representative Cornelius F. Westfall, of Medical Lake, who represented the Fifth district in the last legislature, did nothing in the house but vote for George Turner for senator. Much of his time was occupied with attentions to Miss C. S. Carver, clerk of the house committee on education. The position was secured for her by Mr. Westfall, chairman of the committee. Mrs. Westfall has just obtained a divorce from her husband on the ground that he committed adultery with Miss Carver. Mr. Westfall did not contest the case.
“The position was secured for her by Mr. Westfall, chairman of the committee, who introduced her as a dear friend of Mrs. Westfall, and the pair were inseparable.”
This story highlights the historical prevalence of 'spoils system' politics and the lack of ethical oversight in legislative staffing during the late 19th century. The exposure of the affair highlights how the press of the era used personal scandal to attack political figures, a tactic that remains a staple of political reporting.
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