A Senate Seat, a 'Boodle' Cry, and Two Rival Caucus Calls
With the legislature barely organized, Republicans war over who should go to Washington—accusations of bribes, a strange 'binding' caucus call, and candidates angling for the prize.
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.
Olympia, Jan. 14.—Special.—Now that the organization of the two houses is practically accomplished, the way is cleared for the senatorial campaign, and it has set in in dead earnest. Two calls have been issued: one circulated by Senator Ide calling for a caucus of Republicans, binding only if 57 sign, the majority to rule, with a roll call in alphabetical order. To this Senator Dorr objects, saying he is willing to go into caucus on condition that it take 41 votes—a majority of all the Republicans—to nominate. The other call is circulated by Senator Sargent, summoning all Republicans to decide whether a caucus on senator shall be had, and under what rules.
Wilson today issued an open letter: 'To All Candidates for United States Senator: The citizens of this state, as well as their representatives in the legislature, demand a speedy election of a United States senator, in order to give time for due and careful consideration of important legislative matters affecting the interests and welfare of the people. I ask you to join me in a request to the Republicans of the legislature to meet in open caucus and by vote upon roll call determine by a majority vote who shall be the nominee of the Republican party. Very respectfully, JOHN L. WILSON.'
Shortly after the letter appeared in the local evening paper, Ide, Wilson's chief manager, began to circulate a singularly worded call: 'This call not binding unless signed by fifty-seven or more. We, the undersigned, Republican members, agree to participate in and be bound by a caucus to be held Tuesday evening, January 15, at the Olympia, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for United States senator, all votes to be taken by alphabetical roll call by viva voce vote.' Up to a late hour tonight only about twenty members had signed this unique call.
Meanwhile, as soon as the Ankeny forces learned of Wilson's open letter, they promptly called his bluff and began circulating their own call for a meeting Wednesday evening to determine the wishes of the Republicans as to whether a caucus shall be held at all. John B. Allen and George Turner are here, and their friends are endeavoring to press their claims. While each has a few followers, their presence has served to revive old animosities and prevent an early settlement. So far as can be learned, the assured vote of each candidate is: Ankeny 37, Wilson about 20, Allen 16, McMillan 1, Shaw 7, Bellknap 6. The Wilson people are keeping up their 'boodle' cry, and threatening members that they cannot vote for Ankeny without arousing suspicion that they are corrupt. Mr. Ankeny has taken a most decided position and declared that under no temptation will he attempt to secure election by corrupt means.
“The Wilson people are keeping up their 'boodle' cry, and threatening members that they cannot vote for Ankeny without arousing suspicion that they are corrupt.”
Before the Seventeenth Amendment, state legislatures chose U.S. senators—and the dealing could be bare-knuckled. This 1895 race, with its talk of 'boodle' and bought votes, shows that fights over who represents us, and whether the process is clean, are as old as the republic.
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