Two Weeks In, Still No Senator: Olympia's Republicans Tire of the Ankeny Fight

Olympia, Jan. 27 — Special. — The appearance of the Olympia hotel rotunda last night and today indicated anything but a legislative session, to say nothing of a senatorial contest. By 11 o'clock last night the Ankeny and Wilson headquarters were closed, and the generals and lieutenants retired early, for a needed rest after a week of excitement. Mr. Ankeny passed the evening in the parlor with Mrs. Ankeny and her friends, while John L. Wilson leisurely walked around the lobby as if at a loss for something to do. The lieutenants who remained to guard the camps might just as well have gone home in the afternoon with their colleagues, for, as if by mutual consent, all senatorial and legislative discussions were dispensed with. There was no planning or scheming, and the billiard room below seemed to be the principal attraction.

If there was any one matter that did form a topic of conversation for the afternoon and evening it was the unwarranted and wholly uncalled-for insinuations in the attack of Senator E. W. Taylor upon the motives of Senator Sargeant and others, who have yielded to their convictions that Levi Ankeny is the one of the several senatorial aspirants best qualified to promote the interests and welfare of the people of this state in the upper halls of congress. But in writing the article which caused the trouble, not only did Senator Taylor violate the code of courtesy as well as the rules of the senate in impugning the motives of one of his colleagues, but he openly and publicly insulted the foremost and representative citizens of Tacoma, who were among the delegation which came from that city a few days ago. In the number were Mayor Orr, Judge Pritchard, G. L. Holmes and others. Taylor was decidedly indiscriminate and indiscreet in his language, and the opinion was unanimous that the retraction and apology which Senator Sargeant compelled him to publicly make was a censure more severe than could have been otherwise imposed. Many of the Wilson men themselves denounced Taylor's course as an outrage, for, whatever he may have intended it to mean, they admit that to the average reader the only construction the language would permit would be that those voting for Ankeny were doing so for a consideration.

It is needless to say that the sympathy of the senate, irrespective of senatorial inclinations, is with Senator Sargeant. The seventeen holdovers know him as perhaps the most influential and industrious member of the last session, and in the short period of the present session his common sense and straightforward stand in the transaction of business have gained the confidence of the new members. On the other hand, Taylor's egotism and eagerness to figure in the opposition on every petty and trivial proposition has earned for him little short of the ill-will of the majority of his colleagues. He has set himself up as paramount in importance to the interest of his party and his constituents, and rather than yield and aid in electing a senator he is satisfied to have the deadlock continue, the state of Washington unrepresented and the people suffering for lack of proper legislation.

After a day of rest and comparative quiet the political forces and factions fighting for the United States senatorship filled the lobby tonight. The events of the past few days have paralyzed the energies of Ankeny's opposition. They have no argument to defend their position, and don't know where to turn for suggestions. The Wilson and Allen followers have about given up the fight, and while Wilson may manage to hold his straggling forces in line tomorrow, it is his last hope. They are tired of promises and pleadings to hold on "just a day longer." Ankeny has been the second choice of a majority of them, and all are mindful, as good Republicans, that legislation should no longer be delayed. With two weeks of the session gone and nothing accomplished, they demand that the contest close, and say that as a matter of justice they will vote for the candidate who from the beginning of the contest has had the greatest strength. The Allen and Turner forces don't attempt to hide the fact that their race is run, and with the general disorganization to follow the disruption of the past few days it is confidently believed Ankeny will win. The few faithful adherents of McMillin are growing tired and discouraged, and want the matter settled.

There has been some talk that Justice Dunbar would be brought into the race, but it is stated positively that he is not a candidate. He is well pleased with his present position, to which the people have just re-elected him for a term of six years, and the expiration of that period, he thinks, will be time enough to talk of senatorial honors.

The pressure of public opinion for an early settlement of the contest will probably result in a caucus. It is said a call will be circulated tomorrow and the caucus held tomorrow or Tuesday night.