A Judicial Candidate Finds Apathy at Kelly's Hall — and Waste in County Offices

John B. Slater, of Colville, nonpartisan candidate for the nomination for judge of the superior court, and Judge Chadwick, candidate for the supreme bench, were advertised to speak at Kelly's Hall Monday evening. There being but a small audience and Mr. Chadwick failing to appear, Mr. Slater gave a short address, in which he touched upon and explained some of the perplexing points of the new primary law. The meeting was then adjourned until Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday evening it was again demonstrated that Newport people are taking but little interest in the primary election, as there were but few present to greet Mr. Slater. His remarks were mostly suggestions along the line of county and state business, and he avoided any reference to the judicial controversy in this county.

In making a suggestion along the line of economy in county business, Mr. Slater said that it had become a practice for the principals in county offices to do little or no work, reserving their faculties and energies for the management of their offices, while the deputies do the work, thereby greatly increasing the cost of clerk and deputy hire. Mr. Slater did not undertake to say that the gentlemen in question were guilty of a misdemeanor in so conducting their business, but did think that the successive officers had drifted into this manner of doing business unconsciously, until it had become a serious matter in which a reform movement could save the county considerable money in official salaries.