The Saloon Men Had a Precinct Map
A liquor-dealers' lodge in Stevens County picked its candidates and funded paid workers at every precinct—openly—in 1908.
Colville, Oct. 26 — The Knights of the Royal Arch, which includes in its membership only dealers in liquor and manufacturers and wholesale dealers of cigars, met yesterday afternoon and made selection of candidates for office whom it will support at the election. On the roll of membership are the names of more than two-thirds of the proprietors of the 54 saloons in the county.
In this county they will support R. A. Thayer, Republican, of Colville, and M. M. Sammons, Democrat, of Newport, for the legislature; D. H. Carey, non-partisan, of Colville, for superior judge, and H. G. Kirkpatrick, Republican, of Colville, for prosecuting attorney.
No announcement was made of their indorsement of other candidates, but at a meeting to be held Sunday, final arrangements will be completed.
A. J. Lee, who returned Saturday from a meeting of the grand lodge held at Seattle Wednesday, which he attended as a delegate and who is commander of the lodge here, said that all arrangements were made there for a liberal campaign fund for this county, and that paid workers in the interests of the saloon men will be at the polls of each precinct on election day.
In each precinct there will be a captain and lieutenants. The lieutenants will take their orders from the captain and will be paid $10 per day each for their services, and will be within easy reach of funds in the hands of the captain for emergency purposes.
“Paid workers in the interests of the saloon men will be at the polls of each precinct on election day.”
In 1908 the saloon trade in Stevens County did not just endorse candidates; it built a precinct-level operation with captains, lieutenants and emergency cash. Modern industry PACs and paid canvassers are the legal descendants of that machine, still fighting over alcohol rules and who turns out to vote.
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