The “Dude” Candidate and the Murder Acquittals
A San Juan newspaper attacks aspiring governor “Dude” Lewis over two Whatcom County murder acquittals, warning that his sympathy for defendants could empty the state’s prisons.
San Juan Graphic: It would appear as though murder was no crime in Whatcom county, from the fact that two red-handed murderers have been acquitted in that county within the last two months. In the one case at least, there is not the shadow of a doubt as to the guilt of the party, as there was an eye witness and the killing is admitted by the accused. The jury were no doubt led to their conclusions by the eloquent and sympathetic speech of “Dude” Lewis, who is aspiring for and whom the democrats wish to make governor of the state of Washington. If the sovereigns of this great commonwealth should so far forget their manhood as to make this dude governor of the state, his great sympathetic nature and love for red-handed criminals will no doubt soon lead him to empty all the prisons of the state by an exercise of the pardoning power.
“If the sovereigns of this great commonwealth should so far forget their manhood as to make this dude governor of the state, his great sympathetic nature and love for red-handed criminals will no doubt soon lead him to empty all the prisons of the state by an exercise of the pardoning power.”
The item is a classic tough-on-crime smear: two local acquittals become a statewide character test. It also shows how 1890s Washington politics fused courtroom outcomes with campaign rhetoric—a move still familiar in races for prosecutor, judge, and governor.
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