Poindexter's Manager Claims the Farmers and Working Men Are His

Spokane, May 2. — Rufus R. Wilson, secretary of the Progressive Republican League, has returned from the west side of the state full of enthusiasm for its success. "The farmers and working men," says Mr. Wilson, "are practically all for Poindexter. The progressive movement is immensely popular with them, and they are resolved to have a representative in the senate who will stand against the steady advance of Aldrichism.

"Not only in the country districts is Poindexter strong, but he will have a majority of the vote in Tacoma, despite the McCormick movement. He will, of course, have Spokane and Wenatchee strong, and while I have not visited Bellingham and Everett, there is a strong progressive sentiment there and Poindexter will lead it. He will naturally be in a strong majority in Walla Walla.

"We have had a canvasser in Senator Jones' territory for the last week. He has been doing nothing else but making a ranch-to-ranch canvass of Yakima county, seeing as many farmers as possible every day, and he reports that at least 80 per cent are for Poindexter. In fact, I feel safe in saying that this percentage will generally prevail on the east side of the mountains, while he will at least break even in King county. In Pierce and the other southwestern counties Poindexter will be a majority candidate — he will poll more votes than all the other candidates put together."

This condition, Mr. Wilson admitted, might be due to the number of candidates against Mr. Poindexter, as, with ex-Senator Wilson and his powerful newspaper, Judge Thomas Burke and ex-Judge Humphries in the field from Seattle and R. L. McCormick from Tacoma, the strength is considerably divided, but it is significant that the Spokane man, according to his manager, has more strength in Tacoma than McCormick, while he will at least break even in Seattle.

His real strength, however, lies with the people. All Mr. Poindexter's opponents are "well off." Judge Burke and Mr. McCormick are millionaires, while Senator Wilson and ex-Judge Humphries are reputed to possess the wherewithal for a lively fight. Notwithstanding this, says Mr. Wilson, the Poindexter movement is gaining strength every day.

"Something that I have not seen yet in print," continued the manager, "is the fact that 96 newspapers in the state of Washington are supporting Poindexter, notwithstanding that the old-line machine Republicans are almost solidly lined up against him. The organization of the Progressive Republican League goes forward swimmingly, and we have been particularly fortunate in getting such men as Austin E. Griffiths, Jesse H. Reed and Judge Donald McMaster enlisted in the movement. In 26 out of 38 counties the league is organized and doing business, and there is no good reason to doubt that Poindexter will be the choice of the people at the primaries. The only danger comes in the legislature, where the power of the machine will be harder to counteract, but we shall make progressivism an issue in every precinct, and are confident that we shall be able to organize the legislature in such shape as to carry out the people's will."