The Great Railway Bribe Scandal of 1891
When the Northern Pacific Railway sent complimentary transit passes to Washington state legislators to influence a deadlocked U.S. Senate race, the blunder sparked a statewide scandal over corruption and corporate power.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Among the letters addressed to members of the legislature were a large number very neatly addressed and bearing the imprint of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. In each of the envelopes was the following type-written letter: 'We hand you an annual pass, No. 1, over the lines of the Northern Pacific railroad within this state, for the year 1891. We tender this with our compliments. Please acknowledge receipt and oblige.' A year ago, when the Northern Pacific was not supposed to be directly concerned in the outcome of the senatorial fight, no passes were sent out. Now, there is a senatorial contest in which the issue is of direct importance to the Northern Pacific. Judge Calkins is a former attorney of that corporation and is known to be interested in certain speculative schemes with officials of the Northern Pacific railroad. It is certain that he is backed by Northern Pacific influence. The impression prevails that Judge Calkins knew nothing of the issuance of the passes. He is shrewd enough to know that his candidacy could not possibly be helped in any such extraordinary manner, and that members of the legislature cannot be bought by a free pass.
“The impression prevails that Judge Calkins knew nothing of the issuance of the passes. He is shrewd enough to know that his candidacy could not possibly be helped in any such extraordinary manner, and that members of the legislature cannot be bought by a free pass.”
This 1891 report illustrates how early Washington politics were heavily influenced by railroad monopolies, a precursor to modern debates over corporate lobbying and the 'revolving door' between private industry and public office. The fear of external influence in Olympia has remained a consistent theme in state politics for over 130 years.
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