The Senator’s Farewell: Mrs. Squire’s Lobby Battle and a Pledge to 'All the People'

Senator and Mrs. Squire were not able to leave for the East last evening as they had planned. The Senator was occupied all day with the many important business matters requiring his attention before his departure.

In the afternoon from 5 until 6 o'clock Mrs. Squire held an informal reception in the parlors of the Rainier Hotel. Mrs. Squire was assisted by the ladies residing at the hotel—Mrs. Thomas Burke, Mrs. George E. Miller, Mrs. Waterman, Mrs. J. Chase, Mrs. Frank D. Kay and Mrs. Lauren Ingles. The First Regiment Orchestra was stationed at the south end of the main hall and rendered many pleasing selections during the reception.

A large number of the ladies of Seattle took this occasion to meet Mrs. Squire before her departure for the Capitol and extend their sincere congratulations upon the outcome of the fierce contest in which she had shared her husband's fortunes. Among the ladies who were present were: Mrs. J. B. Metcalfe, Mrs. C. H. Ogden, Mrs. W. H. Wilcox, Mrs. T. F. Dempsey, Mrs. Morgan Jones Carkeek, Mrs. Joshua M. Settling, Mrs. Montgomery Russell, Mrs. Mary C. Warbaaa, Mrs. L. C. Houghton, Mrs. J. K. McDonald, Mrs. Eugene Cantfield, Mrs. Alma Brown, Miss Brownie Brown, Mrs. Samuel La Roy Crawford, Rev. and Mrs. Herbert Watson, Mrs. E. O. Graves, Miss Towle, Mrs. Charles F. Fishback, Mrs. S. Frauenthal, Miss Tienny, Mrs. J. R. Hayden, Mrs. George H. Heilbron, Mrs. Hazeltine, Mrs. Charles H. Kittredge, Mrs. Whitney, Mrs. W. E. Boone, Mrs. Frank Hanford, Miss Parling, Mrs. J. C. Reisiger, Mrs. C. M. Sheafe, Miss Lowe Sheafe, Mrs. Trosbridge, Mrs. J. M. Russell.

The day was a very pleasant one for Mrs. Squire, as well as for those whom she so graciously received. Mrs. Squire feels no less elated by the successful termination of the senatorial conflict than does her husband. She was with him through it all, and witnessed its most exciting incidents.

"It was the first real political battle I ever saw," said Mrs. Squire last evening to a Post-Intelligencer reporter. "I was with the Senator during the contest one year ago, but then it was entirely different. Then the large Olympia Hotel had not been built. But a few people could find accommodations in any one place. This year the contending factions had headquarters at the Olympia, and the entire conflict was waged [there]. I never had any idea of what kind of a struggle was like. During the last week the lobby of the hotel was filled continually with a surging mass of pushing, crowding, shouting men."

Mrs. Squire feels a deep sense of gratitude to the men who labored in behalf of her husband through it all. A well-known friend of the senator relates an incident of this which is too good to be lost. As they were about to leave Olympia, the Senator asked Mrs. Squire if she bade Mr. McGraw good-bye.

"Yes," she replied, "and I felt so grateful to him that I kissed him."

In the evening Senator Squire partook of an informal dinner given in his honor by W. E. Bailey at the Rainier Club. Those present were Watson Squire, W. E. Bailey, Thomas Burke, Jacob Furth, James K. Hayden, John Lear, E. O. Graves, George H. Heilbron, E. M. Carr, Abram Barker, C. B. Dillingham and Erastus J. C. Haines. J. H. McGraw and H. G. Struve would have been present had they not been unavoidably detained.

Senator Squire delivered a brief but pointed address, pledging himself to serve the whole state impartially and faithfully, and not any single city or county. He disclaimed any special individual interest in any locality, and as proof of this he stated that his personal interests were not confined to any city, but that his investments had been made in all parts of the state. He would gladly shake hands with Sloan in Washington, including those who contended most bitterly against his re-election. His official efforts would be directed solely to the welfare of the state at large. His remarks were greeted with signs of enthusiastic approval by those present.

The Senator, accompanied by Mrs. Squire and C. D. Dillingham, his private secretary, will depart for Washington City on the morning train tomorrow.