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Previous to the general election of November 8, 1898, there was some doubt in the minds of the people as to the right of citizens living on the Colville Indian reservation to vote. This doubt arose from a ruling by Judge W. E. RICHARDSON. The case, which was tried before him, was a mandamus proveeding brought by citizens of Stevens county to compel Conty Auditor METCALFE, of Stevens county, to place on the official ballot the names of candidates for county offices on what was known as the "Citizens' Ticket". Judge RICHARDSON denied the application, and among his other findings was one to the effect that 126 of the electors who met in joint convention and nominated the ticket, were not, as a matter of law, residents and electors of Stevens county owing to the fact that they resided upon the north half of the Colville Indian reservation. This was before the separation of Ferry from Stevens county.This ruling, which signified, practically, the disfranchisement of the voters of the reservation, created a storm of indignant protest in the erritory which a few months afterward was to become Ferry county. The case was appealed to the supreme court of the state. This bench, a few days before the election, handed down a decision overruling the superior judge. auditor METCALFE was directed to place upon the tickets the names of the candidates of the "Citizens' Ticket, and to deliver the ballots at the polling places in the county, and particularly at the precincts on the north half of the Colville reservation, before the opening of the polls on Tuesday, November 8.
At the election 302 ballots were cast, which was estimated to represent only about half of the qualified electors of the district. Although the auditor had been ordered by the supreme court to furnish "Citizens' Ticket" ballots for the voters of the reservation, he had not done so, and those who desired tovote that ticket were compelled to use "stickers". With the exception of the county commissioner for the first district, every candidate on the "Citizens' ticket" carried the precinct by fair majorities. Following is the result of the vote in the territory known as the "north half" of Ferry, then in Stevens county:
For Congress - W. L. JONES, republican, 90; Frank CUSHMAN, republican, 73; LEWIS, peoples' party, 159; W. C. JONES, peoples' party, 140; DICKINSON, prohibition, 4; HAGGARD, prohibition, 2; WALKER, socialist, 5; HAMILTON, socialist, 3.
Judges of the supreme court - ANDERS, republican, 92; FULLERTON, republican, 86; HEUSTON, peoples' party, 120; GODMAN, peoples' party, 116; YOUNG, socialist, 14; LOWRY, socialist, 8.
Joint Senator - GRAY, Citizens', 140; MANTZ, peoples' party, 98.
Representative - WELTY, Citizens', 140; HARKNESS, peoples' party, 102.
Sheriff - FERGUSON, Citizens', 130; DENNY, peoples' party, 126.
County Clerk - JACKSON, Citizens', 133; DULIN, peoples' party, 106.
Auditor - ELY, Citizens', 133; SNEED, peoples' party, 103.
Treasurer - HABEIN, Citizens', 137; BEGGS, peoples' party, 108.
Prosecuting Attorney - KIRKPATRICK, Citizens', 131; JESSEPH, peoples' party, 120.
Assessor - SMITH, Citizens', 127; BYERS, peoples' party, 111.
Superintendent of Schools - SINCLAIR, Citizens', 122; SAX, peoples' party, 109.
Surveyor - TOWER, Citizens', 123; PARK, peoples' party, 108.
Coroner - DeRUDDER, Citizens', 120; BALLARD, peoples' party, 110.
Commissioner, first district - JEFFREY, Citizens', 110; SPARKS, peoples' party, 127.
Commissioner, second district - REYNOLDS, Citizens', 143; ALBAN, peoples' party, 89.
The first county commissioners of Ferry, following its organization were: H. L. PERCY, L. P. WILMOT and D. W. YEARGIN. These appointed the following county officials to serve until the general election: George A. GRAHAM, county superintendent of schools; J. M. BEWLEY, justice of the peace; W. C. MORRIS, acting prosecuting attorney; Henry WAISMAN, sheriff; L. H. MASON, treasurer; J. W. GRISWOLD, deputy sheriff; Merton E. JESSEPH, county clerk; R. B. THOMAS, surveyor.
Having served less than a year, H. L. PERCY resigned as commissioner, and the following named gentlemen were presented to the remaining commissioners as cndidates for the vacancy: J. J. SULLIVAN, Louis S. FINNEGAN, > W. PALMER, L. SLY, J. S. MEYERS, W. H. SHINN. But the commissioners declined to name one of these candidates, and selected J. E. RITTER to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. PERCY, and D. W. YEARGIN was elected president of the board.
The first election in Ferry county, following its organization as a separate political division was during the presidential campaign of 1900. The democrats, with two exceptions, swept the field with the appended result:
Democratic presidential electors by majorities ranging between 382 and 393.
Governor - J. M. FRANK, republican, 350; John R. ROGERS, democrat, 894.
Representative - J. P. HARVEY, republican, 485; James T. JOHNSON, democrat, 774.
Sheriff - A. E. STEWART, republican, 593; E. J. LOWERY, democrat, 677.
County Clerk - F. O. NORTHROP, republican, 417; William H. MURPHY, democrat, 532.
Auditor - A. S. SOULE, republican, 718; George L. CURRY, democrat, 532.
Treasurer - J. S. DUGGAN, republican, 575; James B. DUGAN, democrat, 684.
Prosecuting Attorney - William C. BROWN, republican, 422; M. E. JESSEPH, democrat, 825.
Assessor - M. H. SHINN, republican, 448; Patrick S. BRENNAN, democrat, 800.
Superintendent of Schools - Josephine GRIMM, republican, 766.
Surveyor - T. M. HAMMOND, republican, 614; R. W. WANZER, democrat, 620.
Coroner - J. B. BURNS, republican, 346; Dr. C. F. WEBB, democrat, 875.
County Commissioner, district one - C. H. LEWIS, republican, 546; Thomas E. DUNN, democrat, 664.
County Commissioner, district two - A. C. SHORT, republican, 522; D. W. YEARGIN, democrat, 680.
County Commissioner, district three - George BOWERMAN, republican, 407; H. R. ALEXANDER, democrat, 772.
At the time of the 1902 election, the senatorial district comprised Ferry, Okanogan and Douglas counties. In this contest the republicans made some gains over the previous election, carrying the county for their candidates for state senator, county clerk and county attorney. The representative district comprised Ferry county alone. Following is the result of the 1902 election:
State Senator - George J. HURLEY, republican, 510; J. M. F. COOPER, democrat, 418.
Representative - J. H. CLAY, republican, 304; James T. JOHNSON, democrat, 552; W. E. HAGER, socialist, 147.
Auditor - A. S. SOULE, republican, 411; Thomas F. BARRETT, democrat, 502; James M. FAHEY, socialist, 93.
Sheriff - Lee DYSART, republican, 357; E. J. LOWRY, democrat, 558; Patrick MULLANEY, socialist, 101.
County Clerk - George W. SPENCE, republican, 528; W. H. MURPHY, democrat, 365; C. D. LYKE, socialist, 99.
Treasurer - F. L. CHAPLIN, republican, 347; J. E. RITTER, 562; A. HANSON, socialist, 80.
County Attorney - W. C. BROWN, republican, 526; Charles P. BENNETT, democrat, 422.
Assessor - H. W. THOMPSON, republican, 372; M. H. JOSEPH, democrat, 537; John T. MURPHY, socialist, 86.
Superintendent of Schools - G. A. GRAHAM, republican, 340; Josephine GRIMM, democrat, 601.
Surveyor - F. M. HAMMOND, republican, 429; N. J. H. FORTMAN, democrat, 480.
Coroner - S. H. MANLY, democrat, 518; Arthur BURNS, socialist, 139.
County Commissioner, second district - Lester SLY, republican, 361; W. T. O'CONNELL, democrat, 556; Joe KADO, socialist, 65.
County Commissioner, third district - C. C. HOLDEN, republican, 338; H. R. ALEXANDER, democrat, 540; John HOPKINS, socialist, 69.
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