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TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State

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Told<br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />

Then, when <strong>the</strong>y were dry <strong>the</strong>y would not be much longer than "knee<br />

pants".<br />

I remember an interesting court experience. Judge Green used to<br />

come from Seattle to hold court. There was an old Indian, known as<br />

Old Blevin, who was a pretty smart redskin. The judge saw him<br />

drunk and in order to learn who had sold him liquor, ordered his arrest.<br />

He was haled into court but wouldn't tell who had sold him whiskey.<br />

Finally, threatened v.ith jail unless he named <strong>the</strong> seller, after a<br />

lengthy parley he agreed to name <strong>the</strong> vender. This was fine, and <strong>the</strong><br />

court room was quiet while awaiting his. announcement. Expressing<br />

all his judicial authority, <strong>the</strong> dignified judge asked, "Well, who sold<br />

you <strong>the</strong> whiskey ~" The old Indian squinted one eye, grinned, and<br />

replied, "Judge Green." The court attendants and visitors yelled and<br />

roared <strong>the</strong>ir mirth, and <strong>the</strong> judge turned to <strong>the</strong> bailiff and said, "take<br />

him out."<br />

During my school days <strong>the</strong> most popular games were ball and anteover.<br />

Anything was used for a ball, usually a home-made yarn affair,<br />

with a rock wound in heavy material to lend weight. I saved my<br />

money for quite a while to buy a ball, and when fa<strong>the</strong>r and I went to<br />

Seattle, he gave me my money (about 50 cents), and loaned me an additional<br />

25 cents so I could buv <strong>the</strong> ball I wanted. It was <strong>of</strong> solid rub-<br />

•<br />

bel', and I had to save for quite a time to repay <strong>the</strong> loan.<br />

MRS. PETER McCLUNG<br />

(Daughter <strong>of</strong> Mr'. and Mrs. J. M. Pomeroy)<br />

Garfield County<br />

My earliest recollections are <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> counting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> election ballots<br />

at our home~ which was <strong>the</strong> precinct voting place for <strong>the</strong> half dozen<br />

votes <strong>the</strong>n polled <strong>the</strong>re. It was my great privilege and delight to sit<br />

beside my fa<strong>the</strong>r, for many years one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> election<br />

board, and listen to <strong>the</strong> humdrum tones <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> men's voices as <strong>the</strong>y<br />

uttered <strong>the</strong> words that made for <strong>the</strong> success <strong>of</strong> some doughty pioneer<br />

with political ambitions, or <strong>the</strong> defeat <strong>of</strong> one who had fallen a victim<br />

to <strong>the</strong> solicitations <strong>of</strong> over-zealous friends.<br />

For several years my fa<strong>the</strong>r cast <strong>the</strong> only republican ballot in <strong>the</strong><br />

precinct. I soon reached an age that enabled me to comprehend that<br />

fact and know its significance. Our voting precinct contained many<br />

thousand square miles bounded on <strong>the</strong> south <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Blue Mountains,<br />

on <strong>the</strong> north <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Snake River, on <strong>the</strong> east <strong>by</strong> Idaho and on <strong>the</strong> west<br />

<strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Touchet River.<br />

189

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