FROM THE FILES

125 Years Ago

Adams County News

August 3, 1898

Supreme Court

The supreme court of Washington as now constituted consists of four republicans and one democrat. James H. Lewis, a democrat and W.C. Jones, a silver republican, will probably be candidates for re-election to Congress, so these two positions will probably be allowed the populists.

Above all things, great care should be exercised in the selection of candidates for the supreme bench. Men will a pull, cranks, worn-out politicians, lawyers with little practice, old lawyers with no practice, men with a grievance, men who have prejudged themselves on important legal questions for political reasons...judges who hang around law offices and have pets, whom they favor on close questions ... and cranky, impatient judges-all should be carefully avoided.

If such men are placed upon the supreme bench, they will cause litigants unnecessary expense and trouble, and work them an irreparable injury.

What we want on the supreme bench is a brainy, conscientious, caretaking, successful lawyer-a man who has made a success of his profession and is an ornament to it; a man who understands analytical law, who has the power and intuition of delving deep beneath the surface and ascertaining what the law is... who will not usurp the will of the legislature, but simply declare and interpret that will-in spirit and in truth.

Local and Personal

If the management of the Dutch saloon doesn't take a tumble to itself pretty soon, and conduct a more orderly place, there will be trouble for somebody.

James Long was arrested last Friday night and charged with assaulting the proprietor of the Farmer's Home saloon, Gus Zabel. The defendant was brought before Police Judge Staser about 7 p.m. Friday evening where several witnesses had already congregated. But it was soon evident that those who were otherwise competent to testify in the case were too drunk, and the trial was postponed until morning. Saturday morning the case was called and testimony taken. Long was fined $25 and costs.

100 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 2, 1923

Wobblies cause trouble with harvest crews

The "wobblies" have been making life miserable for farmers around here. Sabotage has been carried on as effectively as in a factory with machinery, although here it consists in fomenting discontent and fear among the laboring men. Scores and scores of men come in here wanting work, willing to work, and wanting fair pay. Then there are others of the I.W.W. class of transient labor who spread their venom of hate, intimidate honest laboring men, and greatly handicap the farmer. If the going wage is $4, the I.W.W. sets a strike for $6 and if the wage is $6 then he agitates for $8.

A farmer was coming from the depot the other day and was mistaken by a "wobbly" as a man just arrived and looking for work. The wobbly accosted him, just as they do all incoming men, asked if he was going to work. The farmer caught on, said he was, and when asked what he was going to get, replied "$8.00." The wobbly said, "Don't go out; they're paying $10." If the farmer had said ten dollars, the wobbly would have said twelve. The apparent purpose is to keep the labor situation unsettled.

Local Brevities

Bill Thom is opening up a meat market and fruit store in the rear room of the Ott building on Washington St.

William Snyder of Washtucna, whose general merchandise store was burned out several months ago, has purchased the Denton Cash Store at Washtucna and re-entered business there. He assumed charge on his 61st birthday.

75 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 29, 1948

Dave Hoefel to close business

Dave Hoefel announced this week he was disposing of his electrical appliance stock at Ritzville Motor and would lease the Main Avenue quarters, formerly occupied by Ritzville Motor, to Leslie R. Door and Wayne D. Butler, both of Kennewick. Hoefel said he planned no quick sell-out or auction but would dispose of his stock gradually piece-by-piece.

"There are so many things I want to do," Dave commented, "and the only way to find time for them is to get out of business. That is my sole purpose in closing down the Ritzville Motor company."

At the Ritz

Red Skelton in "The Fuller Brush Man."

50 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

August 2, 1973

Street striping done

Henry Steinmetz and Ray Schoessler, City of Ritzville employees, completed a big annual job last week, re-striping of streets and parking spaces. The job included painting stripes on the newly-paved Main Avenue, indicating parallel parking for the south side of the street. No decision has been reached yet as to whether the north side of Main Avenue in a three-block area will remain angle parking.

At the Ritz

Robert Redford in "Jeremiah Johnson"; "Kidnapped" starring Michael Caine.

25 Years Ago

Ritzville-Journal Times

July 30, 1998

Schoesler announces re-election bid

Mark Schoesler, vice chair of the House Agriculture and Ecology Committee and the only full-time farmer who serves on the committee, announced he will be a candidate for re-election this fall to the state House of Representatives. He is serving his third two-year term representing the Ninth Legislative District which includes Whitman and Adams counties, Clarkston and southern Spokane County.

At the Ritz

Jim Carrey in "The Truman Show."

- The Journal