Meet the Snohomish County Socialist Party candidates, with short bios and photos, running in Washington state’s 1914 elections.

‘Socialist Candidates’ from The Washington Socialist (Everett). No. 197. October 15, 1914.

ADAM HENRY BARTH SOCIALIST CANDIDATEFOR UNITED STATES SENATOR

Adam Henry Barth, of Tacoma, candidate for United States Senator, was born in Cincinnati. Ohio, in 1569. Received a few years’ training in the public schools, and at an early age was obliged to fight his own battles His early schooling in the class struggle caused him to identify himself with a mixed group of radicals, in Dayton, Ohio. Later on comrade Barth was selected as a delegate to come to Washington with a view of settling a Socialist colony. He was accompanied by a group of 63. Barth has now been a resident of Washington for 15 years, and has been very active as a fighter for better conditions for those who do the world’s work. Comrade Barth, years ago, followed the trade of furniture maker, but since 1884 has been a moulder, being a member of the International Moulders’ Union, in which local organization he has served in every capacity from trustee to chairman. Naturally, being a rebel, and a strong union man, he has been identified with strikes too numerous to mention. He was one of the prime spirits in the long-drawn-out-strike of Local No. 180 Tacoma, which lasted for 22 months. Comrade Barth is married and has four children, all residing in Tacoma. The confidence which the Socialist party reposes in Comrade Barth is shown by the fact that he has been a candidate for mayor of his city three times, commissioner twice, representative once, supreme judge once. He has served as chairman of the state convention four times, and has been a member of the executive board for about six years.

GEO. E. BOOMER, SOCIALIST CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS.

George E. Boomer, candidate for Congress from the Second District, Is a resident of Port Angeles. He was born in Lewiston, Maine, 1862. Attended a common school about three years, and at an early age served as a printer’s apprentice, which occupation he has followed ever since. Comrade Boomer is at present editor of the Peninsula Free Press, of Port Angeles. He has been a member of the Typographical Union for thirty years. During this time he has been in three strikes. Comrade Boomer joined the S.L.P. in the early 80s, was candidate for governor of R.I. in 1893. President of its Central Labor Union for two terms about ’89. Delegate for seven years. Joined the Socialist party in Washington in 1901. Candidate for governor in 1908. Later was associate editor Appeal to Reason. He edited Colony paper at Equality, Washington, and was associate, editor of Seattle Socialist. Having been a public speaker for years, Comrade Boomer has had the usual experiences in being mobbed and arrested, for street speaking.

THOS. JENSEN.

Thoms. Jensen, the candidate of the Socialist Party for State Senator, 89th District, is a well-known farmer in the county, having lived here for years. In addition to being one of the pioneers of the county he is also one of the pioneers of Socialism in Washington, having taken an active part in the Socialist movement for years. Comrade Jensen is a member of the grange and ban been an earnest worker for Socialism among the farmers.

A.H. COBURN.

A.H. Coburn, Socialist party candidate for Representative 49th District, is by trade an interior decorator by occupation. He received a common school education and has also had training along industrial lines while earning his living in various ways. In 1895 he entered the labor movement as an active participant as a delegate to the San Francisco Building Trades Council, where he served for four years, two years of which were spent on the executive committee of the council. In 1899 he was the candidate of the Socialist party for mayor of San Francisco. A class-conscious worker, Comrade Coburn has fought for years on both the political and industrial fields for the betterment of his class.

W.G. GRIMM.

The theory that the farmer does not want Socialism is disproved for W.G. Grimm, Socialist party candidate for representative in the 49th District, who is a farmer and stockraiser and for a number of years has been active in the Socialist movement holding various offices in his local. Comrade Grimm is but one of the many farmers of not only Snohomish county, but of this country that recognizes Socialism as the only solution to the exploitation of both the farmers and the wage-workers.

F.G. CROSBY.

F.G. Crosby, Socialist candidate for County Auditor, born September 30, 1865, at Ft. Dodge, Iowa, has been dodging the capitalist system ever since, married and removed to Sioux City. Iowa, in 1886, followed painting and paperhanging, Joined the K. of L. in 1887 and thereafter took an active part in the labor movement, organized Local 214 Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators in 1889. For three years secretary Trades and Labor Assembly, one of the signers to the call for first Peoples’ Party convention of Iowa, broke Into the newspaper field with “The Liberty Bell” organ of the Farmers’ Alliance and labor unions of Sioux City, which city he left in 1894 with a prairie schooner for Puget Sound, arriving in Everett, October 24. 1894, and took passage to Oak Harbor on Whidby Island. Uncle Sam soon after made him a present of forty acres and it took nineteen years to starve him out. Removed to Everett in 1913, struck a job as advertising manager of “The Commonwealth” and is still holding it down. Twelve years a Socialist, Red Card member since 1907.

FRANK CORT.

Frank Cort, Socialist Party candidate for County Clerk, has been a worker in the socialist movement for a number of years. Comrade Cort was the Socialist Party candidate for County Assessor at the last county election and has served the party in various offices. As a member of the board of trustees of the Washington Socialist and as the county secretary-treasurer of the party in Snohomish county. He is now in charge of the Free Employment Bureau of Everett, under J.M. Salter, Socialist Commissioner of Public Works.

HANS SOLIE.

Hans Solie, Socialist Party candidate for County Assessor is a carpenter by occupation. He has been, a member of the Socialist Party for many years and has represented the party as Its nominee for political office at various times. Comrade Solie was one of the first Socialist councilmen elected in Everett. He is married and lives with his family at Home Acres.

FLORA BARTLETT.

Mrs. Flora Bartlett, Socialist Party candidate for County Treasurer, Is one of the most active women workers for Socialism. A mother of a family and one who realizes that Socialism is woman’s emancipation. Comrade Bartlett has seen Capitalism not only as a housewife, but also as a teacher and in the business world. Women are given an equal voice in the affairs of the Socialist Party and Comrade Mrs. Bartlett has represented the Socialist Party on its county executive board. She lives with her family at Edmonds, Washington.

OLE LARSEN.

Ole Larsen, Socialist Party candidate for County Commissioner, 1st District, is a Norwegian by birth. In 1885 he emigrated to America and took up farming in Wisconsin, which has been his occupation since. In 1887 he went West, “to grow up with the country” and settled in the Stillaguamish valley, where he now lives. He is the president of the Trading Union Company, of Silvana, and also organizer of local Silvana Socialist Party. He is married and has a family.

J.N. MCCULLOUGH.

J.N. McCullough, Socialist Party candidate for Representative, 48th District, is a school teacher and rancher. During his life he was at one time a candidate at large at West Point, and was also ordained to the ministry. In 1899 he saw his first copy of the Appeal to Reason and firmly believed in hanging the editor, W.H. Wayland, to the nearest limb. In 1908 he joined the Socialist Party in Seattle, Washington, and has been in the movement since. He lives on his ranch which he has called “Marx La Gloire” in honor of the greatest mind of the nineteenth century.

W.S. KELLER.

W.S. Keller, Socialist Party candidate for County Commissioner 3rd District, lives in Monroe. A farmer by occupation and for years he has been an earnest worker for Socialism. He is a member of Local Monroe of the Socialist Party.

PETER HUSBY.

Attorney at Law. Socialist Candidate for County Attorney. Peter Husby, Socialist Party candidate for Prosecuting Attorney, is a Washingtonian by birth. He was born as he states, “in the jungles of the Stillaguamish valley,” in Snohomish county, at the time when the river was the only passable highway, and dugouts wore the most common means of conveyance. He learned his first lessons of life among the big stumps of the pioneers’ little clearings and in the primeval forest; and received his education intermittently, as conditions permitted. Later he entered the Washington State College to prepare for the University of Washington, where he studied law, receiving at the end of a four-year course his degree as a Bachelor of Laws. Fortunately he became a Socialist before he studied law and after receiving his admittance to the Bar, he realized that unless he wanted to be a hypocrite, a parasite, or a catspaw, he would have to cast his lot with the working-class, hence, he came to Everett and actively identified himself with the Socialist movement, serving the party in Everett at secretary and is now city organizer.

R.J. OLINGER.

R.J. Olinger, one of the Socialist Party candidates for State Representative in the 1^st district is by occupation an electrician, he has been an active member of the Socialist Party for a number of years and has been called upon by his comrades to become a candidate of the Socialist Party a number of times to represent the working-class. Before joining the Socialist Party, he was an active worker in the Trades Union movement in Everett and has worked hard to make the Union movement in Everett a revolutionary one, the result being that the Electricians’ Union, of which he is a member, is a Socialist Red Card Union. Comrade Olinger was at one time president of the Trades Council in Everett, and an active worker in all movements for the emancipation of the working-class. He is reputed as being one of the highest priced wageslaves in Everett and also one of the most rebellious ones.

R.W. THOMPSON.

R.W. Thompson, Socialist Party candidate for County Superintendent of Schools is fully qualified to fill this important office by long previous experience and training having taught in the public schools in many parts of this country and also in Alaska. He holds a No. 1 certificate. Comrade Thompson lives at Monroe, where he is engaged in the grocery business. He has been a member of the Socialist Party for a number of years and is secretary of Local Monroe.

H.F. LEISTER.

H.F. Leister, Socialist Party candidate for Sheriff, is fully competent to represent the workers of Snohomish county in this important office, for he is a worker himself, being a timber worker by occupation. A class conscious worker, one who has fought and felt the class struggle for years. Comrade Leister has been a member of the Socialist Party for years and is also a member of the Timberworkers’ Union. Comrade Leister was chosen by the workers of Snohomish county as their nominee for sheriff two years ago and again this year. He is married and has a family.

The Washington Socialist was a weekly newspaper of the Socialist Party of Snohomish County published in Everett, Washington and edited by Maynard Shipley. Closely aligned with the Industrial Workers of the World, who were strong in the Pacific Northwest’s lumber industry, the paper ran for only 18 months when it was renamed The Northwest Worker with Henry Watts as editor in June, 1915, and again Co-Operative News with Perter Husby as editor in October, 1917. Like virtually all of the left press, the Co-Operative News was suppressed in June 1918 under the Federal Espionage Act.

PDF of full issue: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88085769/1914-10-15/ed-1/seq-1/