“State Library jewel” contender #3: 1912 Progressive Party

Earlier this week, we began the February edition of our “State Library jewels” blog series. The first two contenders have been the family papers of George Washington Bush and a collection of blueprints by Heinz Ulbrect used in the Bavarian transformation of Leavenworth. Our third contender in this month’s poll is the collection of media clips regarding Robert Tait Hodge, Washington’s 1912 Progressive Party candidate for Governor. The image featured is courtesy of the Washington State Library. Seeing as this is a year with a gubernatorial race, the State Library has provided us with a look at an interesting minor-party gubernatorial candidate 100 years ago. The State Library has a rather extensive amount of newspapers on microfilm “covering one of the dirtiest campaigns for governor in Washington State history.” Hodge was King County Sheriff before entering into the Governor’s race in 1912, and was already seen as a controversial character. U.S. Sen. Miles Poindexter sensed that he was “an accident waiting to happen” but failed to persuade the sheriff not to run for Governor. Hodge climbed aboard the “Bull Moose” party as it took hold in Washington, and was expected to win the Governor’s race until several allegations regarding his personal life were leaked to the media. Hodge’s ex-wife, Jennie, told reporters that her former husband was lazy, had a gambling problem, left her on the edge of poverty, was a dogfight enthusiast, a womanizer, and unfaithful. Hodge chose only to reply by stating that he did not wish to discuss his private life. The allegations in place, Hodge lost a majority of support, especially from women voters. The final results were as follows: Democrat Ernest Lister won the race, receiving 31.49% of the vote, followed by Republican Marion Hay (31.29%), the Progressive Party’s Robert T. Hodge (25.19%), and the Socialist Party’s Anna Maley (12.03%). After Hodge’s loss, he quietly ducked out of politics and moved to Oregon where he lived until his death.