Adele Ferguson - Jeanette Hayner cut a swath in the state senate

NEWS OF THE DEATH the other day at 91 of former Sen. Jeannette Hayner of Walla Walla brought back memories of a day in Olympia never to be forgotten.

It was obvious when the Senate Republicans came out of their caucus on that May day in 1979 that something was very wrong.

Floor leader George Clarke of Seattle, a ruddy-faced, gray haired man, slumped in his seat, white and shaken, staring at the wall. Leader Jim Matson of Yakima and caucus chair Charles Newschwander of Tacoma were conspicuous by their absence.

Word passed swiftly that the three had been replaced in a coup by Jeannette Hayner of Walla Walla, the new leader; RH. “Bob” Lewis of Spokane, now named the executive chair, and George Scott of Seattle, new caucus chair.

The news was shocking, not so much because it happened, but because it was done in the closing hours of the session, when it could have been done with less embarrassment later.

“What absolute stupidity,” murmured one Republican. “No class whatsoever.”

THE DUMPED LEADERS had been under fire for their candid attitudes that the House R’s should have given the vote for the Senate budget weeks ago and saved all that time, and for what was considered too cozy a relationship with the majority. Some members felt Matson should have been constantly on the attack, instead of trying to accomplish what he could by negotiation with close friend, Democratic leader Gordon Walgren.

Both Matson and Newschwander were in their offices, preparing to pack up and move out. There were tears in the eyes of both; you don’t get dumped by people you’ve served for five years and not have it hurt. They went from there to the Governor House hotel to have a drink, they said. They were quickly followed by a crowd of staffers and senators of both parties and every new arrival gave affectionate handshakes or pats on the back.

The biggest disappointment, said the crowd, was Lewis, who had been assigned to be big brother to the newer members only to become the Judas Goat in secret meetings plotting the revolt. The ousted leaders smiled gamely through it all

THREE YEARS LATER there was another revolt rumored, this time to pull the rug out from under Hayner but it fell apart. She was not, I wrote at the time, skilled in the art of compromise. I was told she got into a shouting match with House Republican Speaker Bill Polk because she was willing to go along with tax increases the governor wanted while Polk insisted on more cuts in spending instead.

She told me I was inaccurate in calling it a shouting match. While that may have been a bit of an exaggeration, it occurred in an Olympia restaurant and I learned of it from nearby dinner guests whose attention was attracted by raised voices.

She also questioned my report that her members complained of a lack of communication with her even over such inconsequential things as when to have lunch. It was George Sellar of Wenatchee, as I recall, who said he could never understand how she could go on for hours past lunch and dinner time, subsisting on a glass of water.

Oddly enough, though, after all the complaints about Matson buddying with Walgren, who turned out to be one of Hayner’s greatest admirers and frequent dinner companions? Democratic House Speaker Joe King, who praised her as a tough, effective leader. The two often appeared together at events where the tiny lady lawyer and eastside conservative and 6 foot 6 Joe King, the westside liberal, stood together at the microphone and blasted each other’s priorities and game plans and actions but never each other. A couple of pros.

(Adele Ferguson can be reached at P.O. Box 69, Hansville, Wa., 98349.)