Rise in Republican Politics
Representing known pimps, prostitutes, and thieves did not negatively impact Humphrey’s burgeoning career in Republican politics. The dismissal of all charges against the “Zetler crowd” may have identified Humphrey and an up and coming lawyer in Washington state, but he was also working hard to make a name for himself in Republican circles. Newspapers reported on Humphrey’s social involvement with military officers, judges, senators, and other luminaries. In the 1894 electoral cycle, Humphrey began to be an active campaigner for Republican candidates. He was reported by the Post-Intelligencer to be “rousing up the southern part of the county to stand firm for the Republican nominees and guard against the pernicious doctrines of the People’s party (and) spoke during the week at Christopher, Stuck, Osceola, Bolse and Drain.” On November 1, 1894, Humphrey was a candidate for the First Ward Republicans in Seattle. Later that month, he spoke to the Grand Army of the Republic lodge about “the New Navy.” He was involved in an election recount in December 1894.
His political career took off in the 1896 cycle. By July 1896, Humphrey was a candidate for King County attorney, campaigning vigorously throughout the area on behalf of the Republican ticket. His published letter to the Crawfordsville Daily Journal about Republican prospects in Indiana and other midwestern states, excerpted in the Seattle Post-intelligencer, demonstrated his interest in national political strategy. Nevertheless, 1896 was not a good year for Republicans in Washington state. Although William McKinley won the Presidential election, and Indiana and other midwestern states as Humphrey confidently predicted in his letter to the Crawfordsville paper, the election did not go well for the Republicans in Washington State. Democrat William Jennings Bryan won Washington’s electoral votes, Populist Party candidate John Rankin Rogers became Governor, and Humphrey did not win his race for county attorney.
In 1897, Humphrey continued to practice law. In one case, he represented a second-hand dealer charged with receiving and selling stolen goods, to wit a sealskin coat cut into pieces. But he remained involved in public affairs. He was scheduled to deliver an “oration” during Fourth of July festivities at an event presided by Governor Rogers.
In 1898, Humphrey ran for the position of corporation counsel for Seattle against a representative of the People’s Party and won. In the election in the spring of 1900, he was victorious in his re-election race against a Democrat.
In June 1902, Humphrey was nominated to receive the county party’s endorsement for Congress at the King County Republican convention. During the roll call, it became apparent that Humphrey had the most support, and the other candidates’ nominations were withdrawn. A few days later, on July 1, 1902, the Post-Intelligencer, under the heading “MERIT AND ABILITY, Endorsement of Hon. Will E. Humphrey for Congress Meets With Favor,” the paper stated that his endorsement “has been foreshadowed for months past. Mr. Humphrey’s advancement in the political field is the result of merit and ability. His record in the office of corporation counsel of Seattle during four years of strenuous litigation was exceptionally brilliant. His service to the Republican party in every campaign in recent years has placed him at the forefront. He will be an able member of congress, and will measure up alongside of [incumbent Republican members of the House of Representatives] Cushman and Jones without suffering in the least by comparison.” In the general election of 1902, Cushman, Jones, and Humphrey won Washington’s three seats in the House of Representatives in an at-large election.