Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-06-15
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. JUNE Is, 1872.
FALLACIOUS POSITION OF THE COUR.
IER ON THE ELECTION.

4oS O3N 49, oAoSAASNs
The Courier of Tuesday replies at con-
siderable length to our article of last week,
in which we reviewed its fallacious argu-
ments sustaining the postponement ofthe
election to November.
1t will be remembered that our conten-
porary based its justification of the post
ponement mainly upon the plea that it
would secure uniformity, and prevent the
importation Of voters from one State or
Territory to another" We admitted that
this would have been proper motive for
effecting the change, if the claim that it
would secure " uniformity was founded
on fact, but showed that it was not SO
based, for under the late general law of
Congress the elections in Oregon and the
other States is not changed to November
until 1876. Until that date, the general
election in Oregon takes place in June,
and our own, by Garfelde's manipulation
in November. Does this secure the uni
.tormity, which the Courier urges as the
chief justification of the change?
AS anticipated by us, our contemporary
hangs its only hope of escape from the
awkward dilemma into which it has fallen
upon the fact that Presidential election
occurs in Oregon in November, but it does
not attempt to explain how uniformity"
is secured by changing our time Of voting
from June, when general election does
take place in Oregon, to November when
only vote for Presidential electors is held.
But were it conceded that November is as
suitable as June this year. how would it
be two years hence, when Oregon holds no
election at all 10 November To sum up
briefly: The Courier claims that the
change was to secure uniformity and pre-
vent fraud, while the facts warrant the be-
lief that the result will be to produce irreg-
ularity and to open the door to illegal vot-
ing. And that this is the real object of
Gar6elde and his clique is apparent from
their acts in the last canvass, when a con-
ditional charter of the steamer Taruna was
effected to import voters from Victoria and
Sac Juan, and Oregonians were actually
voted in some Of the river counties by
them.
In defense Of its second position, that
November is more suitable and conven-
lent season for the election, it says: " We
: are content to leave the question with the
old settlers, aud the unanimous verdict
will be in favor of November" This is
another assumption not justified by cir
cumstances. How can it claim to speak
for the people, who have not been consult
ed in relation to the matter, and have had
no opportunity to express their preference
10 relation to it? 1t asserts:
&C If the argument that it has been in June
heretofore is good against the change, it is
equally good against any change whatever for
the better because it hasn't been so before"
We do not hold to the position that be-
cause . stat Of circumstances are once
right they are always right, and that a
change would not be proper; but we do
maintain that the people themselves are
the best judges Of what they want, and
not Congress. The fact that they have
made no change in the time of voting
when it could be SO easily done through
their legislature is conclusive proof that
they desired no change. Here again We
rest our case.
The third argument" Of the Courier is
maintained as follows:
GAS to the fitness OF the delegate being al
home to see those whom he represents, and
learn their wants, when not engaged in duties
At Washington, that is q matter that requires
no argument, the bare statement shows it,
proprety at once to every honest voter"
Here the Courier again throws dust in
to the eyes Of its readers. There are jus,
80 many days in week, weeks in month
and months 10 year, whether the election
comes 10 June or November, and the Del.
egntc has just as much time to see those
whom he represents in one instance as the