Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-06-01
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING. JUNE I, 1872
THE ELECTION.

A dispatch to Gov. Salomon, last Tues
day, from the State Department, decides
the question which has caused so much
agitation the past few weeks. Here is a
copy of the telegram:
WASHINGTON, D. c., May IS, 1872.
To EDWARD S. SOLOMON: Governor Of Wash
ing.on Territory: By act of Congress approved
May ninth, eighteen hundred and seventy-:wo,
elections are to be held in the Territories of
Washington and Idaho on the Tuesday follow
ing the first Monday of November next.
HAMILTON FISH,
Secretary of State.
Now, it being definitely settled that we
are to hold no election in June, the people
desire to be informed in reference to sew
eral matters, embraced in the following
inquiries: Why has the election been
postponed, and who has caused it to be
done? In what manner will the interests
Of the people be advanced by the change?
In previous article We requested the
friends Of Mr.. Garfelde to enlighten us
upon this important subject, but the ap-
peal has failed to elicit single word in
defense of the innovation upon the rights
of the people established by general and
local laws aud approved by long.coutinued
usage. We hope that the Courier, instead
Of attempting to shift the blame Of the
Of the confusion incident to the late enact
ment upon to shoulders of some imaginary
scape-soat, will now 80 to the foundation
of the subject, and tell US why it was done
at all.
We maintain, aud we do not believe the
Courier will dispute the position, that the
late election bill was pet measure of Mr.
Gar6elde. The people have not desired a
change, and consequently there has been
no expression of sentiment that could pos
sibly be construed into an authorization
Of the enactment. The unanimity with
which the people participated 10 the pri-
maries, indicates that such desire, or that
the possibility of the measure being thrust
upon them, was subject farthest from
their thoughts. The telegram announcing
the passage of the bill was received with a
feeling of distrust and alarm that indicated
their preference more plainly than formal
protest. They had called their primary
meetings, left their occupations to attend
them, elected their delegates and held their
county and Territorial conventions, at a
sacrifice of time and money, candidates had
been named, and choice in great meas
ure made, before it was announced that
they would not be allowed to give express
sion to that choice at the polls as they had
invariably done from the organization of
the Territory to that time.
Is it not proper that under these cir
cumstances they should manifest dispo.
sition to bold the author of the wrong to a
strict accountability for his presumption !?
Are the people mere beasts of burden,
that they must do his bidding and acqui-
ssce in every scheme he may devise to ca.
ter TO his avarice, or greed, or crafty his
vaulting ambition? He is responsible, not
alone for the act, but for its passage at SO
hate day as to entail severe loss and a
great hardship upon his constituents, and
the Courier's attempt to shift the blame
upon the County Auditors. or upon Gov
ernor Solomon or Secretary Clements, or
make them share any portion of the odium
that attaches to its master. is as disingenu.
Gus as it is puerile and contemplate, and
merits the unqualified condemnation of all
honorable men.