The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-07-25
BULLDOSING.
Mr.. EDITOR:

L trust that you will give space to
the following, because the same prop
erly should be communicated to and
is II matter of interest to the Repub-
Leans of Cowlitz county. 1t will be
remembered that at the Territorial
convention in 1876, Mr.. Fairwcather
was appointed a member Of the Ter
ritorial central committee, but about
one year ago removed from the Ter.
ritory, and from that time on was,
and is now, actively and to all APP
pearances permanently engaged in
business at Portland, and has for a
year last past with his family resided
there, and to all external appearance,
and as far as any act Of his might
shed any light, totally abandoned all
intention Of being a resident or citi.
zen Of our Territory. In view of
this fact, the Republicans Of this dis
trict in lawful convention duly rec
commended that the vacancy thus
made be filled, and named the sue
cessor. No lawyer Of any standing
or honesty could conscientiously say
under such circumstances, and under
our statutes, that Mr.. F. could act
on the committee, or that he was a
legal voter in this Territory; for in
the oath upon challenge we find
"you do solemnly swear Il
that you have resided in this Terri
tory six months next preceding this
election, and in this county thirty
days." etc., ETC., and other sections
upon the subject being to the same eff
feet. The Republicans Of this county,
owing to some matters which it is
unnecessary now to speak of, occur
ring during the last campaign, by
which, in Republican precinct Of
twenty-five actual majority, our Re-
publican Delegate received but one
majority, had no reason to claim the
gentleman as a true Republican, or
desire that he in any capacity repre-
sent men who have always been Re-
publicans. Being aware that an eff
fort would still be made to act upon
the committee, notwithstanding the
express disapproval Of the Repub-
licans of this county, and in the face
of the action Of the convention, a re-
monstrance, signed by about 20 Of
the leading Republicans of Cowlitz
county, land many more would gladly
have awaited themselves of the OPP
portunity of signing, had it been pre-
scented to them was sent to the Ter
ritorial committee, in which the facts
were recounted and a protest firmly
made against Mr.. Els acting as their
representative on such committee,
and plainly stating that they as Re-
publicans would hold all persons con-
cerned, or assisting in such usurpa-
ton, responsible therefor. The re-
suit and consequences, Mr.. Editor,
is what your correspondent desires
to call attention to. Right here, a
gentleman well known as for
mer Secretary Of the Territory, and
who has achieved some notoriety
on account of his military record,
steps in and executes characteristic
flank movement with proxies OBJ
tanned for that purpose. With his
legal (0 opinion and winning ways
(?) he persuaded the committee land
it seems they were not hard to per-
suade,) that Mr.. f. was still resi-
dent and voter in this Territory, and
notwithstanding the wishes of the
Republicans of this county should
act upon the committee; this sup
ported by Mr.. F.'s word that he had
not voted in Oregon constituted, we
we are told, the defense. BY this
action this Council district has not
been fairly consulted in matters there
passed upon. A resident of Oregon
has been wrongfully foisted upon us
against our will, to act for US in a
matter which we claim we had right
to be heard upon. While some of
the committee may have acted from
lack of 'back bone," others, includ-
ing our military friend, have forced
this upon us. We claim that repre-
sentation on the committee is one
created by the people for actual use
to be held by Republican and a
resident, and that the committee
should have recognized the wishes of
Republicans, who, though they did
not vote at that meeting, viii! vote
at the proper time, and your cores
Dondent believes he is sufficiently ac-