Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-07-11
Forcing an Issue.

oil Seattle arc determined 10 mako
what they conceive TO 10 their local
interest a paramount factor in the
next political campaign. and TO
constitute the Democratic party the
psck.borse 10 carry the burden they
seek 10 impose. A printed letter
was circulated privately n few days
ago. anonymously expressing what
somebody conceived TO be THE
Right Position for the Democratic
Party" on forfeiture OF the land grant.
II the writer had had tho msnli.
ness 10 sign his name. We might
know whether or hot hc IL in a posi-.
ton 10 define Democratic principles /:
hut NJ he did not, wa must assume
that II may have .maua,od from the
asme scuice m the suggestion TO-
ferred 10 In our issue 81 June Goth
tho bsll.weather Of the Republican
p~sfty-~ho co.nsried prominent
Democrats 10 make forfeiture tho
main plank. nominate n Democrat
Who would stand ~squarely on IL. and
20 In and win.
This Junius. letter was followed by
an open D In the htelhgencer,
signed by Luke McItedmond. Albert
NJ. Snyder. q. W. Boardmsn, Chas.
y. Norsger. J. T. Ronald, j. NJ.
Lyon. q. W. Young. Bsriah Brown,
.. q. Root. W. II. Taylor. II. N.
Moore. Robert Russell. N. Il. Booth,
z. ID. Emery. Andrew Chilbsrg,
Terence O'Brien. w. II. White.
Philip Visit. W. T.. Wilson and
Thomas Burke. In which Il 10 held.
that a. thsrc 10. on a strictly party
vote. from three 10 four thousand
Republican majority in the Territory,
this large prsponderancs has made
many Of thu managers and leaders
OF that party reckless Of and indif.
fersnt 10 the wishes OF tho mass Of
Ito followers touching the forfeiture
OF land withheld from settlement for
the benefit Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company" Then follow
. number Of general propositions,
which II IL claimed tho Republican
party 10 alike indifferent 10. en- a.
sumption which 10 by no means sus.
tAinsd by facts. These are:
The ,.ss,lon Of r%si,,cad. property under
ciussnsi the right and duty ~ the law.
"nsesinr power to regulate the freishts
~ fsfes ~ all Incorporated t%ransporia-
ton eotnt - niss, al ~ 10 prevent i'm.
position and unjust dlscun,l nation be,
,w.~m persons y localities. and othcr
lsnislaiion necessary Ia curb anu keep
w"h'n proper c'niroi corporate power.
A. . proof that the Republican
party 10" indifferent" 10 oil this. Il
cites the fact that at their Conven.
ton held II Dayton In May last, 10
select Delegates 10 the National
Convention. thsy would not bring
forward and indorss q resolution in
favor 81 the forfeiture OF unsarned
railroad lahds." Now what proof
lies In this negative action Of the
Convention that the Republicans are
opposed to taxing railroad property
the same . . that Of tho private citi-
zen. 10 regulating rates Of fare and
transportation % a. TO prevent impo.
sition or u%nius, discrimination, or to
curbing and keeping within proper
control corporate power. We fail TO
sss. These are altogether separate
and distinct propositions. The
STANDARD cordially approves, and the
people recognize ~ good oil this
lsaven that 10 10 be used 10 make The
forfeiture batch rise,' but We aud
they object 10 liz use In the way pro-
posed. The vote in the Legislature
on railroad matters did not indicate
any partisan bias. nor IL the Issue IN
now presented made up Of anything
more than ioisam gathered together
sor buncome. and TO 10 strapped 10
the back of the Democratic party.
Tho position of the STANDARD on
forfeiture has been too often stated
10 need rsitsraiion al this time. II
takes no stock in land grants per ~
nor IN any Of the ipiqui,iss which
sometimes spring up under corpor-
sts power. but Il 10 n friend to JUS
tice. . stickler for righ, aud an I'D
vocsts Of progress.
The gentlemen who sign the open
letter, Wills sddssssing themselves
v psassssls, - psassss.s. sssa