Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-05-29
Views of an Old.Liner.
TACOMA, w. T. May, %, 1855.

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the principles of the party, to submit a
few thoughts to your Democratic readers.
You have been, as all old residents well
know, an untiring Democrat for many
| wears, through good and evil report
working for the cause your paper has SO
ably supported against an interruptions
majority, and like all other Democrats,
| who haye been overwhelmed by Kepub-
lican misrule, rejoice now, to have your
party once more in the ascendency, and
YOU undoubtedly desire to see the offices
! that ar. under the control Of the Admin
istration given over to your party ASSOC
ciatcs. This feeling is natural, and the
desire is right and just, but here comes
| another question: In selecting men to
| fill these various offices who should he
consulted: The answer naturally fol-
| lows: The Democrats OF the Territory !;
| those who have been instrumental i'll the
long wears past in maintaining and keep
IL" up and alive the party organization.
-, sensible man would for q moment
:.lnk of giving any other answer. Are
1.icse Democrats now being consulted:
! Ii so, how? Last Fall, the Democratic
! party elected as its Delegate to Congress
Young man who has no: long been resi-
dent of the Territory. He should repre-
sent the will and voice of the party.
Is he doing so, or is lie representing his
! own will regardless of the voice and will
Of his constituents? This is = pertinent
question, and demands careful consid-
Grafton; it is a question that will spring
up in the mind of every old Democrat,
and some there are that were voting the
+ Democratic ticket when Mr.. Voorhees,
was in his s@addling clothes. 1t is gem
orally now understood i'll Western Wash
| ingtOn, that no appointments are to be
made to office unless the candidate has
| first obtained the endorsement OF the
Delegate. That is, MIR. Voorhees, claims
the right to nominate, to control, what Is
termed the Federal patronage of Wash
ington Territory, and for this purpose
he has left his home in the Territory and
taken up his abode in the city of Wash
| ingtop, in order that he may be close at
hand, to advise the President and his
Cabinet who they shall appoint to the
various official positions that may be-
come vacant; also who shall be removed
and who shall be appointed to fill the va
cant places. To some of the older heads
| this appears like good deal Of assump-
ton and not little arrogant. He takes
it upon himself wholly to ignore the rec
concentrations of the Territorial Dem
ocratic Central Committee, and assumes
that they transcend their powers when
| they recommend man for official posi-
ton without first consulting him; but
| our Young friend should not forget the
| fact, that the same convention that NOM
mated him as candidate for delegate,
appointed that committee, and that the
committee is composed Of representa-
tive Democrats, residing in various parts
of the Territory, many of whom have
been long residents in the Territory, ard
! their recommendations are quite as like
" to represent the wishes Of the Dem
ocracy as does the will of Delegate NOor-
hees. Many, will venture to say, are
ready to admit that it was not MIR. Noor-
hees' transcendent ability that elected
him, and, if he thinks it was, he should
disabuse his mind of that idea at once.
In referring to the action of the Central
Committee l do not wish to be under
stood as endorsing its acts. 1t may have
been q mutual admiration society for
ausht l know bat its opinions and rec
concentrations are entitled to as much
weight and respect as are those Of Mr..
Voorhees,. 1t will not do for Mr.. Voor-
hees to ignore the wishes Of the Demo-
cracy in the Territory, or he may very
soon find himself ignored. If he as
sumes to dictate all the appointments
without consulting the wishes of the
party, his authority SO to do will not be
passed by without being questioned;
that he may feel assured Of.
This assumption on his part carries
with it one Ct the very worst features OF
the "spoils SYSTEM" He assumes that
because he is Delegate he has the right
to control the Federal patronage OF the
Territory, and ii he can control it he ap-
pears to think he can thereby secure his
reelection. 1t would he the part OF
wisdom for him to consult the desires
of the Democracy of the Territory;
try and act in harmony with the wishes
Of the party; discover its needs and
wants, and take the necessary steps to
make it Democratic State. In order to
do this, it was not necessary for him to
take up Il residence in Washington, to
watch the keepers Of the "spoils, but
on the on the contrary, he should have
visited the people at home, and tried to
ascertain their wishes. This is not his
style; he could iix matters to suit him
self; he selected his henchmcn; par
celled out and promised the offices to his
friends, and went to Washington to see
that President Cleveland properly de-
livered the credentials. Truly indeed, if
he succeeds, it will be grand exploit.
But how will it be ii the President
should not deliver all the credentials?
Then l apprehend that some one will
think that Il little wisdom tempered with
modesty would have been better.
There is no desire to impugn the mo-
tives of Mr. Voorhees,, but at present it
is certain that his course provokes com.
ment, not only here, but at Seattle and
many other places. that is very untavor-
able to him and his selfish proceedings.
He appears inclined to wholly ignore the
wishes of tiIne-hOnOred Democrats and
consult only personal ends. lie AFRO
gates entirely to much to himself. His
position is a perilous one to himself, and
his course injurious to the party in the
Territory. Now more than at any other
time in the history Of the Democratic
party in this Territory, is needed man
Of brains to properly represent its best
interests to the new Administration one
who can fully Comprehend the situation
one with level head and unseltish mo-
tives, to help secure men OF character
and worth to fill the official positions
within the Territory, so as to shape the
future policy and legislation and the
affairs OF this great Territory, and pre-
pare the way during the present Admin
istration to bring the Territory of Wash
ington into the Union as a Democratic
State. ,Such q state of affairs can be
brought about, if action on the part of
Democrats is tempered with wisdom,
and sell subordinated to the public in
terests. Such, Mr.. Editor, believe your
objects and purposes, in common with
all other true Democrats. President
Cleveland move slowly-thank God for it
and let Democrats be patient. He may