Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-02-03
DAILY T-|NTELLIeENctR
CORRUPTION RAMPANT.

The PosT-ISTKLLIGgScEs has rsceiT-
I'd sdviees of the most reliable nss1rs
from Olympia in regard 20 tie scsnda-
loss and eeYrup, practices Ehish are
being re=orted 10 in order TO iHHssncs
members Of the Legislature in favor Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad and ~
vretobed allies. The picture Is not a
pleasant one for any citizen Of WASH
inston Territory 10 oontenpiats. Is %
asserted that every eorrupt practice OF
the INSCRIPTIONS politician ia brought
into play, that money il freely ussd for
unlawful purposes, that men recon
mendsd by their dapiiciiy and their
ability a. fxsrs have been imported
from other cities and from beyond TIE
borders Of the Territory to perform the
filthy work Of tbs lobby, aud that the
wishes Of the people have been delsbsr-
atsly ovsrridden by lobbyist and Legis
lator alike.
Il early became evident that the cor
ruptiouists had no hope Of controlling
the House, aRd that they bad deter
mined to concentrate ell their Efforts
upon the Council, which is = smaller
body and of which they hoped to draw
a majority 10 their side by fair means
or foul-ususlly foul. Different meth
DDS we're adopted in dealing witA differ
ent members. Some vers influenced 10
one way, some in another, bat by one
way and another majority was secured
and the object Of the ring Vas attained.
OF coarse, their victory Is only partial
one, for the House remains unrorrupt-
ed. Although they can force through
no new legislation, they can and do eI
ert q supervision over all legislation,
and defeat any that Is conceived 10 the
interest n the people. The managers
Of the lobby at Olympia, among whom
are a well known Oregon politician and
an equally well known Territorial Off
ciaI, IL 10 asserted, receive daily instrue
tons from the headquarters at Port
Neutrality-suspicious. which il Is safe to
say they carry out to the letter.
Never has our Territory been 80
shamefully. ontraReously disgraoed;
never has 20 bold an attempt been
made by an arrogant and corrupt
corporation, and its wretehed tools
and laskeys 10 interfere in the affairs
Of an American commonwealth and de-
feat the will Of its people never have
q people been bound hand and
foot and banded over to their
enemies by their faithlsss ser
vants in more shameful manner
II there is citizen OF the Territory
who does not blush at the thought Of
this corruption be Ia unworthy Of bis
citizenship.
These facts are coming TO the ears OF
the people slowly. This Ia 10 be &C
counted for in several ways. The devo-
ton Of both Of the Olympia newspapers
10 the cause OF monopoly, their oonuec-
tios with all that is evil in our politics,
and their hostility 20 every popular
movement IL well known. They, of
course, could be relied apon not to tell
anything Of the operations OF the lobby.
The correspondents at Olympia, as the
Posi- IsTKLLIoENoKR Is reliably inform.
ed and thoroughly believes, have With
one exception been purchased or O. jol.
ed, and have become plant tools of the
sorruptionists. With such condition
Of affairs IL has been an easy matter to
carry on the nefarious work ss IL in the
dsrk-to persuade Legislators that their
actions would never he known by their
constituents. Little by little. however,
the truth leaks out. Actions SPEAK
palmer tbaA words, and tie people nov
hear the language Of actions. The les
son they are learning they will not soon
forget.