The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-02-28

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

We have at last reached point where
there IL really something TO do that viii
count toward making Washington state !;
and something 10 do which must be done
promptly, carefully, and with q purpose
single 10 the best interests Of all. There
win be no lack Of advice in this matter.
In The first place men must be selected
for the constitutional convention, and It
should be borne In mind that this Is not
apolitical matter. The political part Of the
business win come on Immediately there
after, and we shall all have enough Of it.
There will be no lack Of opportunity for
I'll the politicians in all the parties to
work their plans in the most approved
fashion for six months; but let us come
to the convention without any party poll
tics. This statement Is not made by the
HKRAID under the impression that II is
an idea peculiar TO us. All reasonable
citizens Of Washington will, doubtless,
find themselves holding the same opinion,
when they take the time to think about
It. Our purpose Is to remind them that
they had best begin thinking about It at
once, then when the notice comes for
election. they viii not be confused and
COMPOUNDED by any hazy ideas such as
cluster about and befog most elections.
We shall never again have another such
an election. There will never be an cleo
ton in the state Of Washington probably
in which party politics cut no figure;
hence the need 10 approach this one rs q
single body POLITICAL republicans Of q
republic and democrats Of democracy.
with no elashing interests to conflict as
the work Of making the best possible con-
Stitution for all progresses. We want our
best men there; and Il l. never hard 10
pick them out. When party strength and
party policy is to DO considered there il
frequently great difficulty, and when the
honor 10 an irkSome one 1t Is sometimes
difficult 10 get good men to serve; and
now the only way to get at the business
Of selecting the best man, will be to rec
Ouize few simple rules for the deter
mination Of fitness at the very beginning.
Every effort ought TO be made, not only
70 select the best men, but to have q sort
Of recognized understanding that selection
10 this constitutional convention has not
the slightest relation TO any future honors
that Il, the man selected il not, by that
fact, specially brought forward for any
thing In the future, nor Is he, by such
selection, honOred and shelVOd out Of the
way Of other ambitious men. Holding
this in mind, no nan Of doubtful fitness
woUld stand In the way Of clearly the
best man, because he would feel that he
gained no such special advantage a. an
ambitious politician Is always on the alert
for. On the other hand, the best man
would not evade the honor for fear Of be-
ing left out Of the next deal. These mat
ters are as simple a. they are important;
and they are important for the reason
that the people themselves are responsible
for any lack Of ability there may be in
that convention, and for any resulting
faulty work. II iS, Of course, possible 10
make such q m1ddle Of II that we would
not Be admitted at this time, and Il IL
even easier to make q constitution that
would cost more for repairs than for orig
NAL construction. Whatever else there