The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-24

The scheme III the tide-land grab
BEN ii big one. ard II must not Be
doubted that ii viii be supported BY
every available iniiuence. legitimate OF
corrupt. Those Who 90 into enter
prises Of this kind make nice Of no
vile hold 10 stay them mp" There
viii Be public appeals apparently In
the interest Of innocent "suf5erers, =
but in fact shrewdIy designed TO mis-
lead public opinion. There viii be ar-
guments ia the most cunning forms
!. that can be devised BY skilful lawyers
TO support the job. or 70 divert public
attention 70 side issues and 20 lead Il
away from the business In hand.
There win be systematic application Of
personal influences 10 help out the Job
IN snd out Of the convention. There
viii BE- spoiogisss. possibly including
soma men of reputation and standing
In the terrstory. hired for the work.
There viii be newspapers nnfaithful
70 the public interest and outspoken
Tor the grabbcrs. And there viii be q
barrel OF money % support all this
machinery 81 corruption and 70 reach
such men ~ nlny b bought. This IL
plain, but Il IL necessary TO speak
plainly 70 that the public may know
just what 70 expect
The Posr IHrEILIaExcrs does not
enter upon The discussion Of this great
issue without miFgivings Is 10 the out
come. In fact. Il feels that there ID
hut chance Tor preserving for the
people Of the state and for commerce
. property whose value. as II
IL related TO great public in.
forests. Is beyond the limits OF rea-
sonabIc calculation. II is impossible
TO feel otherwise when II is remem-
bercd that among those who will be
found fighting against the public in
tercst. will be the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company with all It's politi-
cal and business influence; the Oregon
improvement Company. scarcely less
powerful: the several rich milling
companies operating on the Sound !;
The city front holders of Seattle. Port
Townsend. Beilinghan Bay and else
where, with q hprss Of gfsbbers, and
that these several great powers are
thoroughly organized and supported
by the best available skill both
In legal expcdients and In prac.
Teal political manipulation; and
when. further. il Il remembered
that the present money vaIue
of the stake for which these organised
fcrces are tighting Is nos less than tiisy
millions Of dollars. Against this great
combined power. we fear there Is small
chance for success. bat the Posr.Is-
rKtiIakscxE Is determined thai small
IS the chance Is. the cause Of honesty
and public policy shall not lack a
champion. We have some hope that
the people. especially the people el
Eastern Washington. may be AROUSED
10 appreciation Of the relationship oil
the tide-strip on Puget Sound 10 the
commerce OF the future and through
II 10 the welfare of the state Cor al
time 10 come. The question Is one
which hears directly upon the personal
satesest OF every producer just hos
we shall endezsor 10 explain In ia.
tarr articles II this fact shall come
10 he thoroughly understood We do
believe that the propositions OF the
rrahters win fail, ii not in the eonyen-
ton. then before the people when the
work OF the convention Is brought up
for ratification.
And here Il 10 proper 10 say that the
fesr~IsfEasIerscYs has nocsnisdates
for the constitutional convention. II
heres 20 see nominations made oil
tnen al ability. character and standing
men big enough. broad enough aud
PATRIOTS enough "a sink personal ia.
serest isr the higher cause Of pehlsg
welfare. Sash msn nav be found and
il viii be shame ard an eternal
damage IL they shall not be found.