The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-17
THE coSsTrrrrrONAL CoxvKx-
HON.


As&N1sE1N, JAZZ -
Tn-nE Esf-os --ssew that il Is beycnd
dessE shst oav bsioEea serrsssry II zssss 10
attain III nsssnrEsT. Is IL ros high tine fs<
xz irssIsixent p1hEse dzsenssioz 81 the in
p-rzkive neeSss Of TIE eo-iug state Cur
people VII scsa BE called upaa 70 frame .
dan. ard Eszas eaaszicns viii be
fo<eea spon rs wfshaat s1zac for "a aae-
caste aiscxssssa znd clear understanding.
wazs Is to te zeae II the matter Are ne
to hare any full ksosIa6ke oT sae desires
ana needs CT tho territory or are We 20
allow Eea 30 BE eaesen 10 TIC comiag Tn
senissa = 40 w1iz BE nominated far their
stand upon some ore popular Issue. with
cut any distinct kssowsessge OF equally rital
fhoopes Isss sssrxsiye matters. think the
tsEse aes eusse for public argument 90 the
details Of the new constitution through the
eola1ps Of the patriotic press. which has
no private AK 70 griHd. bat which desires
oaEy the greater good Of the people;
fhrgEgs the private conversation and pub
ftc explanations of the leaders OF ps6ltc
thought, whether scafehns<n or cthers sse,
who sre iE the hahis Of directing TIE
people, and IN all the debating clEbs. IT,
ceusns. etc, ia the trrritory.
constitution e4rn0s be chosen exxry
dxy, or "a one day. and year Of tlzoaght-
fal public sEgdy would not be 700 much.
OF e0urxe, in such discussion, the ccnxsf-
tuition of ISL viii reregse It's share OF 81
seem desirable 10 retain. others, notably
the cumulative system OF choosing 4 state
legislature, viii hardly Meet with fasos
from the present population The general
desire is, tzink, that our sages make US q
constitutes - whfch ~ can point with
pride; which viii ensbody the best lhiRgs
OF all other similar instruments, and wiz,
further aAaAf stfRh x1~k&r tarrfsfxfff.r. -.
past experience las shown test In our ter
ritory.
The friends OF electoral reform will hal
with 10y the present opportunity 20 ineor,
porate IL the constitution & state bailol
law siaaiia- 10 those OF Massachusetts, and
wiseonsin. and based uIea what Is known
as the Australian system Il may be said
tisisi more properly saeject FOR ths
action OF q legislature, but d0a think ii
woEsd be cut OF place la q constitution
At any rate. this system Is worthy of Close
study by our lawEakers-elect and 10 b
elected. and would so fac. II adopted. q
Eettle the doubts of many patriots in tks
ultimate triumph III popular government
We would be rid ~ snce Of some of the
worst elements OF elections, more especial
! ly in cities. since, with lis adoption. the
common excuse fer levyiHg assessment.
on candidates and the security OF the
brIber that he IL receiving qsid pro qat
wiz disappear. Limitation OF space pre-
gents my going into details will say
however. that in . restricted and faulty
manner this system WAS used NJ the Re
publican primary elections in whatcon,
county last fall and pronsanced grea
success.
Another thing which merits the aften
ton OF Cur lawmakers Is the imperative
necessity for the enactment of a road Law
+ that viii aid in the development Of the ter
ritory. and more especially the western
portion of IL. The present law. relic O
feudai days, when the lord OF the manoi
was able 20 compel q certain amount o.
| labor yearly, Is doing more 10 restrict i'm
migration to and settlement OF the tim
bered counties than any other one thing
| framed. a. il seems TO have been, by form
/ er residents OF prairie or open states
. where but relatively small amount O.
labor was necessary ta keep the highway,
in good repair, II Is utterly distinct where
I the roads are ali in course of construction
aud should be relegated To condition o.
ssinnseuoAs desuetude" as soon as posi-
ole. Ii may be asked why something bet
/ ter is not proposed. That question carrie:
its own answer. If something better i
proposed, then the purpose of this article
VIII have been accomplished. All III,
msgE progressive states are makini
| changes Ia their road laws which a nata
rally conservative people allow. Now i
the time 10 benefit by their experiences.
The question for Us 70 consider is wheth
er as new state we are to Join the tail o
the procession, meandering along Tn
milky way, blinded by the refulgence o
light from the more progressive member
Of the galaxy, aud wearing ali their cast
of garments of legislation, or are we to 8
at once into the front rank among the 81:
ter states 10 which cur climate, uHiimlte
resources and intelligence OF population
assign rs. cnAs. Il. CLINE