The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-28

The supporters Of Judge Calkins claim
as the chief merit Of their candidate that
his former experience ct Washington and
tics, especially qualify him for useful serv-
Ice as senator. They say this over and
over until It il possible that few Of them
have actually come to believe that there is
some truth and point in the assertion.
Let Us examine the facts. Judge Calkins,
Congress - representative from Indiana.
He was in no sense the leader Of the In
diana delegation. and his position - .
member Of Congress was in no sense dis
tinguished. 1t was. it 10 only fair
to say. entirely respectable, but it
was ordinary and commonplace in
every way. Judge Calkins schemed
for the gubernatorial nomination
OF Indiana. taking pains as he has done
here, to change his place of residence with
view to the political value Of ''geogra-
ply" He succeeded in getting the NOM
ination, but was overwhelmingly beaten
under circumstances 80 discrediting that
it practically ended his political career in
Indiana. After his defeat for the govern
orshIp he made but one appearance in
Indiana politics, and that was in
connection with the ill-starred Gresham
boom of two years ago. Judge Calkins
came to Washington With "claims" against
the Harrison administration, SO it Is said.
As to the nature OF these claims nobody ID
precisely informed. Only this is known.
that they were presented in connection
with a demand for the United States Dis
trict Judgeship OF this state, and that they
were not accepted by the president Judge
Calkins is openly and bitterly hostile to the
administration. No condemnation of it
is too severe for him, and he has
asserted that his chief desire for the sena-
torship is that he may use the position as
means of getting even" with President
Harrison. Under these circumstances
what would Judge Calkins' position be,
should he be chosen scnatorf He would
have, it is true, from his congressional ex.
perience, some knowledge of legislative
method. but he would stand in opposition
administration with which this state is in
cordial sympathy and from which it ex-
poets and must have many favors. He
would stand also in the position of man
discredited at home, who, through
strange political adventure. had succeeded
in getting himself into high political sta
ton.
On the other hand. Senator Squire's po-
sition, If reelected. will be q very strong
one. He will return with the strength
which reelection, implying as it does. the
appreciation and support of his people.
always gives to a senator. In the matter
of legislative experience he certainly
will be able to match Judge Calk-
ms. He will have had at the
beginning of his second term two sessions
OF service under circumstances especially
calculated to familiarizs senator with the
duties Of his position. And it should not
be forgotten that Senator Squire was by no
means stranger in Washington at the
time of his first election. For twenty
years he had been much ct the national
capital, and his acquaintance included not
only the leaders OF his own party, in
and ont of the Senate, but
nearly every man of national character in
the whole country. This acquaintance has
been of vast importance to himself and to
his state. and has had no small part in
making his service to the state successful
and advantageous. II reelected, as we
believe he will be, he will be found not in
antagonism to the national administra-
ton, but in cordial relations with it.
Every citizen of Seattle who is favorable
to the reelection of Senator Squire should
bear in mind that his strength rests largely
upon the solid support of his own county.
and that the FIRST skirnlish in the fight
which is to determine the status of this
county. is the city election of Wednesday
next. A vote for John Collins or for d. B.
Ward for Mayor will be vote against the
return Of Mr.. Squire to the Senate.