The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-02

II is pleasant to note the unanimity with
which the more reputable and ably con-
Quoted Republican newspapers of this
state are agreed that the only wise and
proper course for the Republican majority
In the legislature is to make Watson c.
SQUIRE his own successor in the United
States Senate. 1t is to be hoped that Re.
publican members will not regard 1t as in
tended for an insult to their intelligence or
an aspersion of their probity that this
view is so generally urged and so fire.
quently reiterated.
As there are but two avowed candidates
for the succession, and rs these are Senator
Squire and Judge Calkins, a discussion Of
the choice between them as . matter OF
doubt, or one to justify serious discussion,
does. il must be admitted. seem like some
thing Of an imputation against those who
are to make the choice. But it must be
remembered that this class of Republican
journals have great and continuing in
terest In the welfare of their state and
party, and that Judge Calkins Is active,
persistent and plausible in urging his pre-
posterous candidacy, and that here or
there are to be found alleged Republican
newspapers and individuals who by reason
of local rivalries, factional differences or
on perhaps less worthy considerations are
backing his pretensions.
On these grounds Republican members
will excuse the better class of their party
papers for SO often recurring to this
matter as one which justifies serious argu-
ment The capacity and fidelity of Senator
Squire are confessedly beyond dispute.
The measures which he took a prominent
and influential part in formulating were
the p edominant issues in this state at the
election Of Nov. 4th. and by majority of
nearly seven thousand the people most
emphatically endorsed those measures and
Senator Squire for his part in assisting to
formulate them.
When the last legislature elected Judge
Squire to the Senate IL was with full knowl-
edge that in the allotment of terms he was
liable to hold for Eve years. His election
implied all of the confidence and respect
that would have been inn lied in electing
him for the longest term to which any
legislature of the new states could have
elected q Senator. But in the allotment it
fell to his fortune to draw the short term.
This alone, il all other things were equal.
and II he has done nothing to forfeit the
confidence then reposed in him, should de-
eide the succession in his favor. A con-
trary course, the selection of new and
untried man to supersede him, would i'm
ply, or might be construed to imply, that
he has in some manner or degree forfeited
the confidence that was reposed in him.
This would be reversal Of the verdict at
the polls, and therefore an act of stultifica-
ton. 1t would amount to declaration by
the representatives of the people directly
opposed to the declaration made by the
people themselves in the election at which
those representatives were chosen. And
not only by the verdict at the polls, but by
the concensus of intelligent Republican
opinion throughout the state, it is con-
coded that during his brief term the
Senator has fully and more than fulfilled
the expectations of his constituents.
But above all is the necessity, in party
sense and more particularly with reference
to the special interests of the state, of be-
ing represented by man of recent ex-
perience, not requiring to become ac-
quainted with his colleagues'-one who is
already well established in their confidence
and respect. The Republican majority in
the next Senate will be narrow. A tie is
possible. To substitute any new man for
Senator Squire under the circumstances
would be impoltic and rash. To SUBJ
stitute Judge Calkins would be idiotic.