Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-05-29

IL seems quite proper nj times loi
party that is sorclv distressed Ia have
n scapecoat upon which TO heap the
sius ot it's leaders. even though the
sncient belief that It's escape into the
wilderness ahsolvcd the wicked from
responsibility for transgrcssion i not
quiet ~ strong rs it vas when the
situation found literal adaptation
That Gov Laugh'on should be- made
the -capsgost now surprises nobody
for several reasons The first 81 thes"
il that he was accidentally executive"
OF this great commonwealth-acci'
dentally nominated and IL may be-
said accidentally elected. for he simply
polled the party vote because he wa-
on the ticket and not from any pref
erence the party had i"r him over
anybody else. even If tic opposing
party for that matter H. vas simply
an accident, or rather an incident, the
hotsam cast up on the wave Of politi-
cal prosperity which a, tina; time car
ried his party to success.
When il WAS realized that lac was
elected Lieutenant Governor. and
that he might possibly ill the execu.
tive chair, a feeling of 'ternation
seemed To prevail throughout the
party, aud this found expression in a
powerful element in the first legirla.
ture favorable TO abOlishing the Office
to get rid OF the man. This was not
80 much owing to the ability of the
man, for in various ways he is shown
TO possess consummnte tact, il he il
not gifted with the deeper qualiiica.
tons Of statesmanship, but for fear
that the party might be held response
BILE for the unsavory reputation he
brought from former fields OF political
enterprise. This was somewhat dis
PEELED by the very able manner in
which he presided over the Senate,
and might have been completely re.
moved by his acts as executive. had il
not aroused the spirit OF envy, and
had the Governor ended his career
under the same tutelage and with the
same evidences OF wisdom ahd modern.
ton that il was begun.
But alas! success turns the heads
oil some people, and the Lieutenant
Governor was not an exception 10 the
rule. He gave his enemies the very
weapon they needed for his own de-
struction. He became arrogant in
manner and dictstorial in his bearing.
He created Offices for specific local OBJ
jects and appointed men to al them !;
he vetoed many important bills after
there WAS no means for his act 10 be
reviewed by the peoples representa-.
tives. aud finally he ignored the OK.
pressed wishes OF the elected execu.
tive, who he had reason 10 believe
would soon resume the chair OF State.
II seems proper, therefore, that the
Lieutenant Governor. having already
taken 70 ths wilderness. should be the
scapegoat for Others political sins.
His early administration was too much
OF . success. no developed too much
political aasacity At times Tor the ring.
leaders 10 leave his late ~ q possible
factor In party matters longer in doubt.
He msy again 90 10 the State Conven.
ton from Okanosan and defeat the
ring nominee. He may again 10 stock
the cards ~ 10 deal himself lone hand
and rake In the pot. He may again 10
fortify himself BY wise counse;ers ~ 10
oct discrsetly and climb over the
shoulders Of those in the line Of prefer
nsent.
Governor Ferry 10 in . quandary.
His predscessor's acts have placed the
party In jeopardy. but he fears 10 call
the legislature together for fear blum
ders may Be committed that would be
equally disastrous, aud he 10 not al.
together sure that the average Re
publican Solon can read the signs oil
the times clearly enough 10 discover
disastsr and ruin In running counter 10
the current If opinion that has %
steadily ct In for additional safeguards
10 individual rights. They may re-
affirm his acts and make the situation
still worsc.
The only alternative that seems "a
b presented u 70 bold the Lieutenant
Governor 70 strict personal sccoun.
liability, sod the edict has gone forth
70 make sure work Of what remains oI
his political presiigs.
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