The Indianapolis journal., 1894-01-05
A STATE IN PERIL.
Washington Never Had More Need OF
Two Senator's Than Now.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. f. Considerable
pressure is being brought by the Republican
leaders here to have a special session of the
Legislature in Washington State called for
the purpose of electing United States Sem
ator to fill the existing vacancy. The failure
OF the Legislature to select a successor TO
Senator Allen. whose term expired last
March. and the refusal of the Senate to
seat the Senators appointed from that State
and Montana and Wyoming selected by the
Governors. is operating many injustices up
on that thriving and hopeful Pacific State.
The Wilson tariff bill strikes deadly
blow at the State of Washington The ac-
ton Of the measure upon coal. lead. lumber
and hops. four of the principal products of
that State, makes the measure now before
Congress OF the greatest possible Importance
TO Washington. That there should exist a
vacancy In her senatorial seat when a meas
ure Of this Importance is pending and the
Democratic majority so narrow in the upper
branch Of Congress IS most unfortunate. If
there was large Democratic majority in
the Senate, the Democrats stood solidly
in hne upon the tariff question, the situation
would be different There would be no spe-
cial necessity for filling the vacant seat.
But the Democratic majority Is small and
the party in the Senate woefully divided.
1t is not only feasible to contemplate the
ultimate defeat Of the Wilson tariff bill in
the Senate, but Ii is entirely practicable for
the Republicans TO enter upon a campaign
of amendments which will result in mater
ial notifications of the measure.
1t - rare that situations arise which will
warrant Governor in calling a special SeS-
sion Of the Legislature for the election Of
a United States Senator: But it is believed
that the present conditions not only war
rant, but demand, that the Governor of
Washington shall convene the Legislature
In special session to fill her vacant seat in
the Senate; and if the Governor fails to
perform this duty Republican leaders in
Congress say he will live to regret the
oversight The Wilson tariff bill. If in law,
the State of Washington than all
Of the other injurious partisan leg
inlation which the Eewly-elected Sen
ator would have an opportunity to
there are many measures which jeopardize
the development of new States that
soon TO be passed upon. The vacancies in
the seats belonging to Montana and Wyo-
ming are not operating so injur1ously to
those States, however, as the one belong
ing TO Washington. The Wilson tariff bill
and the other measures now before Con-
gress do not strike the sledge-hammer
blows at those States as they do at the
State of Washington. The latter Common
wealth has reached an era of development
where 1t cannot stop or take step back
ward without losing its place in the COM
mercial world and it's credit in financial
circles, which is everything.
IT is probable that Washington's Cover
nor will be formally requested by the Re
publican leaders in the Senate and posSi-
bly, the officers Of the Republican national
committee, to call special session of the
Legislature for the election of a Senator
cate that he intends to act in that direc-
ton