The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-30
He Contributed Much 70 the Gayety OF
OIymufn An 500.

VtymRfA IN ISS0@
WHsrcox, Oct 2a-fSpeciaL &c. Z.
Cline. of Lynden. Popa.ist candidate for
the legislature. Is not an obscure country
man unknown 20 fame beyond the limits
Of the proud pFecinc. that calls him ifs
own He has record. Il Is now nearly
Eve years since the star Of his genius f-st
became visible to the naked ere in the FIR
mamens OF the public service in the state
of Washington, when he had greatness
thrust upon him BY the members Of the
house Of representatives Of ls9o. who made
him chief clerk and now look back with
varied emotions upon his distinguished
career in that office. Mr. Cline was al that
time. as he - now. q plain, unvarnishet
citizen. who did not hesitate TO show his
contempt for the conyentionaliiies Of
cress which then prevailed among the
iaw-givers of Olympia, with the gracious
approval of the fastidious newspaper cor
respondents. II was the custom then for
the officials, legislators. reporters and
once q week. wear billed shirts and
collars and occasionally black
their boots But the chief clerk
vas above making any Ward Nc
Ailister pretensions and he concerned
excite remark and even invite the caustic
criticism Of the worldly reporters, who
seemed unable to appreciate his firm de-
termination not 70 be numbered among
the mere votaries of fashion. But finally
the pens OF the reporters and the talk of
the lawmakers prevailed in q measure,
and with the change that seemed to come
over the spirit of the chief clerks dreams
"a ana Oh - Il III
and tie, and the press, quick TO recognize
and commend such Transformation, duly
proclaimed the fact next day and there
was great rejoicing among the people.
Many will remember also that Mr.. Cline
further distinguished himself during the
session by calling the roll Of the house in
the Columb la theatsr TO win bet OF $3.50
made with Representatives Rutter and
Gilchrist, who had dared him to do it
At the close Of the session, on the 4th of
Whatcom Rereilie indorsing the work of
the legislature and stating that no man
could find fault, from partisan
stand point, with what it had done. And
he particularly commended the work of
Representative ". r. Moultray, who is
now . Republican candidate against him
opinion that Hon. j. w. Parkinson, of
New York. who incidentally and accident
ally represented this county in the upper
house a. colleague of Senator Richards,
and was known to local fame as "Blue
Jay" had mo superior in the senate"
As Mr.. Clinics chief outcry on the
stump this fail Ia against the bonds which
have been voted by this county it may be
Nj IN afa h. forf hat 10 tail I'D
secure Republican nomination for the
legislature two years ago he was most
persistent advocate Of bonds, and in ls60
was an ardent champion Of the worst
bonding scheme ever sprung upon the
county. On February and April he
wrote letters to the Rereiile advocating the
scheme. and Lynden precinct, which is his
home and is q Populist stronghold, cast
90 votes in favor OF the proposition and
only nine against It. Mr.. Cline Is one of
those chameieons Of politics who dexter
ously accommodate their views to what
appears to De popular sentiment in the
locality in which they live. He can play
good lord and good devil according to the
temper of his hearers and can juggle with
facts and figures in q manner as bewilder-
ing to the average voter as ara the most
marvellous feats of legerdemain to the
most credulous beholders. In the district
where he lives the epidemic of Populism
is at its height. 1t has Afforded him OPP
portunities which the Republicans denied
him after he had been weighed in the bal
ance and found wanting, and he has been
quick to seixe them, in the hope that upon
the crest of the new party breakers he may
ride into the next house. If he gets there
and there are many others like him. there
will be such monkey and parrot time at
Olympia this winter as few legislatures
haye ever witressad