The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-06-15
Editorial Notes.

JUMBO CANCWELL, ScHcIdl VI WIG
Tacoma. and Seattle Contingents OF
Commonweal army, has been sentenc-
ed to six months Imprisonment in
Montana.
THE San Francisco board of health
is taking active measures to prevent
the introduction Of the Black plague
now raging in China, through the
Coolie steerage passengers.
***
THE supreme court has filed an
opinion in the matter of the petition
of A. 4. Smith, ct al, for the county,
VS.. VIM. Cochrane, appellant, from
King county. In this case an attack
was made on the cOnstitutionality of
the act OF March 8, 1898. and the
court was impelled to pronounce the
act, as to appellant, unconstitutional,
although with regret, for it is stated
that without this law there is no way
OF opening road through the land Of
an unwilling resident.
THE damage caused by the floods
in Oregon is estimated to be fully
81, 100000, and over n million dollars
in the city of Portland alone, mainly
to business hands and the trade inter-
csts. The water was up as far as
Seventh street. Another large dam
age is To the salmon canning interests,
All the fish wheels and many of the
cannerics being washed away. While
this is Il severe blow on the business
interests affected, it will mean vast
amount OF work for the laboring men
to repair damages. 1t is estimated
that the Union Pacific railroad suf-
fered losses of about "a, 900, 900, which
it will take four months to repair
before the road can resume operation.
ONE men are again trying to make
people believe the tariff is not an is
sue, says the Cheney Sentinel. Yet
congress has been considering the
question for months, and in the gen.
eral business depression we find in
disputable evidence of the fact that
the welfare of the people depends to
a considerable extent upon the protec-
ton Of home industries. We do not
claim that the present hard times
were caused solely by the threat of
free trade, but that threat has had a
depressing effect upon the country.
1t requires gall and dense ignorance
for any man to say tariff is not an is
sue, when within the past few months
great states like Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Iowa and others have decided by the
largest majorities ever heard of that
they wanted the republican policy OF
prOtectlOn-and the tariff matter was
the sole issue. These are facts that
will not be contradicted.
s*a
SILVER as well as gold should be
used as currency, but on just what
basis this beautiful white metal should
circulate even the clearest thinkers are
hot agreed, says the West Coast Trade.
The idea that a conspiracy exists in
favor of gold is preposterous. The
TACT that SOME OF the most ardent
friends of free silver are those who
make light of the payment of public
and private obligations. has damaged
the movement greatly. There is no
reason why silver should not he pro-
duced in even greater quantities. It
Is growing more popular every day for
articles of use and ornament. Gold is
OF course more beautiful, but it is so
expensive that not even the wealthiest
people can have anything but articles
OF jewellery made of it. In MANY
English churches and institutions
there are dishes made of silver that
have been In constant use for centn-
RES. 1t is to be hoped that the Anne
rlcan people will, with returning pros
perlty, turn their attention to this
noble metal, in the production of
which our country leads the world.
HE Taxpayers league, ii kept out of
the control of Office seekers, will have
a good effect on the election, not that
member of the league should be ine-
hglhle to Office, but that it should not
he controlled by cabal of aspirants
Any man aspiring to Office, who ia
condemned for good reasons, NAV hv
good work he defeated by such AN or.
ganlLatlon. The trouble of such an
organization is, generally, that the
most active members are too eas;,v
persuaded Gin the interest of GOOD
government" to enter the lists, and a
careless, incompetent, or dishonest
member of league makes no better
otiiciai than one who has not been
white washed and enameled by reform
taik. one thing we may recognize in
the start Is that change is not always
reform, and change should be for the
better, not presumably , but to NOR
al certainty. 1t Is not necessary that