The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-12-07
Editorial Notes.


more tariff reform, free coal, sugar,
iron, and the surrender of our inter-
ests in Samoa.
MORE than Il year yet remains before
the congress Just elected takes its seat,
and the tifty-third congress has one
session prior to the fourth of March,
when its existence terminates, Hall
OF the time before the next election
will still be under complete Democra-
tic administration, and all of the time
under the Democratic tariff
IT is sufficient for us TO state, IT
indeed the thing need be noticed at
at all, that Don" is none other than
our learned classical; talented and
chaste old friend, the genial. urbane,
Col Burbanks. As nothing is to be
gained by "chewing the rag" with the
Colonel, and with perhaps an eye to
his proves in the past, we yield the
around.
THE steamer Victoria arrived in Ia
coma last Saturday, with million
dollar cargo from the Orient, IA days
from Yokohama. She had 1850 bales
of raw silk, valued at 100000 which
was Immediately shipped East, on a
fast train, to reach New York three or
four days ahead Of II SIMILAR cargo, 60
ing by way of San Francisco. Via Ia
coma the route East is much shorter,
and Puget Sound has practically Sc
cured the Oriental traffic, as the regu-
lar steamers are loaded both ways.
THE West Coast Lumberman says
timberm en- and lumbermen are realiz-
ing that the boom statements made
about the standing timber in Wash
ington are injurious. This journal
has frequently stated that the popular
estimates were not only the widest
sort of guesses, but that they are
keeping down the price of our timber
A statement Of somebody has recent
ly got loose which reduces the older
estimates about 80 per cent. Some
well posted lumbcImen are asking
that this again be reduced. The only
safe ground to take on this question
is the same Bob Ingersoll holds on the
hereafter-one of ignorance.
PRESIDENT BAsHFORD, of the Ohio
Wesleyan university, says that the
''drink bill" of the United States
amounts to $750,O00,000 year, more
than it takes to maintain the national
government, and nearly rs much as
the total value OF our exports last
year. The bread bill on the other
hand was $l62, 100000. The consump-
ton OF wine, beer and whiskey for
every man, woman and child, has in
creased from ten gallons in 1880 to
eighteen gallons in 1893. These fig
ures present a financial problem which
must be faced, if the American people
are to keep oHt OF almshouses. Is not
the cause OF poverty, Of naked child
rem and hungry women, of the poor
getting poorer, clearly Indicated?
When beer and whiskcy cost more
than bread, :, Il : woldc:' that faMi-
lies arc IN Want.-Lcuger.
The cranks OF all the country are
now in session at st. Louis trying to
grind out a new party, to be known as
the silver party, which is to be found
ed on protection and free silver. 1t is
really only a subterfuge for those who
have left or desire to leave the demo-
crat and populist parties to escape
their records, and who lack the man
hood or the judgement to come over
into the republican camp, as have
thousand of their fellows in the past
few months. They should know that
no new party will ever, under existing
conditions, get into power to inaugu-
rate reforms, but they must be &C
complished through either of the old
er parties. However, it may have the
good effect of stirring up the old par
ties to activity, educating their fol-
= lowers to the justice and necessity of
the reforms, and by this means secure
their establishment through the old
party. The only course of the prohi.
bition party is to divide the moral
element of the people, and practically
render useless its ballots. Their at.
tempt is to educate" the majority oil
the people, hopeless task, but there
might be hope for that cause if pro.
hibitionists would devote their efforts
to the lesser and more hopeful task Of
educating the majority of the republ;
can party And it is the same with
the free silverites. The Republican
organizations in many states have
declared for free silver. and the condi
tions existing at this day seem to war
rant change in financial policy
Whether this change would be the
best for the country is an open ques
ton. The only hope of the advocates