Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-12-06
More Delay.
Told You So!

I'li WI ~"
Good old Patrick Henry never ut
tered more apparent truth than
when he affirmed that it was the ma
ture OF mankind to "indulge in the
illusions OF Hope" and that they were
prone to close their eyes against a
painful truth and to listen to the song
OF that syren till she transforms Us
into beasts"
Ii Olympia has not had enough oc-
casion to indulge in such illusions, in
the history OF the Capitol Commission,
no community has never had that ex-
perience. From the very first there
has been manifested, upon the part of
the Republican State Administration,
disposition to thwart the will of the
people in permanently locating the
capitol at Olympia; disposition to
again subvert the will of the people as
expressed by their representatives in
the Legislature, which at the session
OF 1892, authorized the expenditure OF
$5OO,OOO IN capitol construction, and
again in 1894 which directed that the
remainder of the appropriation, secured
bya grant OF 10000 acres of land
should be used in erecting the super
structure OF the State building.
1t is unnecessary here to epitomize
the stumbling blocks dug up by the
commission, or to note the prompt
and effective way in which each was
removed by the energetic protest OF
our people and rulings of the judi
ciary. They are still fresh in the
memory of our people, as we'll as
the wonderfully effective machinery
brought into play by the State Execu-
tive to procrastinate proceedings at
every point. Dickens admirable por-
trayal of the machinery of the Cir
cumlocution Office" in bis satire upon
English methods of How Not to Do
1t, pale into insignificance with the
Machiavelian tactics of an executive
who it has been shown cannot forget
or forgive our county for the adverse
vote it cast for him few years ago.
When, after this long series of de-
lays, few days ago, bids were sub
mitted that came within the appropri-
alton, accompanied by adequate bonds,
the people breathed little easier, and
some of the more credulous believed
that the oft-repeated promise of Gov.
McGraw, to complete the edifce within
his term of Office would be fulfilled.
The first intimation that this hope
was groundless came from the Cover
nor's organ. the Post-Intelligencer, pub
lished at the very hub of the Republi-
can machine. The intimation was
given that nothing would be done till
the matter was again passed upon by
the Legislature. The result shows that
it did not count without its host. It'll
"called the turn" as it ever has, on
matters of clique rule, and it is now
formally announced that the commits
sion has again been side-tracked by in
surmountable difficulties.
The Olympian endeavors to put the
best face upon the matter by affirming
that the "idea of letting the capitol
contract has not been abandoned" 1t
innocently states that:
There are some legal questions which
have arisen that are yet to be settled and
then it is believed the contract will be let
very soon."
That has been so oft repeated that
it has become very antiquated chest
nut. The only thing the commission
has yet done has been to prepare a
foundation for the building, and squan-
der about twice as much as it cost, for
per diem of commission, advertising,
and architects pay for changes and al
teratione!
That part of the business goes merrily
on, if work on the building is in a
state of nocuous desuetude," and the
people are still called upon to array
themselves with those who "having
eyes see not and having ears hear not,
the things which so nearly concern
their temporal salvation"
How long, . Lord, how long are we
to be subject to such double-dealing
and deceit2