The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-24

family left whascom "wednesday for
Kent. where they VIII visit relatives for
q few days before Mr. Cline goes 10
Olympia, where he desires 70 spend few
days IN the state library before the open
ing Of the legislative session. II viii ba
remembered that he enjoyed the distinc-
ton Of being the leader Of the Popuiists
on the floor OF the house two years ago.
and since then he has been chairman og
both the PopcIis. state conventions. and
= row very generally credited with being
the best pari,-.mentarian in his party in
the state and the NEST formidable and
Logical candidate for the speakership OF
the house In response 20 the request o.
the observation-disclosures representative for
al expression OF MS views upon certain
FuDasc questions. he submitted TO an in
1eryIew, as sot.cws:
LIS you ansic.pat. 81 early deternina-
ton OF the senatorial question. and, in
your judgment Is there any prooa oility.
Rot fo say Dossioility of the election OF
any other ths.1 : strlis ht-out PopuIsst as
tie successor or Senator Squire
think the senatorial question viii be
ssItisd oy ne amieaole SELECTION OF
straight-out Populist within a week after
ballotlng begins
Are you candidate yourself. and DO
you intend 70 make an acdse contest Tor
the placer"
Il have not anticipated any announce
Hent or my candidacy for that high hon.
or, nor have solicited support o. OF from
any member-elect Some mem bers, how
ever, have urged me 10 become a canGi-
date and make an active canvass. My
own impression IL that the native good
sense or the reform forces VIII not loek
with favor upon . mad and unGign' Ell
scramble Tor the senatorsaip. but that the
result or the contest VIII be the selection
OF some man who will be an honor 10 our
inteiAgenee and credit 20 the state.
1T Is currently reported that You are
candidate for the speakersnip or tho
mouse. and THAT you have received many
pledges OF support Is that true, and GO
you anticipate much opposition"
nave never expressed myself rs a
candidate for speaker. / think the MEM
oers can be trusted 10 select the one they
deem most fitted for the place without
any suggestions from me, which. IL Of
fered, would. from their very nature, i'm
ply degree or self-esteem the possession
OF which L do not care TO acknowledge.
As IN the other case, | have had many
Kind letters from friends Offering me sup
port and because l am believer n the
axiom that the office should seek It's oe-
cupant, 4 have been constrained 10 reply
that L do not intend 10 make an active
canvass"
THE Populist party is pledged ID rigid
economy in the administration of state
affairs Do you look for the redemption
isla5ion prsAding for a further reduc-
ton in the salaries of state and county
officers, and, In your Judgment. IS IL like
~ TO be the policy Of the legislature 10
materially reduce the appropriations
heretofore made for the maintenance of
public institutional
Il think the reform legislature will re-
deem its ante-election pledges and VIII
provide for the most rigid economy in
state and county government. but l do not
think anything viii be done TO destroy or
weaken the efficiency of state institu-
tions. l believe ii will be the policy of
the new administration to consolidate
certain minor offices and reduce expenses
for clerk hire, etc, wherever ii can be
done without detriment 10 the public
service. In the legislature itself there is
considerable field for the exercise or
economy, and the Importance of IL was
fully recognized by Gov McGraw two
years ago. when he recommended in his
message that the expense for legislative
employees which was $1,000 in the previ-
Gus legislature, be reduced at least one
half. How well the last legislature acted
upon the governors suggestion is shown
by the fact that its account for the same
purposes was S27, 0oa''
II understand that you have recently
made personal inspection of the new
state normal school building, now near
ing completion at Whatcom. VIII you ex-
press an opinion as TO its merits, and In
general as TO the manner In which the
appropriation has been exFendedY
II believe the new normal school at the
point indicated to be a needed and
most worthy institution, and from the
cursory examination / have been able TO
make of the building l believe the state
money has been carefully handled in its
construction"
Are you personally favorable to a rea-
sonable appropria ton for it's proper equip
ment and maintenance upon such a basis
as will place II upon an equal footing
with the Ellensburg and Cheney sGhoolsy'
"A reasonable appropriation for its
equipment and maintenance should. and
hope will be, made / wish to see IL
placed upon an equal footing with the
other state schools OF its class"
what important legislation of a new
character do you expect 10 see accom-
plished?'
II expect TO see the enactment into laws
of the various measures of reform de-
manded by the Popuhst state platform.
From the Populist standpoint a. least,
these measures are all important"