The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-16
MIR. SWETLANITALkS.
He Would Have a Strng League
Of Republican 1ubs-
SHOWS WHAT oReoO HAS DONE
He Fayors an organizaon OF Forces
Through Which "A v-tory Tbs
Year VIII Be Assured.

Scott SHETLAND. caalrma OF the Repue-
iican state committee. vain town yester-
day. He has been looking sver the ground,
with no particular object view except 10
see what the RepR5Iicansof the state pro-
pose doing and what the ieas OF the party
are as 10 the work for &c coming year
Mr.. Swstlsnd has apparaIly been think
ing good deal of a rhorugh organization
for the party throaghoutshe state. for ne
has been interviewed in SINE parts OF the
state. and his ideas as 4 what should be
done in the way OF gettinetne organization
into good trim for the graf effort or lsse
have been very freely EXPRESSED and gem
orally commented on in 9th Eastern and
Western Washington.
When met yesterday, NJ. SHETLAND said
he had nothing 10 say in sGdition 10 what
he had been reiterating II interviews ana
saying IN reply TO letters hat earnest he
puolcans had been writing him Il am
merely talking OF leagu organization OF
Republican clubs. becauss believe II Viii
be the nucleus OF graf, strong party
movement which viii keep Republicans IN
all parts OF the state togsher and central
ize all energies in a way that VIII assure
the best results. I have 9een thinking es-
pecially Of the idea that Republican CLUBS
should be organized SO as 10 be in readi-
ness for the next state and national cam
paign-"
What conclusions have you arrived at"
.Wen, coming as do rom Clarke coun-
~, / have naturally watched the opera
tons in Oregon. ard il considering the
plan of a league organization OF cIuos
think good deal can be gained by inves-
tigating what has been done in that state
The advantage which oregon Repuolie-
ans have so far had over the party in TINS
state has been that their clubs have not
@extxr -zrf
been permanent in their makeup, eontln-
uing from year TO year, stronger and oet-
ter equipped for each successive campaign.
While attending the convention OF state
Republican clubs held early in February
In the city of Portland. | noticed that one
of the best-organiZed among them pore the
name OF the James A. Garfield Repuoncan
Club while in the designation OF otaer
clubs. every Republican candidate for the
presidency during the last sixteen years
was represented. No better evidence could
be had of the early origin and permanent
character OF these local organizations. IN
stead of being temporary clubs, allowed 10
Lapse and 20 TO pieces after the work or the
campaign is over, they are active, agrees
sive agents year in and year out, constant
iy adding 10 their membership, ana Firtu-
ally keeping open recruiting offlces. PICK
ing up doubtful voters and newly hedged
citizens, and losing no opportunity OF
swelling the number of Republican voters
throughout the state. At their conNeh-
ton of clubs two years ago. when ~ asie-
gates were present, Ii was predicted that
never again would it be possible 10 secure
Sr,Jsr s-E1FrrI TT> ssrvrsrr-rv
LIZA delegates actually present, represent
ting ias clubs, with a combined roster of
COCO names"
Would you follow out that idea here?"
Il would | think the Republican party
has a safe plurality in the state Oh WASH
ington, and that success in the coming
campaign can be made absolutely certain
by thorough and intelligent organization
That such organization should be COM
rnenced now. and be fully completed be-
fore the meeting of the state convention.
so that when the battle is drawn, cur
forces will be in line and ready for duty.
/ would not have our forces like a poorly
trained and badly organized body of mil
tia. but rather. solid phalanx of well
trained regulars. The system which
have advocated is very similar TO that
which has proved so successful in Oregon,
and so far, in all letters resolved
from leading Republicans in the state
and in all personal interviews on
this subject. the plan suggested has been
commended. without exception, and its
early adoption earnestly recommended.
would have leagues or clubs created in ev-
cry county, and. so far as possible, in ev-
cry voting precinct. From these local or
ganizations. fun and regularreports should
be sent in 10 the Office at headquarters.
with lists OF officers and membership, in
formal ton in detail Of the movements and
strength of rival organizations. and the
thousand and one details O. essential in
terest which so materially assist the CEN
trail committee in It's important work.
These reports would be classified. and ar
ranged by counties. and would furnish
valuable Information as 10 the needs OF
different localities The information thus
collected would be open forinspecuon by
every Republican. under precisely the same
terms and conditions. IL wt1id belong 10
the party and would be equally accessible
to the highest and humhlest Yorker in the
Republican ranks The iHhrmation so
collected should be inteligeniy classified
and digested. and the records crefuily pre-
served and turned over to TN new CON-
mitfee In this way the ne chairman
would find the party fully equipped for the
work IN hand. and precious tim wolid not
be wasted preparatory TO otanizauon.
Under this system each new committee
would find the preliminary worifuily COM
pleted. and couldaenter upon m real WORK |
Of the campaign at once. The neds Of each |
county would be fgily understood. and just |
such literature and speakers cod De sup |
wants Of the voters Such oianizatton |
can be effected az small cost, ansths bcne- I
fits to accrue 10 the party ando ifs fu- |
t.1re candidates are almost tnilculable. /
Perfect ard maintain such a sitem and 1
the occupation of the professnal poll
tician is gone forever. II vol be i'm /
possible TO impose upon caudttes and !
members Of tho committee BY fse state
nents OF defeciious and local ,lifs and
schJsms. as the committee heHuar,ers
MOULD be bureau OF infornain. from
which the actual conditions couIbs read
ily ascertained."
Have we not Republican chs here:
clubs which have participated iEaIional /
gatherings and been tnstrunentaE work /
ing up an Interest for the party =
Yes. there have been some sgrg clubs.
made up % the most loyal snd be RepUb-
leans OF the state. bat they havaot been
able 20 join in & great move feRepub-
Heanisna throughout the state. Tie clubs
have not been brought together. 4 where
they might have heen a power eVswhers
they have nth ze1 their energiefocally.
independent Of any concerted MOTOR the
benefit % the party IN both Earn and
Western Washington. No such bmpre-
heasive system % centraliEing thEepub-
Ican forces in this state. such az aggsst.
mas heretofore been attempted. aFto this
extent. az least * can he trgtafs said
that the party lacks full ard etIiElt or
eanizatfon- With such a system salts /
factory operation every party worr fully
informed as 10 actual consss lions, upaT;y /
machinery cannot be used 20 fuTtr the
interests o. any one man or ant@t OF
men. ether than those 20 whom tsparty
has pledged its support. Prtrnaa and
conventions would be well attssi oF
representative men. ard tie VIII the
people would - supreme IL the dep Ton
81 t.~sr.sfssl@ss ard sa4z@tson 81 cs1SsSS.