The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-06

The ryrh s1SEior o. tire le CtstaLuFe o. Nle
egatA OF Washington will convene on fne
eth day OF January. Iss7. In view Of the
fact that for the first time IN the history
Of the territory or state the legislature IS
not Republican, unusual interest VIII be
taken In its proceedings. While = mas
been quite commonly thought that the
legislature IS Populist, such !s not the
fact. The fusloussts ara tn control, but
they are BY no means ali Popuiisls- As a
matter OF fact the fusion ticket generally
throughout the state was 50 made up
through different political deals and bar
fers that great many men. either Demo
Gratis or Republicans. VIII be found lesls-
lating for the people OF Washington
A eorrecte1 list OF the members OF the
house and senate Is published below. IL
has been difficult 10 ascertain the exact
politics and standing OF all the members
elect. but Il is believed that the following
list will be found 10 be substantially cor
rect.
While the legislature might be termed
Popallstie from fhe fact that the Popu-
IsstA will be there in Sarge numbers and
will plsnnfuliy supply b0tn houses with
an known Popullxtic bills, az the same
t.nis there viii be found IN both senate
Gud house many men H'no have had legts-
Iative experience and viii naturally see
that a good dea, OF the olap-trap is
speedily disposed OF. For instance, there
s. Frank Baum. a Democrat from Okla
nogan, who IL a man OF business and az
fairs a member OF the Hast house and
q gentleman who might be called conserv-
afsve in every way. Senator Field, al
though a Popultst. served in the last sen
ate and ne, too, was conservative. Judge
Houghton. CT Spokane. 81 well known
throughout the state. and although per-
haps he may not have been member OF
ahe legislature he has been ia attendance
at most OF the legislative sessions during
tho last eigas or ter years, therefore be
can hardy be called a novice. Half OF
fhs Senata is made up OF the so-caIled
ho1-osers. senator's who were seated for
four years la 1884. These are Field. Crow
end Range, Popuiists, and David Miller.
democrat The Republican hCld-overs are
I4esa. Aegler. Dockabach. Taylor, Ess-
fsrday. Woosilng k'rink. Wasnburn. Lew
a.. Pussy. Wilson. Parker and Dorr. OF
fheso quite a number have had iegisla-
tive experience before they went into the
senate at the session OF 1896. Megier was
"a member OF the first house. which was
in session for nearly 1--WE months. Eas-
feFday was elected TO the senate In 1891.
and this session will practically complete
aa eigflt-yeArs service ia the upper
house J. NJ. Frink. of Seattle, has served
an equally long time, this being MS Sec
ond four years service In the senate. r.
G.. Washburn Is also not without expert
ence. he having served one term in the
house previous TO the time that he was
elected 10 the state senate. The new sen
atoFs who have had legislative experience
are w. +. Runner. Of Spokane, who MAS
in the last house. and John IcReays,
who was a member OF the FIRST legislature.
In the house there are many members
who have been there before. i. /. Phelps.
81 Stevens: Cleveland Smith. of Whitman,
Robert Gerry. OF Franklin. George NJ,
Witt. Of Lincoln: Il. r. Baker. OF Pierce.
N.aler
sAmS. of King. and G. T.. Cline, of What
com. we're members Of the last house, and
naturally know the ms and outs OF leglS-
iatlve work J. H. Smith. of Douglas: c.
y Moore. of Skamania. and c. 4. Mem
ser. oe Pierce, were representatives in the
Third legislature ard. OF course, have
come knowledge OF the ropes.
In the house the Populists have a plur-
Atty of & otYt or rs, and the fusion forces
arc in the majority. The Populists can,
therefore. elect a speaker. II they agree
s1pon any one man. Their leading candi-
dates arc Cline. OF Whatcofn. and Bake.
Of Pierce. both or whom have had eonsid-
eraMa experience. Scion T. williams, of
King, a silver Republican, is also an
avowed candidate. In the event OF a
speakership deadlock II Is not improbable
thar Manser OF Pierce, would come for
ward. he was candidate for speaker
sn iSaa, when John w. Arrasmith was
elected 70 that position.
While the FopuitstS have a plurality in
the house. they are equal With the Re
rubicans IN the senate each OF those two
parties having 10 members IN that body.
The scus c, a. shown by the list below,
g. made NJ OF = Republicans. II Populists.
Democrats and 3 silver Republicans. The
fusionistS therefore. have q votes and the
Tepunlicahs J.. but 81 the event OF any
very drastic legislation being attempted.
which would relieve the fsslonists from
cay obligation 20 support outright popu-
ilsm. the vote would probably stand Pop
ui1sts Il. opposition =. This II leaving out
Of account Senator Taylor, OF Pierce, who.
whilo elected as a Republican. has always
been more Of populist than anything
$50. ana can be safely put down ia the
HsopuNst column IN almost every vote that
Tl bs taken turing che next session
rhe populists are tn absolute control OF
she house. and unless they are divided ~
bstcause 81 their own tnter8al differences.
they can elect their own speaker. They
have As votes out % =. bat diSsensions
arIk3ng from the very determined attitude
81 Tire single takers make e difficult 70
say as 20 WHISTLER they present anything
ike a solid gront IL seems 70 be evident
that thc single taN people VII have no In
considerable representation IN the next
house and as their ideas appear % 10
disoctly az variance with these Or Cow
ssrnor-eiect RoEers fu his homestead Law.
q g not improbable that very serious
complications may arise when f. comes %
she organization % the lower house and
she arrangement o. its committees. IN
addition 20 this there naturally arises the
senatorial question. which. while g. VIII
ba tho matter ~ supreme Interest 70 all
parties. viii BE- a sourre 81 much division
and contention. not ouiy amongst the "a
s3onists as a wholo. bat also amongst the
ropultsts themselves. Az calculations as
- What the touse and senate efBil DO on
thefF organization. ani unfortunately as
80 What they shah accomplish IN thc way
cf legislation may be determined in no
sgnail deEres by fhe outcome ~ che sem
atorial contest. NhHe tha ponuifst sspsr-
ants are trm iR tAe heiist that they shoula
receive tAe Fopalisf Support. the fsct cam
asat - disguised that Ca uumber 81 Popu-
fssss WoalS rex be sverar SO swing asa TO
thOss MO have practically aihea them
selves 20 80 Fonutst party and assisted
en- clectlnE Popuiists 20 oaH-e
~ THE pruscnt tirre cve~rfhfr~ rreu,s
Hntxce ana u IS res prahabla that any