Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-04-10
W'ashlngtun Standard
OLYMPIA. Wt>sI.
FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 10, 1896.
In Earnest.

LII EdI nest.
That the approaching political con-
test will I've one Cf unusual activity is
shown hy the prcmonitory symptoms
in the first conventions that have been
held Nor are these Indications con-
t.ucd to any one party. There seems
t. be some vital issue underlying all
political professions which for the
time has united the honest masses in
a desire to cut loose from formal party
promises and insist upon something
more certain and tangible.
\ few days ago the breeze from the
South brought to onr ears the clash Of
resounding arms in Texas. Our Re-
publican brethren were INDUCING in a
little family set-to. Last Saturday the
strife was transferred to Portland, Ore
gon, and we find the party OF great
pretenses does not scruple to use the
Observation-Disclosures tactics Of
the ward politician inaugurated in the
palmy days OF ring rule in the Empire
State. This occurred in the city and
county convention. In the primaries
the Simon faction elected - out Of
the IA delegates, but the minority,
led by Attorney Hume, insisted upon
running the convention. Simon,
chairman of the county committee,
eudeavored to preside, but the opposi-
ton carried Judge Carey to the plat
form, and the uproar began. Simon
was nominated for chairman and amid
the yell which followed was declared
elected. Then there was a rush and
Simon was knocked off the stage. A
free fight followed. Blows were ex-
changed wherever elbow-room enabled
brother to get his fist into his neigh
boris eye. For over ten minutes the
battle ragged, aud the perspiring crowd
surged to and fro on the stage like the
Greeks and the Romans in storming
the pass of Thermopyle. Finally,
after three hours of strife and conten-
ton the Hume delegates left the hall
to hold an independent convention at
a subsequent date.
The Democratic Convention Mon
day was quite stormy, but with the
disgraceful scenes of Saturdays con-
vention fresh in the memory, exercised
enough restraint to keep from per-
sonal assaults, unless vigorous use Of
plain English could be so construed.
Frequent reference was made to the
"Donnybrook Fair" methods of the
Republicans, and this probably i'm.
posed self-restraint that prevented
open hostilities. This convention
wisely adjourned to the 10th inst, to
allow the hot blood manifested to cool.
The primary cause of trouble in
both parties is distrust of leading
politicians and an utter want OF con-
fidence in party promises. This feel
ing it owing to existing conditions of
business aud finance. The people
realize that something must be done,
they hardly know what, and array
themselves with factions they believe
will institute measures of reform. All
admit this necessity, but those who
hold Office, or are in line for prefer
ment, see the matter very differently
from those who are not personally
after the spoils. The voter very ma
turally endeavors to secure relief by
his own party organization, and he
pulls off his coat to advance the prin-
ciples and men that seem to promise
the best results.
Still there is, even with the stalwart
blows implanted, an evident distrust
of party leaders. Republican State
rule has been marked by profligacy
and total disregard of all pledges for
betterment, and the feeling among
those who placed the National Ad-
ministration in power is that it has
been grossly ineffective in results that
would lift the burden OF debt and tax.
alton from the peoples shoulders.
This feeling of discomfort is indi-
Gated by an occasional ripple on the
surface of popular opinion throughout
the land, ready TO break into whirl-
pool wherever the hidden rocks of ad-
versity divide the current into lashing
torrents. It is we'll for place.hunters
to pause. The people are fearfully in
earnest, and duplicity and deception
will not have the easy pathway it has
traversed in the past. The hope of
the country lies in the fact that the
people are thinking and manifest a
disposition to make their influence