The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-08-28
Every Sawmill Affected by Agitation.

J. E. Aver, formerly Of Seattle now
of Olympia, was in the city yesterday,
fresh from the county convention at
Olympia last Saturday. He reports
that the Thurston county Republicans
have selected one of the strongest
| tickets ever chosen in that county,
headed by T. M. Reed, formely OF the
Seattle land office, for superior judge.
Regarding the campaign, Mr.. Aver said.
GA few weeks ago Thurston county
was more completely dominated by
the free silver idea than any other
county west of the Cascades. This
was largely owing to the influence OF
! Maj. G. H. Aver. of Olympia, the
organizer of the silver party in the
state. A large number of Republicans
were at that time inclined to follow
the Pied Piper of the Platte. During
the past two weeks, however, the
Republicans have made free use OF
the great McCleary speech delivered
in congress last March; and with most
remarkable results. Conversions
from the free silver ranks have been
reported at Olympia every day, and
there were some prominent men
among them, too. Our leaders in
Thurston county are now confident
that whatever secessions may take
place from Republicans ranks by Nov
ember will be much more than offset
by gains from each of the other parties"
Mr.. Aver will attend the state con-
vention with the Thurston delegation,
which is pledged to support the claims
of Mr.. Scobey for governor
Z" I had conversation with some
Thurstion county mill men the other
day." said Mr.. Aver, speaking Of
present industrial conditions Of Wash
ington as affected by politics, (which
showed me afresh the great danger
attendant upon the possible triumph
of free silver. For a year past, the
belief has been growing that the COM
ing November election would end the
grave period of anxiety and suspense
which has depressed business through
out the country under the reactionary
administration of the past four years.
Under this belief all lines of business
have strengthened, Now we meet
another check. All previous demand
of the demagogues and visionary
financiers have been for wildcat or
fiat money, the folly of which was so
patent that few men of intelligence
were attracted. But far more dang
erous element has now to be met. It
is the ghost of fiat money clothed in
a real dress of some value, and the
number of dupes has suddenly become
so great that the accidental union Of
all the negative and restless elements
of the country upon the brilliant but
shallow demagogue of Nebraska is
causing perceptible panic among
business interests throughout the
West anb Middle West.
This sudden uneasiness is not a mere
cloud. 1t is today reaching and
affecting every sawmill and shin gle
mill in Washington. The mill men
say that if Bryan's election should be-
come probable within the next thirty
days or so, they will be compelled to
close down or reduce time or wages.
This will vitality affect thousands Of
men throug bout the state.
"Now the business interests of the
country are not run by FOOLS / don't
belle We that they will allow themselves
to be driven by fools. All the interest
Of country are linked together, and in
order to prosper they must have such
conditions of finance and government
as their united experience was shown
necessary; a gold standard of values