Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-11-27
THE WASHINGTON ELECTION
What POpulism Means in that
Pacific Coast State.

The People Want More Money, hut
their POpuIIsm Does Not Mean Kan
sRs Observation-Disclosures Interesting
Points About the Political and Bust
ness situation.
The following letter, recently written by
F. J. Holman, president of the Vermont
Loan and Trust company, to c, B. Hop
kins of Hinsdale, the company's eastern
manager, contains information from an in
side view which is of general interest;
SPOKANE, Wash, Nov. 6, 1896.
Mr.. c. B. Hopkins, HinSddle, " II.
Dear Sir:-You have undoubtedly no
ticed in the papers the vote of Washington
in the recent election, and for fear you and
the other directors of our company will
form too hasty conclusions in regard to the
Populism expressed by that vote, write
this to correct whatever wrong impressions
you may have formed.
In the first place, it must be borne in
mind that Populsm in Kansas and Popu-
lism In Washington are two entirely differ
ent matters. In the former, it is repudia-
ton, with free silver attachment, while
here 1t is free silver with no attachment.
1t must be borne in mind that Washington
is naturally Republican state, and that
the only thing that carried it into the
Bryan column was the silver interest. You,
of course, are aware what an impetus min
ing has had here the past year, silver as
well as gold, and the people have seen how
much profit there was in mining silver,
even at the present prices, and how much
more there would be under free coinage.
| This brought over the owners of mines,
both large and small, and their influence
was all used with other people TO spread
the fallacious theory that the more money
the government stamped the more they
would have, and that because the govern
ment stamp was on it, the silver dollar
would be as good as the gold
The whole press in this country and
Idaho was subsized for silver, consequently
the ordinary people read no counter argu-
ments except such as appeared in the sill
yer papers that were refuted in the same
paper by plausible counter arguments.
| Under these conditions it is not to be won
dered that the people we're strongly for sill
ve., and it is not surprising that the ordi-
nary farmer is unable to reason deeply
enough on financial matters to see that the
arguments used by the silver people we're
unsound. He was told that the hard times
under which he had suffered were owing
to the lack of sufficient money. He looked
| in his pocket-book and found it was true
in his particular case. He was also told
that If more money was made he would
have more. This he took for granted as
being true, as the first assertion was, con-
sequently he voted for his pocket-b book, but
in all this there has been no talk or feeling
of reputation. That this is so is found by
| of hos
| from this office 10 eastern investors through
the Brattleboro Office in the past six weeks,
which amounts TO over $50, 900, more than
at the same date last year.
There is still another reason which &C
counts for the vote in this state, and that
is the extravagant expenditures and cor
| rupt practices of the Republican ring who
have controlled this state since it has been
admitted into the Union. Taxes have be-
come burdensome, and showed no signs of
diminishing, even under the pressure of
hard times. This brought many people to
feeling that it was absolutely necessary
that the state government should go into
| other hands. How well the present party
In power will conduct matters, remains TO
be seen. In any event, il the Republican
party comes in power here again, as have
| no doubt they will the next election, they
will have learned lesson and will not be
likely 10 run matters with high hand as
they have in the past.
The Republicans wefe also unfortunate
in their nomination for governor, the can
didate not having the high standing for
| character and ability that the times de-
manded Had a different man been put in
nomination the result might have been the
same, but the majority would have been
materially different. During the whole of
the campaign there has been no talk of ad-
verse legislation in regard to capital among
the people or in the press, and do not APP
prehend any such laws will be passed by
the legislature just chosen, for all feel that
the development of Washington is in its in
fancy and outside capital must be invited
TO come III, and not legislated out. The
farmers who have pulled through thus far
are in fair condition now, and will, as
rule, be able to meet their obligations with
ease; hence there will be no disposition ON
their part TO legislate against capital.
am more convinced than ever that the
views l have in the past expressed to you
in regard to the final outcome of this coun-
try are correct, and that Washington, with
its soil, its climate and its mines, cannot
help being one of the most profitable fields
for investment in the whole Northwest.
This city shows continued evidences of
prosperity and thrift. Business has moved
along steadily and solidly during all the
campaign, and there has been no evidence
of dull times such as was experienced in
the East.
find that have omitted to state, in its
| proper place, one important fact relative to
the complexion of the legislature that has
| just been elected. Instead of being Pop
ulistic legislature, there is a large majority
of free silver Republicans and Democrats,
| who will not countenance any Populistic
legislation in regard TO capital. In the
! fusion between the Populists and the free
silver Republicans and Democrats, they all
went under the name OF the Peoples par
| ty, and in the distribution of offices under
that ticket the trade was made whereby
the free silver people should have the leg
lslature and the Populists the county Of
| fees.
1t must be confessed that the Populist
rule in this county for the past two years
has been a very economical one, and it is
generally conceded that the county has
been saved between $4,000 aud $50, 200
in that time. In Whitman county the
saving has been even greater, and it is es-
timated that the amount there will reach
100000 in the two years. In Lincoln
county the results have been a large saw
ing, and in Latah county, Idaho, the saw
ing has been between $4,000 and $50, 900.
have only cited you these instances to
show that Populism here is not the dan
gerous element it has shown itself 10 be in
the midOla West XOnrc