Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-08-20
The Uncertainty Of Fate.


There is an adage which aflirms that
Between two stools we come to the
ground" which refers doubtless to
that old-time prank of spreading a
shawl over two chains and inducing
the victim to sit down between them.
1t seems that this was the game
worked upon that political fakir, Gov.
McGraw, who has been the recipient
of so much sympathy from those who
have not been admitted behind the
scenes by his discreet followers. 1t
was announced that he went north
ward as a determined self-sacrificing
miner, to retrieve his lost fortunes and
again place himself in position to be
of service to his friends. What a de-
gree of self-abnegation can always be
discovered i'll the vest-pocket states
men, when there is promise of further
aid from his services!
1t seems now that the Addicks syn
dictate did not need his services in
making their investments at Klon-
dixie. They had probably been misled
in their estimate of his ability and
judgment by his elevation to the Office
of chief executive OF our State.
| And that Misfortunes never come
singly" is plainly exemplified in his
case, for it now transpires that Sec
ond string to his bow has likewise
snapped, and he may, after all, have
to ply pick and shovel to redeem his
promises.
1t may not be generally known that
the last sundry civil service appropria-
ton bill directed the President to ap-
point four Commissioners for Alaska,
but it was, of course, known to Senator
Wilson, the acknowledged dispenser of
pudding" in the Far West. How to
make this dish of delicious plums go
as far as possible was his next consid
Grafton. He owed debt political
OF course) to q man named Jones'
William ]. Jones, an obstreperous in
dividual who has habit of getting
into the band wagon at inopportune
times-as we'll as to McGraw, for some
OF the dirty work done when Wilson
was elected Senator; so to kill two
birds with one stone, it was arranged
that Jones should be appointed Com
missioner to Circle City, where he was
to proceed at once, draw months
salary, resign, and let Gov. McGraw be
named for the position. Free trans
portation to Alaska, the prestige of
the position and months salary,
were to be accepted as a receipt in full
for all demands by Jones, while Gov.
McGraw was to accept the partially
picked bone as full compensation for
past endeavor.
1t seems, however, that the best laid
schemes "aft gang aglee," and that
some official in the Interior Depart
ment had little AK TO grind, and
when it was discovered that Jonsey
had evidently made up his mind to go
back on the agreement, by filing his
oath OF office and bond, the depart
ment speedily took advantage of the
fact that he had domiciled himself at
a point different from that to which
he had been assigned, and appointed
not McGraw, o horrors!-but a man
by the name of Shepard, OF Nebraska,
a friend of the man with the Ak.
Wilson is, of course, astonished at
the COT sc matters have taken, but
had he not been out in the field SOW
ing the seeds for another crop of ap-
pointments, doubtless he would have
been able to CLEAN McGraw's sheaf and
have restored to their normal beat
many throbbing hearts that have pull
stated for him alone and may be ami
mated by his magnetic touch hereafter.
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