The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-11
HOUSE.

OLYMPIA, March in-Speciaf.-Ths
house had a very lively debate this morn
ing over the Forbes bin amending the
election law. It will be remembered that
during the last campaign the fnsionists
promised themselves that n placed in con-
troll OF the legislature they would elm
mate that section OF the election law
which acts as a bar against fusion. Todsy
Forbes moved that his bin. No. sa6. be
taken from the table and passed. The bill
was taken Up and n number OF amend
ments offered.
Geraghfy sought TO amend the hill hy
striking out the proyiso that the name or
a candidate for Office should appear hut
once on the Official ballot. and that no po-
litical party should place ticket on the
ballot unless a fun ticket had been nom-
mated. The amendment aroused a bitter
opposition on the part of the bunch grass
ers and was voted down. yeas ~, nays ~
Williams offered an amendment eiimin-
atIng that part Of the bill providing that
the name of the ticket shall be placed at
the head OF the ballot 50 that voter. by
placing mark opposite the political party
named, might thus vete for the whole
ticket without going down the ballot.
Couch moved To lay the amendment on
the table. hoping that this would carry
the bill with II. Lost.
A deal OF eloquencc was wasted In tho
debate on Williams amendment. but IL
was lost BY an overwhelming vote.
Forbes moved 20 amend by inserting a
proviso to the effect that when the ma
toriIy of any party determined TO Join an
other party and adopt its name. minor
ity of the first party would not be allowed
20 use the party name. as in the case of
the gold Democracy IN the last election.
This amendment brought forth a whole
sale volley of malediction and opposition
from the bunch grass brigade. Witt de-
nounced ~ IA an attempt 20 throttle the
people and rob them OF their liberties.
lie said:
THE member OF this house should rise
like men and vote this amendment down.
II is an effort 20 force gag rule upon ths
people OF The state OF Washington. IL
this amendment Is incorporated in. the
Dill and 81 passes. you will have bound the
people or this state hand and foot Why.
we came here as reformerS 20 give the
people relief, and now propose to deprive
them OF one OF their dearest rights"
Wits speech. delivered in impnssioned
tones. aroused the Eastern Washington
members 10 action and they severaiiy op-
posed the amendment. RAIDER of kitsap
also took the aoor against the proposition.
The opposition 90 the amendment wss
centered In the middle-of- the-road eie-
ment who saw in Il a possible chance for
n combination between the Silver Repub-
licans and Democrats IN a convention OF
the whole Peoples party, In which the
Populists Of the old stripe would cut bnt a
sorry figure. ~ the Silver Republicans
and Democrats composed fua jority Of
the Peoples party. "as constituted dur
ing the late campaign" OF course the gem
ulue Popuiists would have no recourse IL
they bolted the convention ard could not
trot under tire banner OF the Peoples
party.
During his speech Witt took occasion 10
say shat as for him. there were now
three PARTIES. the Democrats. Silver Ee-
pubiicans and Popuiists. II had been
stated that there was hut ore Peoples
party and that the three elements named
composed that party. He took no stock
IN this theory.
Frank Baker spoke for the amendment
Replying te Witt. he asked how the Sill
ver Republicans and Democrats could get
into The fppuiist tent IL tho PopaIllsts dgi
not want fberu7
Wit BeeaEae you want them 20 coma
tn darned badt Great iaughfsr)
Finally the amendment was adopted
When the biil sas placed or nuai passage,
Wit made a strong speech against IL. ON
rol call fns bill failed 70 pas, yeas q.
nays A.. as follows