Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-25
Rogers Official Guests.
Orcgonian.

There is a delightful outlook for the
State OF Washington, whose hospitality
has been extended by Governor Rogers
to Debs and his socialist colony, in the
pronunciamento issued by that in
teresting person yesterday morning.
This leaves no doubt OF his purpose.
He is planning a revolutionary in
vasion under forms OF law, and intends
to overturn the social and political
constitution of some chosen State by
packing it with Il majority OF his fol-
| lowers.
His plan is to establish in the State
of Washington, from which, he says,
can official invitation" has been re-
ceived, and where he expects to find
large local support, a socialist colony,
consisting mainly of unmarried men,
in which nearly every individual will
be a voter. This he will make the
center of an immense emigration of
men Of like mind. Soon he expects,
with accessions and local adherents,
to have voters enough to control the
politics OF the State" That is, the
socialists will elect the State officers,
Supreme Court judges and majority
of the legislature, call convention,
amend the constitution and run the
State to suit themselves.
T..
Debs does not mince words. The peo-
pie of the State of Washington are
left in no uncertainty az to the form
of government under which they will
live after the plans of Rogers and Debs
shall have been carried out. They will
"call convention to revise the con-
stitution and get all the rot out OF il"
That means that they will reconstruct
the State government on socialist
basis. Then we will have control OF the
taxing power and drive tax syndicates
and land sharks out of the State"
That means that it will be more than
ever impossible to borrow a dollar OF
money in Washington to develop it's
industries, improve farms or carry on
business. Then persons shall be
taxed according to their means, and
shall have according to their needs"
That means that the States power OF
taxation will be used to take money
from those who have needs" Then
"ths operatives will not work twelve
or fourteen hours a day. but four or
five" Probably this is less candid
than the rest, and does not discover
the full purpose of Debs. Why should
his Operatives" work at all, except
with their jaws, so long as the taxing
power exists to wiring money out of
all who have it, and divide it among
all who have none? Finally. eve will
have trusts, nothing but trusts, in our
State, but we will all be in the trust"
This means that Debs hopes to realize
for himself the schemes OF rapine and
plumber which his inflamed magma
ton ascribes TO the trusts. This pro-
gramme Debs proposes to carry out
peaceably or otherwise" eff they
send military to invade our rights,
then there will be an army of 300, 600
patriots on the State line to meet them
on that ISSUE"
This rhodomontade has not the
least interest except TO show what kind
of persons Governor Rogers has invited
to make their home in the State of
Washington. Of course, the plans of
this socialist dreamer never will be
carried out, either in Washington or
anywhere else. The matter of in
terest to the people of Washington is
that the invitation will bring upon
the State horde OF practical Migrants
with no means of support and no dis
position to work, whom they will
probably have to care for in aims
houses and jails.