The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-04
SEATTLE, THURSDAY, FEE. e.


Il must haze bssn somewhat q & shock
20 people ~ao honestly bsitsvs 81 -. re-
form prsesumsa - ths present legislature
% discover that rather FnDFs than ma
.sfssy % to fssfon userntse-s az ths lover
hoass lave placed themselves on record 50
opposing cry further Investigation into
fhe charges ., bribery and corruption ir
connection with the senatorial election.
This disposition % stop ne =nols IN
teetlzatfon vac not oeosuss u the faii-
gre ~ the COMMITTEES TO elicit Information.
bat bsenaze too much Information w8s
camiar % Bgisi. ana the committee had
exhibited determination 20 pEoos tie
waole matter 10 the bottom. Al "insss-
iigasson" or fhe llus Of that held ey the
seaafe committee might have been salts
sactary 70 fhls element 81 the PopDllstic
ranks. bat aa Investigation whsch really
Investigates Is looked upon with unmixsd
dlsmay.
r. cannot be claimed thai the results %
the invextigsilon 30 far have been fruit
less. On the contrary. there II conclusive
proof that brfhss have been either offered
or solicited. As fares the charges against
Representatives Warner are concerned. the
question bAs resolved Itself into one Of
veraefty solely. Senator Watson G. Squire
snd Or Calhoun have each testified ia
positive terms that Warner offered % sell
his vote and that Of a number OF his
associates. who had dubbed ia" with
HIN, Tor a axsd sum In cash, and q con-
ifnRsnt sum 20 be paid in the event OF
seaasor saulre's reelection. Warmers
version OF the transaction only differs IN
dstaM lie alleges that the propositions
came from Senator Squire himself. and
were re1eoted BY hin. This raises the
issue % vsracity between senator Squire
and Or. Calhoun on the one side and
Representative Warner on the other. II
s. OF course. impossible 10 predict which
testimony the legislative committee may
elect to believe. bat there Is. frankly
speaking little doubt as TO what concia-
sian has been reached by nineiy-nine men
out Of hundred who are personally ac-
ansinted with the three men.
Tho Posf-Inteiligeneer has no desire 70
PREJUDICE the matter. nor 20 anticipate the
action OF the committee. II has likewise
20 particular interest 81 the determine
tion Of the matter. beyond that which is
Gel, ~ al good citizens Of the state. II
only sllndas TO thls portion Of the testi-
naony for the purpose OF showing that the
iabors Of the committee. SO far. have not
been entirely fable. thai there Is con-
elusive proof that there was some firs
behind the volumss Of smoke which have
emanated from Olympia. and that the dis
charge Of the committee al this time.
after this showing. would be accepted 10y
the people Of the state as indicating that
the fusion majority are afraid Of the de-
vetopments which may be made before
tho committees labors are ended.
For The Heke OF the good name OF the
state Il Is 70 be regretted that sach q
eoadislan Of AfIairs n the Investigation
has disclosed existed at Olympia during
the senatorial contest. when according 20
one side OF The testimony candidate
FOR the United states senate offered a
ershs TO secure votes. and was neither
rcbaked nor exposed. OF. acco. ling 20 the
other version. that . legislator solicited
"a bribe Tor hts vote. It would be s,m
more rexfettab.e. however. n after the
exposure q attempted or offered corruS-
uon had preceded thus Ear, the lesisla-
ture deliberately Shoked Of further Ia
qu,Fy tate the corrupt Transaction.
IRE whols matter should be probed 70
the bottom Il the testimony can by sny
possibility be obtained. X Is not a par.
tlsan matter ~ al, Democrats. Popu-
lists aad ErCs silver Republicans are alike
interested with the Republicans In know
Ing wsslher the men who have beca
elected a. representatives ~ tAe Fooplo -
tss legislature a. Olympia have made 60
have ancrsa 70 make merchandise % taeis
Yates