Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-25
Whittier Are We Driftingp

Official documents are good thing
IN liking the exact mental status of
those who, clothed with n little brief
authority" cndeavor to lead without
Il following. The appended official
letter of the executive Of this State to
d" Hon. Eugene V. DchS, c>tablishc,
beyond question the hearty and thor
ou"h endorsement 10y our cratic exec
utlvc OF the proposition Of Debs to
solve reaceably if We can, but forci-
bly, II We must, the problem Of econ
qucrlns capitalism" under the pre-
mise that Labor being the sole
creator OF wealth, ii follows that labor
should enjoy the results OF its efforts"
In other words, the proposition is
made, pure and simple, that ii wealth
does not consent to an equitable dis
trlbution, that revolution will he the
mean, rcsurtcd to for Il restoration OF
the financial equilibrium. To show
how cordially his accidency rushes in
to embrace the Debs Utopian scheme.
we publish his official letter
STATE OF WASHINGTON,
Executive DEPARTMENT,
OLYMPIA, June :. 1897.
Hon. Eugene V. Debs, Terre Haute,
1nd.-My. Dear Sir: | have been in
formed that the American Railway
Union is about to make selection of a
place for an American Railway Union
colony. In this Connection wish to re-
mind you that the State of Washington
is State of great possibilities and well
adapted in every way to furnish home
upon the soil for all who wish to devote
themselves to the cultivation of land.
Our State Government is in the hands
OF reformers who are in sympathy with
you and the cause you represent. |
wish particularly to call your attention
to the fact that all the way from Pasco
to near the mouth of the Palouse river
is strip OF very rich land that can be
made into thousands of the best homes
by irrigation. Water can be taken from
the PalOuse river and spread over
this land. The situation is so favorable
that | am informed that it would cost
but few thousand dollars to do this.
Then l am told that all along the ban s
OF the Palouse river to the mountains IN
Idaho is strip of country specially
adapted for such colony.
Indeed l am told that the entire strip
of country from Pasco to the Colville
valley could be turned into colony site
of the richest and most varied character
in resources OF climate and soil. The
ground is already cleared for the
plow, while an abundance of timber
is near at hand. The land is level. A
cooperative railroad could be con-
structed, through this colony all the
way to the Colville railway. A line of
boats, with transfer at The Dalles, gives
the entire colony connection with tide
water. There is an immense mining
region near by, and taken all together |
feel confident that your committee would
here find resources not elsewhere ex-
celled. Hoping, my dear Mr.. Debs,
that you will give this matter close at
tention, l remain yours truly,
J. X. Rogers, Governor.
Now to show with equal precision,
the object of the leader OF "Social De-
mocracy," of whom Gov. Rogers en-
lists as willing lieutenant, we quote
from Chicago dispatch of Monday.
In an address made to the odd-and.
ends host he has enlisted under the
banner of socialism, he says:
Il hope and believe we can solve
this question peaceably, but if not,
1 am among those who believe in get
ting ready to solve it otherwise."
Is Gov. Rogers prepared to enlist
the fair State of Washington as an
ally of this hot-bed of treason and an
archy? If so-and his proclamation
seems to be authoritative-he will find
that he counts without his host; that
there are many thousands of sturdy
yeomanry of the State who will refuse
to be led into an internecine war by
the foreign element which constitutes
the bone and sinew of the iconoclastic
element in our national politics.