Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-07-09
Washington Standard
OIN NPIi. WASH.
fEIDAl WENlNG, JULY 9. 1897.
Kissing Goes by Favor.

mcnt ii Mr.. F. H. II,n>ti- t" the best
"tic" IN the STATE 10y the Mckinley
administration. This WAS t. have
been expected from the time->crving
organs which sound the party KEY
note whenever the pedal is pressed
The next thing was to discover the
cla>hing notes OF di>cord which re-
spond quite As readily when the wrong
key is struck in sounding a diapa>on
t. party zeal and thrift. The APP
pnintmcnt being purely n personal
matter, We very naturally expected
some kicking, but up to this time, We
have discovered very little comment,
pro or con, which, from the ominous
silence which prevails before an earth
quake, augurs no good for Senator
Wilson, the creator OF the new Col
lcctor, or for party harmony.
This pent-up feeling may find en-
preston soon, or ii may be- successfully
restrained until Wilson again "shies
his castor into the ring" The storm
will then break, ii it does not spend its
force before from inability to hold the
heavy drops Of rage in suspension. He
will then be called to account for his
personal appointments.
1t is an open secret that he is now
bending his energies to obtain place
for ex-Gov. John II. McGraw. If he
succeeds in this, the war-dance will
begin without further postponement--
and it will be demonstration that has
not been surpassed since the party was
organized.
The Wilson organ in this city, the
home Of Heustis, has this little notice
regarding the big man and the big
office:
"F. d. Heustis, who has Just been
appointed Collector of Customs for the
Puget Sound district, is living quietly
III llio city dIlu Says lie uOeSnC want
any newspaper notoriety."
Just SO, but why? When an Office
seeker is appointed to the best and
most responsible Federal office in the
State, through the influence of its
senior Senator, we think the people of
the commonwealth have right to
know something of the appoirtee.
Col. Heustis, having been resident of
the State for very brief period, and
not having been prominent in his
party or shown conspicuous ability,
practical or otherwise, the public is
curious to know just what sort of a
Jacksonian test may be applied to
their new "master."
As one or two of the Wilson organs
have alluded in very general terms to
the wonderful army record of Col.
Heustis, presumably made during the
late war, that topic is of course a
legitimate matter of comment. In
looking up the record, however, it is
exceedingly difficult to find where it
has either a beginning or an ending.
In fact it is conspicuous for its absence
in the roll of honor. Grand Army men
do not know him as q member of their
organizations; the Legion of Honor
does not blazon his name on its por-
tails. AS a guild nunc, what are we to
do under these circumstances? How
are we to satisfy the clamor of the
public for authentic information in
regard to one of its public servants?
Col. Heustis is now public property
and must come out into the open.
When persons without any apparent
reason, fitness or training, are unex-
pectedly elevated to high positions OF
profit and trust, it is the universal
custom to give the public some insight
into their lives and characters; some
reasons for conspicuous preferment.
The Wilson organs have failed to do
this, assuming, no doubt, that military
prestige covers up multitude of dis
qualifications. Therefore no claim is
made by the papers of general fitness,
of experience in the customs service or
any other vocation that would teach
the essential principles of commercial
comfy, his refinement, culture or
ability. If these qualifications are
wanting, then surely some stress should
be laid on that war record, for we are
all exceedingly anxious that the " can
didate" should pass the preliminary
examination to entitle him to endorse.
ment. The Wilsonian newspapers
should crafty the people enough to al
least let them know what regiment he
commanded, and tell them something
of the sieges and battles wherein he
became famous, and as we'll name the
branch of service wherein he won his
spurs, whether infantry, cavalry, ar
tillery, the engineer corps or bridge
building in the rear" Let us know
the character of this conspicuous ser
vice. Do not beg the question by in
forming us that "the Colonel does moi
want any newspaper notoriety." Il
is not newspaper notoriety that is t.
be advanced, it is the public tina
wants to be informed. Must we tax,
him up tenderly, handle with care
fashioned so slenderly because he's S,
fair? Let us know why he has beer
rewarded while so many blushin,
plumlets have been left to "pine OF
the stem."
A YOUNG boy was carried into tn,
dir hy afahipr ~, 70 n ,o,oo