Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-24
Effect Of Improved Conditions on Po-
itical Parties.
HARDLY A P0PULISF IN WASHINGTON
Impressions of Assistant Secretary
S. H. Perkins.
WHEAT AND GOLD FINDS S

Among those who have recently returned
from the west is Colonel S. H. Perkins,
assistant secretary of the national -epIbli-
can committee and private secretary. to
Mr.. Hanna. Mr.. Perkins has been for the
last four weeks on the Pacific coast. es-
pecially in his native state of Washington,
and comes back full of the prosperous
conditions in that country and wonderful
stories of the Klondike pilgrims Mr. Per-
Rims left Washington a day or two after
Congress adjourned, and went to Tacoma.
over the Northern Pacific route and he
says that as he went along he noticed the
Improvement in the country. and by the
time he reached Washington state the
boom was already on. Then came the
hlondlke discovery and the rise in wheat
ana now he says it is almost impossible to
ind a populist in Washington, and if an
eiectlon were to be held there this fall
1t would go overwhelmingly republican
Ana be added that even in Montana the
change was remarkable and the state
would be back in it's old republican line
again He remarked that this time last
year 1t was hard to find a republican in
these Tar northwestern states for then
every one was talking silver Now that
wheat was on the boom the farmers ewes
were opened and the free silver fallacy ex-
posed.
Mr.. Perkins said that in talking to one
of the largest ranchers in that part of the
country who last year was a raoid silver
man, he confessed that he had been Ia bor-
ing under false representations in regard
to wheat and silver for he then believed
that wheat and silver had to go together
out the present fact of their separating
wheat going up and silver going down
was enough to convince him of the fallacy
OF the silver cause. This man confessed
that ne would hereafter go back to Dis
OLD love, the republican party and that
ne was only one of many who would oo
likewise. Wv
Throughout Washington and Oregon Mr.
feTKlns says, the farmers are all doing
well. and the best part of it all il thar
prosperity is going to continue for there
are still $sO.000,00O worth of wheat to he
dlsposed OF in those states at present. for
tne farmers have held on to their crops
and will benefit by so doing Mr.. Perkins
says that the return of prosoerity is not
alone confined to the Pacific coas: states
but throughout the west
everything is booming, and it reminds
one OF the old times of 1SSO-lSS1 OF course
the Klondike excitement has a great daaI
10 90 with the activity on the coast but
TINS is but one of the elements which has
gore 10 make up the general return of pros
porous times. Mr.. Perkins saws that NOT
Withstanding the warnings and advice IN
the men VINO are going to Alaska the rush
continues as great, If not greater than ever
ana the whole coast is aflame with the gold
excitement Tacoma, especially, is roaming
a rich harvest from this exodus and her
factories are running night and day AS an
example, on the Saturday before he left for
the east one well-known firm of Klond;ke
outntterS took in $200,000 on that day alone
In lifting out prospectors. Tacoma is esne-
cially fitted for this purpose. because She
mas one OF the largest woolen mills in the
country, where the blankets mittens. cans
ana underwear are made while her cam
n1ng factories are putting up meats and
nsh and other provisions at the rate of
hundreds of thousands of cans a day. These
factories, together with the other industries
interested in the Klondike outfits are row
running night and day. with three shifts of
men, all working at high wages, and plenty
OF places for more. In fact, it is hard to
get labor on the coast at present, because
Is seems as If every one has the gold fever
and has gone or is going to the Klondike
speaking in this regard, Mr.. Perkins says
that all along the wharves can be seen
signs reading Men wanted" and there is
no need for any one being idle or out of
work
Tacoma is catching the boom both ways
The greatest shipping to Alaska is being
carried on in that port, while the returning
crowds are landing there. Besides this
nearly all the wheat of that great region
Is being exported from Tacoma, and all of
this naturally makes money plentiful and
business brisk The only thing l have to
say to future prospectors who contemplate
going to the Klondike," says Mr. Perkins
lis that they wait until next spring There
is no doubt that there is plenty of gold in
Alaska, but this is not the time to go after
it."
Everybody feels encouraged and the
situation is greatly improved said Cen
eral Spaulding, assistant secretary OF the
treasury, who has just returned from Michi-
gan, to a Star reporter There was no
need to ask anybody whether better times
had arrived. You could feel it in the air.
There has been a remarkable change in
the last two weeks, and it is noticeable
among all classes. The feling of confidence
comes from the new business conditions
which, it is believed, will give prosperity"