The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-08-20

<hLONu "ioii ol0 oeUiuy SOiA SOE
a lot of "war correspondents. and
few newspaper mountebanks are max
ing their way to Alaska, Joaquin Mill
er, the longhaired poet of the Sierras,
is up there and has begun firing down
his slush to the newspapers. His
Alaska news, like his poetry, is pretty
sickly stuff.
THE difference between efficiency
and incompetency, between doing and
threatening, was never better shown
than in the passage of the Dingley
bill. 1t took but 131 days to make
this a law. 1t took 1913 days to make
the Mckinley bill. This is the record
for the republicans. 1t took 300 days
to make the Mills and 252 to make the
Wilson bill. This is the record of tbs
Observation-Disclosures.
ALL late news from Alaska is to the
effect that several thousand people are
camped at Dyea and Skaguay waiting
their turn to get over the passes, with
a good prospect that a large share Of
them will be unable to make it before
the winter season shuts them out and
forces them to camp for the winter.
Everybody is advised to stay away
from Alaska until spring as there is
nothing to be gained by getting so far
and having to put up with poor &C
commodations for the long winter.
Poor old Tacoma SCENE to have
been having rocky road to travel for
several years past in its municipal af-
fairs, and when the refOrmers took
charge we certainly expected some
thing better, Judging from their loud
professions of honesty. However, it
appears to be the same old thing, and
the mayor has been forced to remeve
the civil service commission for alleg-
ed crookedness. Charges have been
made against at least one of the COM
mission, Govnor Teats, for extorting
money from the employees, in order to
be preferred in the so-called examina-
tons for city service for to hold their
jobs. And the end is not yet, with
the populist administration of Taco
ma.
FROM some quarters comes a weak
demand for an extra session of the
legislature, but no one who has kept
track of the results of the last session
is at all in favor of the idea. Even
the leading populists are more or less
disguised with the work of the fusion
crowd as legislators, not, however
for the same reason that the rest OF
the people have. 1t will take several
years to unravel the work already
done, and the people should be deliv-
cred from any further visitations OF
this sort, at least until the next regu-
las session, when there may be more
conservative and level heads in the
legislature. AS there will be no sena-
tor to elect, there is little in an extra
session but the mileage and per di.
en-"
SINCE the Klondike craze started up
Bryan and his swing around the circle
have been entirely forgotten by the
people and he is rarely mentioned in
the dispatches. A great many things
are destined to transpire between now
and the next presidential election, and
Mr.. Bryan will never be able to keer
himself before the public until thai
time, especially if he shoots all his
ammunition this early in the game
In view of the many different things
turning up to give the hands and
minds of the people something to do
the chances are that Bryan will be a
lost cause long before 1900, and the
campaign must be fought out alons
other lines. An exchange says thai
Bryan's book account is increasing
$500 per week and yet he cries hare
times. He is making good thing
out of re-hash of the matter which
has been published by the papers all
over the country, which he has placed
In book form. Probably nine-tenths
OF the income derived from the sale O.
his book comes from the pockets O
those who can Ill afford it, and is con
sequently increasing their burdens.
THE rank and file of the republicans
of the state will be pleased to learn
that the Post Intelligencer will short.
ly go into new management, the Piper
Brothers, who are we'll known journal.
lists, taking charge. 1t is reported
that Levi Ankeny is the leading factor
in the new deal. We hope that in the
future the Pr. will be devoted entire
ly to the best interests of the entire
republican party of the state, and be
as free as possible from cliques for the
control of the party. For some time
past the Pr. has lost considerable
prestige from its policies, and al
though having good general circula-
ton over the state, was practically
wlthoutintluence. The Ledger, under
Its new manappment Is ranidlv con,