Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-02-26
An Anomaly in Politics.

AN anomaly IN PolltlcS.
The injustice Of making a radical
change II a law which affects 50 scri-
"u~lv u hl'>in,.>> interest that lla- al
~..t- h.'.u rr..""n.z,d ~ Legitimate.
".d rs"'"rt,d ~ lrEil Enactment i,
alIl~rut on run~id, ration "i tn" pro-
'l-rI.~ "l tive Cline Di>lnn>ary bill.
II proposes the destruction OF bust
u,~> which la- hitherto lctn regulated
Icy lirom>" in Il manner which added
largely /" the public revenue, thus
tightening the load OF taxation and
aiinrdlng some compensation for those
evils which it is not claimed the pro-
posed measure, the Di>,cnSary bill,
Will in any degree eradicate.
The measure, briefly summarized,
contcmplatcS placing a mighty politi-
cal power in the hands of the State
administration (and this may proba-
bly, he the handspring OF action with
shallow thinkerS) and to provide good
liquors Mt cost to the general public.
The only benefit We have heard urged
by its supporters is that it will do away
with the custom of treating; but it
Is quite sure to substitute for it club
drinking, in which the convivial, or
companionable instinct, will be still
more prominently developed.
The Populists profess to believe in
the referendum" principle, in which
the will of the people is to constitute
the essence of the law. If they be sin
ccre in this, where can they find JUST.
tication for support of n measure that
was sprung upon the Legislature with
out consultation, involving a principle
that was not set forth in either of the
Ellensburg platforms, or discussed
from the rostum, or by the press, dur
ing the entire campaign? Is it not in
direct conflict with the spirit of refer
endum when it is plain that nine
tcnths of the people of the State are
opposed to the measure? Is it not po-
litical suicide to press it now, notwith-
standing the political leverage it pro-
poses to place in the hands Of the ex-
ecutive a year or two hence, after its
opponents have had opportunity to
effect an organization backed by I'M
limited capital and aided by a willing
champion, the Republican party, who
know so we'll how to effectively employ
the "sinews of war;?
Will not the people, when they find
that cheap whisky has augmented the
curse of intemperance, instead of Grad
icating its dire effects; when they find
that their taxes have been increased
by this vicious piece of legislation;
when they discover that the inferior
classes of municipal government have
to be abandoned for the want of reve-
nue. which the license law provides;
will they not rise in their majesty and
hurl from power a party which has
usurped the imperial mandate Of per-
petuating this wrong?
One of the most surprising results
of the passage by the House of the
Cline bill has been the rally of Prohi-
bitionists to its support. A party
which polled only sos votes out of an
aggregate of $4,000, have sent up petit
tions, embracing the membership Of
Good Templar and kindred organiza-
tions, urging the passage of law rec.
ognizing in the fullest degree not only
the right to drink intoxicating liquors
but to have it poured down the throat
by the strong arm OF the State govern
ment! Verify" Politics makes strange
bed fellows" and it will be seen that
the exemplars of virtue and morality
are nothing 10th to crawl beneath the
sheets and consort with middle of-the-
road demagogues, if by so doing they
can accomplish the browning object of
their lives by giving the saloons a
black eye.
o Temporal! o mores!
In the Senate, to-day, common
sense prevailed and the Cline bill was
referred to the committee on Public
Morals with instructions to report a
bill submitting the matter to the
people. That is right.
Kor POpuli, vor Del.