Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-04-16
A LOOK BACKWARD.
Tacoma News.

In these days of queer doings by
various Legislatures, it is well to re.
member that all the cranks, frauds
and impracticables are not of recent
production. The New England Maga-
zine has an article, by George II.
Haynes, which takes its readers back
to the Know Nothing Legislature of
Massachusetts, in 1855. which was a
body to be remembered for its unique
character and proceedings. For year
previous to its assembling zealots had
been busily establishing throughout
the State local lodges of the Supreme
Order of the Star Spangled Banner,
yet very few outside of the order had
paid much attention to it, and three
months before the election the press
gave no hint of the prevalence of the
"American" ideas. On the day after
the election it was found that the new
secret party had elected its candidate
for Governor by $4,000 majority over
all opponents, having cast 63 per cent.
of the total vote. The Senate was
made up entirely of the Know Nothings,
rs they were called. and in the House
the combined opposition constituted
barely one per cent. Among the men,
bers there were "a ministers, besides
many clerks, teachers and physicians.
with comparatively few farmers. The
lawyers numbered only IL. The chair
man of the Judiciary committee was
not a lawyer. The Know Nothings
had been swept into power not so
much because of sympathy with their
ideas of prescription of Roman
Catholics and foreigners rs from the
conviction which they had successfully
spread that the parties were worn out
and hopelessly corrupt. Very few of
the members of the Legislature had
previous experience; nearly all were
tyros. The Senate chose for its
President machinist the House
chose for its Speaker minister. The
first week passed in turmoils over
tritling matters of organization and
allowances of stationery, etc, to men,
bers. Then came the election of a
Senator. Henry Wilson was the sue
cessful candidate, though it was be-
lieved with reason that he had not the
principles of the party sincerely at
heart. When this task was out of the
way there was no lack of propositions,
of wordy debate, of factious struggles,
and there was no recognized leader
ship. A proposition to restrict the
suffrage to those who could read and
write was voted down. A constitu-
tional amendment restricting the
right to hold office to native citizens,
and excluding from the franchise all
who had not resided 81 years in the
country, prevailed. A law was en-
acted which, under the severest
penalties, prohibited the making or
sale of liquors, wine, beer or cider ex-
cept by authorized agents and under
careful registration. Another act re-
quired the daily reading of the bible
in the public schools. A committee
was appointed to investigate converts
and Catholic schools, but its visits be-
came mere junketing trips, causing
scandal of extravaganza and debauch'
cry at various hotels and other places,
and the press raised so loud conf
plaint that an investigation was had,
efforts to whitewash the committee
failed, and finally one of its members
was expelled, though many members
lodged the vote. The final report of
this noisome committee, which had
disgraced the Legislature at home and
abroad, amounting to nothing. Such
disclosures led to critical scrutiny Of
the doings of other committees and of
individual members, and soon there
brought to light a miserable record Of
petty stealings. Every one breathed a
sigh of relief when the Legislature
finally came to an end. 1t had sat
139 days, and its expenses were nearly
double those any previous session. Its
most prominent characteristic was
extravaganza in expenditure and in
word and deed. The "cause" was
much talked about, but little advanced.
The man who was expelled was at the
time. "Grand Worshipful Inspector"
in the State organization. No such
! absurd Legislature has ever since me