Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-08-20
Another Of Rogers Letters.
" STATESMAN-LIKE" UTTERANCES OF THE
PI-YALLUP CHIEF.

Hasn't our political figure-hcai
made beautiful exhibit of himself in
his uncomfortable desire to spread
himself over paper? Has there ever
been a man more deeply afflicted with
that disease known rs fac0etkes
scriJendi than J. r. Rogers, whom the
whirlcgig Of fate landed upon an Gle
walton that renders his many defects
so plainly visible?
His language is that OF the ward
striker; his ideas bear impress of the
vain, selfish demagogue, and his acts
are those OF the arrant hypocrite and
falsifier that he is. The Democrats
will readily see from this letter, writ
ten before he had had an opportunity
to use them and their organization to
fOist himself into power, what low
vulgar prejudice he entertained against
them rs individuals and as partisans.
What a rip-snorter" he is anyway!
PUyALLUP, April II, '96.
FRIEND TrGwELL.
Yours OF the. 18th just at hand. |
think | understand the Sun. 1t has
been leased by McDonald-nominallv
who is Seattle man and a single taXer.
The plan undoubtedly is to pull us with
the West Coast POpulist people, bring
King and Pierce, as well as Spokane,
into sort of pool. If that can be done
they fancy they have got the thing by
the tail. And it is fusion they are after.
But you are right; it won't work. /
suppose they will try to work what has
been called the fundamental law and
bar out the officeholders from the con-
vention. But the Representatives are
practically, ex-ofiice holders and, sec
ondly, each convention is law unto
itself. Don't know whether l have set
before you my candid belief on the
fusion biz or not. Anyhow, here it is /:
Suppose fusion ticket be put up, then
just before election the Republican ma
chine makes deal with the Democratic
machine and few thousand votes in
Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane and some
other places would be bought. These
votes nominally Democratic, would be
sold by the Democratic machine-and
delivered, don't you forget it, to the
Repubs.
Rcpubs would concede the election of
a few Democratic candidates and help
elect them, the major portion of the Re.
publican ticket would be elected and
the result would be Demo-Republican
fusion which our people would make
possible without expense to the Repnbli-
licans. They-the Republicans-would
yell fusion at us without end-and do
the thing themselves, using us as the
monkey did the cat in the chestnut
story. Our vote would actually de-
crease and not pop be elected. When
our fellows ran things straight we had
at one time, seven councilmen cut of
sixteen in Tacoma. Under fusion at
the last election just one, and he was
elected on personal grounds.
On the general ticket our fellows were
6OO to 500 votes in the rear.
The only thing from over the mount
aims is that some of our people are talk
ing of Van Patten for Governor with
myself as second choice. These fellows
over there are splitting up well. Oh, /
have been told that Young has gone into
pool with Belt; Young to go to Con-
gress. Daniels is good fellow and a
gentleman and he and myself have
always been friendly, but now evidently
wants something himself. So he will
make all his work count in that way.
had talk with Van Waters, who is
editor OF the Sun, the other day. He is
IN favor Of getting together" he says
that means fusion. As politician he
is. nowhere, is good, smooth writer,
when he has chance Bakers name
is put on to cover up Vans reputation
which suffered in late Seattle episode.
Wish to God had the Sun. Could
make rip-snorter of it. Do you want
Cline's letter? wish to use the figures
in day or two. Will then send it back.
In haste. J.R. RoGERs.