Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-10-08
Washingtpn Standard
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 5. 1897.
A Duty Of the Hour.

has. of late wears, devoted much OF his
time towards the development OF the
local Interests: ui Olympia, but like
many others who have expended their
best energies III that direction has re-
ceived very few thanks for it.
That feeling OF bitterness should
exist among the original incorporates
of the Light and Power company is
but natural, when We consider the
earthly nature OF human motive, for
they lost heavily, and some all they
had, in the deal. In forming their
judgment, however, they fail to con-
slider that Gen. Stevens represented
the Eastern capitalists who he had in
duced to place their money in the
venture at time when it was live or
die to the project; that as their repre-
sentative, when the dark days came, he
felt it to be his duty to stand by those
who had responded to his representa-
tions and advice. Capital is relent-
less in measures to take care OF itself,
and the means adopted often seem
harsh and unreasonable to those who
are pressed to the wall to meet their OBJ
legations. 1t seems to be human ma
ture to hold the instrument of any
unpleasant duty more responsible than
the influence which binds him to an
infexible accountability for his stew
ardship. This is the situation, briefly
stated, regarding the affairs of a cor
poration which has done more to keep
our city in the front ranks of progress
than any other influence it has ever
felt.
The old incorporators doubtless be-
lieve they have good grounds of COM
plant, and it would be wonder if
they did not, when we consider that
selfish nature of which it is impossible
to divest the human soul while it is
environed by its earthly attributes.
The two travellers who fought over the
inscription on the guide-post agreed
after they had looked at both sides of
the board, and so might have these
people, had they had an opportunity
for free interchange OF views, in calm
and conciliatory spirit. Such condi-
tions we're of course, almost impossible,
and a spirit of bitterness finally wild
ened the distance between the capital
lists on the one side of the continent
and the borrowers on the other side.
The only object of present referoace
to these matters is TO meet and ex-
plain the cause of opposition in GER
tain quarters to a project some of our
people are diligently seeking to accom-
plish-to place Tumwater falls in a
position to invite payroll of factory
operatives to make their home with US.
A few weeks ago fourteen of our
public-spirited citizens formulated a
plan by which, it is thought, this can
be accomplished. It was by subscribing
to about $4,000 of the stock of the
Light & Power Co. of Olympia, to en-
able it to utilize the upper falls and
possess about 400 horse power for dis
posal to industrial enterprises already
knocking at our door for admittance.
1t was not expected that those who
had run up against prolonged season
of hard times in their efforts to sus-
tain the light and power company
would take stock or extend a very cor
dial aid to any proposition emanating
from the capitalists who, despite their
best efforts, have lost much money
on this investment; but it was
thought that they would allow others
to make an effort for using it as an
aid for restoration of business, at a
time when general revival is immi-
nent, without captious criticism.
In this the new directors have been
disappointed, and already the leaven
of opposition has resulted in making
their efforts problematical, to say the
least. A committee of the new direc-
tors in waiting upon the citizens for
subscriptions to the stock, find a very
general disposition to wish the project
we'll. Hopes of success are as freely
accorded as politicians promises, but
it requires much solicitation and full
array of all the facts, conditions and ar
guments in favor of the project to in
duce subscription. Now this is not
as it should be. Every citizen has
had an opportunity to form judment
on the matter, and if sincere in ex-
preston of sympathy, should be will
ing to back it to some extent. Every
body interested in the county should
be engaged in the work the committee
is instead of holding back to be coaxed.
If it be true that Many hands make
light work." it is just as apparent that
many small subscriptions would endow
the project under consideration with a
reasonable hope of success. How diff
ferent would such a project be re-
ceived at Seattlel How gladly would
such an opportunity for adding to Sc
attle's greatness be accepted by her
wide-awake peoplel
Witness the contrast: One gentle
man in Olympia when asked to take a
single share of $25 in the project de-
clared that, though he was out of debt
flowing no man a dollar" as he
boastfully expressed it-and his taxes
paid, and was making fair living at
his profession, he would never, never