Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-06-18
An Impending Crisis.
When two gray cats climb on the fence.
With tails erect and eyes askance,
There's q nrn.necl fair the fur will hy

sent the following request to the exec
utive OF this State
Will You please wire Sunday World
how Dcbs' Bellamy plan of colonization
in your state is regarded? What OPP
portunities does your state offer? DO
YOU approve the plan?'
To which, our local court organ
says, his accidcncy sent the following
screcd:
Replying to your telegram Of 10Th |
DO not know what Debs' Bellamy plan
is, in full, therefore cannot say how it
may be regarded. But, in general, will
say that am in favor Of any plan, con-
sistent with our laws, which promises to
amellorate the conditions surrounding
the poorer classes, now enormously in
creasing in numbers. Something must
be done for these people and the COM
Portable class in opposing any and every
plan OF relief proposed are simply sitting
on the safetv-valvc. l advise Wall
street to read Ezekil Is, 1850, and learn
why Sodom was given its baptism of fire
and birthstone. j. X. Rogers"
The text cited is as follows:
40. Behold this was the iniquity of
thy sister Sodom: Pride, fullness of
bread and abundance OF idleness was in
her and in her daughters, neither did she
strengthen the hand OF the poor and
needy.
80. And they were naughty and COM
mitted abomination before Me. There
fore | took them away as | saw good.
1t will be observed that the Cover
nor totally ignores the first query of
the great newspaper, how Debs' prop
osition for colonization of the State is
regarded by the people. He gives in
stead his own views on colonization,
protesting to know very little of what
Debs' plan really is. If he is As ignor-
ant of current history as he processes
to be, he certainly has not read the
precise accounts published by the
leading newspapers of the East of
Debs' communistic teachings and the
efforts to be made through colonial
ton to promote them by the renowned
agitator. 1t looks more as if his acct
dency does not want to commit him.
self, until he is sure who will handle
the leading fiddle-bow in the orchestra
which will begin playing soon as Debs
gets his plans matured and the place
selected for the melodrama to begin.
Sancho Panza, it will be remembered,
was made Governor of an island for
playing leading part, though it con-
sisted of receiving three thousand
lashes on fleshy part of the body, and
it may be that some such fortuitous
contingency will arise whereby, under
the New Utopia created by Debs, his
accidency may be assigned to the SUI
preme control of WILDLY or Vashon
for a similar act of penance. The
Governor evidently INDUCES the belief
that it is we'll not to lose such an OPP
portunity for placing rod to attract
the political lightning.
There is no longer any doubt of the
position of Gov. Rogers on this impor-
tant matter. In reply to the New
York Journal, he telegraphs, "The
Debs-Bellamy colony will be welcomed
in Washington. The State govern
ment will endeavor to make them
secure in the enjoyment of the fruits
of labor. We do not fear them; We
welcome them. With the exception
of the Republican politicians, every
body in Washington will bid the
strangers welcome and God-speed."
This statement is untrue. Rogers
does not not speak for the Democracy,
nor for any considerable number of
Silver Republicans or Populists. He
is simply a figure.head without any
political significance-an officer who
has, in the few short months he has
been in power, shown his recreancy to
all the promises he made to foist HIM
self into power. His elevation is an
accident of which all parties who con-
tributed to his success are heartily
ashamed. The truth must be spoken,
however humiliating the acknowledge
ment may be.