The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-07
Special stan Correspondence.

Special StaT Correspondence.
OLYMPIA. Dec. e.-The Republicans
have ~ out OF the = members In the lower
house OF the Washington legislature. bat
they have only Is of the "a members OF the
senate. thus lacking three votes of having
control OF the upper house. This places tho
minority party~-the Democrats. with six
votes--in practical control OF the senate.
unless there should ne confirmation Of
the rumors that three OF the members elect
cd as Populists two years ago VIII aliga
themselves with the Republicans and IN ia
ture act with that party. Should this lat
ter rumor not prove true. the Democrats
can decide the fate OF all Republican legis-
lation by Joining forces with the Repu6li-
cans or Populists. just they choose. and
they would therefore be an important fac
tor in the case.
The proba oities are. however, tisat q
combination OF some sort viii be Effected
which will give the Republicans practical
control of both houses on all matters OF
ordinary legislation. and this being The case
the position Of the cnief executive il one
Of great importance.
Gov Rogers is a Populist In 1896 the gov-
ernor was so pronounced a Populist that
his election was looked upon as a menace
to the state: hut upon taking control OF af-
fairs his conduct Of the office was so diff
ferent from his expressed views that tho
effect was not what had been expected.
This fear Of enforcing ultra reform views
was shown in his message 10 the legisiA-
ture of 1897. for. while, HI pIace, he said:
"A vast opportunity is before us. We are
TO prove ourselves worthy the trust imposed
upon u.s. we are 10 show our ability 10 con-
struct new policies as well as destroy the
old on another page he counselei rea-
sonabe action. saying:
in this state most successful political
revolution has Just been effected. Let not
the zealot vainiy Imagine that because OF
this revolution authority has been given for
tie enactment into law OF all approved by
him. This Is only the thought of the en-
thusiast and the dreamer. II In true that
the trumpet has sounded an advance. but
that advance must he one which all are able
to make: for all are concerned In the move
ment. The advance must not be greater
than that approved by that public opinion
which comes from the general average
Judgment Of all the people OF Washington.
We go beyond this at the risk OF losing
all the advantages gained, Of losing the con-
ffdence OF those who while with in this
fight only half indorsed tho plans Of those
among US mos; advanced. and the moral
the timid and fainthearted IN our own
ranks Better thouSanI times TO stop
short OF an exercise Of our whole power
than TO exceed 1, by so much as the frac-
tional part OF a grain
Today Gov. Rogers sees the conditions
changed The P,pulist party has destroyed
itself new and live issues have come before
the political parties OF the nation. and the
present tendencies are for the alignment of
the people in the parties representing ter
rtorial expansion. increased foreign trade.
aud an American merchant marine on tho
one side. and the opponents 10 these policies
on the other.
With the views Of the people OF Washlng-
ton pronounced ia favor of the national ad-
ministratlon policy or expansion. as ex-
pressed IN the recent STATE election; with
the legislature of the state largely Repub-
ilcan on Joint ballot. and with the populist
state executive possessing the veto power.
which Ia practically prohb.tive Of iegisia-
tion. owing to the strong ropuiisi vote in
the s,ate senate Il is readily seen that tho
attitude of Gov Rogers toward the Repub-
ljran legislature In the forthcoming session
is Of the greatest importance.
found the governor busy at his desk
when called upon him today. lie bad a
large manuscript spread out before him
which ne was apparently editing with care.
but he had sufficient time 70 extend cor
asa! greeting IN which there was seen 10
political rane5r and no evidence OF dts
appointment or discomfort With the party
,hat had been suoccas.ai IN the recent elec-
ton
Governor" said "the people OF tho
state are greatly interested in the proposed
work or the forthcoming session ot tho
legislature. ana in me possibility OF your
attitude toward that body"
The goveTno- 9,f not hesitate IN hls
reply. EvlIently tae sect had been IN
h.s mind ard 4 concIasIoa had been reached
long ago
.ay atsitude viii be conctii-
| story; hope for absolute har-
mony." he said. There 4. no
reason why "a should be other
wise VIII stand, Of course,
upan my constitutional rfxhts
and recognize the rights of the
I~gI-inture. There will he no at
tempt at sharp practices or
technical aaibbiing upoa my
part. !,