The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-10-14

1T has been given out that Mr.. Gun
derson is "carpet Dagger" something
like the late lamented Mr.. Hicks
whom the "fusionists" elected two
years ago, and who is popularity sup
posed to have sold out to George Turn
err and moved on. Mr.. Gunderson /.
not exactly an old-timer, as he has on
ly lived in Mason county for the past
ten years. He is identified with its
interests and knows as much about the
county as any one IN it. AS school,
superintendent he has frequently been
in every school district in the county
knows nearly every settler and farm
er in it, and is acquainted with their
needs, and best interests. He comes
of sterling Wisconsin stock, his par
ents emigrating from Norway near
ly fifty years ago. He was raised on
farm and knows how to work, having
earned his own way through schools
and college. Striking out for himself
he secured land in Iowa, and owns 800
acres of black soil that is now in good
state of cultivation and valuable. Tn
order to meet the obligations incurred
he came West and engaged in teach
ing in Mason County ten years ago.
About year ago his last payment
was made and he has since purchased
property in Shelton and given every
evidence of becoming permanent
citizen.
The populists feel, and not without
reason, that they were needlessly sat
down on by the democrats, whom they
We're instrumental in electing two
years ago, and they were certainly
given scant courtesy. The result of
the convention has made plain to them
that the democrats were no more in
sympathy with them or the faith than
they are with the Republican party.
They have placed their ticket in the
field, knowing it was foredained to de-
feat. After the resolutions the popu-
lists offered in their convention de-
nouncing official misconduct, it would
seem to lis that the rank and file of
the party would be justified in lending
their strength to the republican ticket
for the defeat of the common enemy,
and the publication OF local politics.
The question of whether as good citi-
zens and taxpayers, they will throw
their ballots to the winds or do right,
is before them.
In most respects the Democratic
County ticket is as strong as they
could select from the available mater
ial, M. Fredson the candidate for repre-
sentative, is an old timer, and a good
man, although not in any respect better
qualified than the republican candi-
date. Treasurer Fredson and Clerk
Hanson deserved denomination at the
hands OF their party. Thos. O'Neill
would make good commissioner, but
we fancy that the people will prefer to
elect the two republican members OF
the board this year 10 look after the
County's interests with the hold-over,
Commissioner Duckworth. The rest
of the ticket is good from democratic
standpoint, except the candidate fol-
Auditor, Mr.. Covill, who was populist
up to the hour of convention.
The "free silver" issue is practically
a dead issue, for try as they will oul
fusion friends cannot infuse enough
life into it, to make it safe to fight the
state campaign on. We were told two
years ago that there could be no more
prosperous times under the present
monetary standard, we are still unde,
the same coinage laws then complain.
ed OF, but there seems no difficulty in
providing the volume of money needed
to transact volume of business
The war, with its attendant excite.
ment, has not disturbed trade, and the
country is now in quite prosperous
condition generally. Even the fusion
papers admit this, and they are max
ing other things bear the burden of the
contest.
The tin plate industry, which the
Democrats assured the people neve,
could be established in this country
has grown to such an extent that
we are now competing successfully
for some of the foreign markets
Since 1892, when the industry wa,
born, thanks to the Mckinley tariff
we have each year almost doubled
our production of tin plate. On,
free trade friends have long ago given
up denying the fact.
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