The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-21
WEATCOM FUSIONISTS
ARE INDIFFERENT.
Bridges and Biethen Fail to Arouse
Them Even TO Faint En-
fhuaiasm,


WHATCOM. Oct. 2o.-Boo Bridges, as
he Likes 10 call himself, and Mr.. A. j.
Blethen talked here last night on various
political subjects. The hall was about nalf
fun OF people, half or whom were Repuo-
licans who came to near Mr.. Bridges. the
famous exponent OF single tax. explain the
pUfp0rt Of the clause III the fusion platform
and the constitutional amendment 10 oe
voted on, which are construed by those
who unders the pain .ntendment or
the English language 10 be the opening
single tax wedge framed and pushed
through by the single takers. The scatter
ing audience was commented on by every
one as showing the tremendous falling on
i'll fusion enthusiasm m. Two years before thes
filled The same hail till there wasn't stand
ing room al meeting after meeting. and
marched time after time to Fairhaven. two
miles away, to attend rallies.
Last night the same people struggled in
in a hstless way. When Bridges COM
menced at $40 there We're only 1873 people
in the hail. and about as many more came
In later The lack OF enthusiasm was even
more noticeable. If six men had been
been no applause. When Nj Bethen
dramatically pointed 10 the picture OF
stoned way as that match.ess leader"
there was a feeble and scattering handicap
that sounded like the echo OF an echo.
The same conditions were noticed last
week when Wheat Chart Jones spoke In
the same hall. 1t was only half full and
licans, who came out to see the famous
wheat chart II 1895 The chart wasn't
shown. however, and the audience was as
silent throughout the long lecture on
highly decorous cemetery. II was a chilly
evening for Jones, and last night was cold
and unsympathetic for Bridges and
Blethen The change Is ominous. for
Mr.. Bridges was introduced by the chair
man. MIR. lledil Cornell, as "one of the
common people He proved that he VAS
very common before he got through. He
advocated woman suffrage loud and long,
and in most embarrassing manner. Then
he struck in on the constitutional amend
ment and everybody Weakened up and lis
tened. He defined the single tax as tax
ing the full rental value of land 10 pay
the expenses Of government and wished
that Ii was in operation in Washington. He
said he was a single taXcr. and wished the
people would make it an issue and carry
IL into effect. He thought. however, that
the constitutional amendment was more
for the purpose of allowing exemptions to
manufactures, etc. than an effort in the
single tax direction. but left the impression
that the amendment, if carried would be
a furtherance Of the single tax propaganda,
and the more he dwelt on the subject the
more forcihle this vitw becama although
he studous!y avoided saying so and in
geniousy worked around the point, He
evidently had received Instructions not To
ride his faVorite hobby, but couldn't resist
or everything bat land.
He talked calamity IN a foolish manner.
saying that he had ridden twenty-six miles
through WhatCom county that day and f
reminded him Of Golsmiths Deserted
Village Houses were vacant and farms
deserted and silence reigned. He also aIked
about the lahorer CUT OF employment and
the man who couldn't pay his taxes be-
cause IN the clutch Of tho money power.
As his audience wei knew the present
f1urishing condition of the country and
that help Is hard TO get, and employers are
looking for men and that the taxes on
farm property in the county are nearly ali
pad. the delinquent list being city boom
property hts TRADE was ineffective, espe-
cIa.r Is he made a glarlng and most un-
scesSaTy error In statement regarding
the tax levy. making It double what II was
and founding a long Genunclati0n Of the
ccuQoD-Cl.pper on his own ulsstatement
He made an efo-; 10 dispose Of the
charge that the fusion SIS had diverted the
tide i9nt tHTd into the general fund and
were crediting themselves with the amount
a money saved, but lodged he point and
never cleared The subject ND. The only
thing he ,alke1 clearly on during The
harangue was about Bob Brldges' and
what he had done % save the country. ana
this was amusing
NJ. Risthen. on taking The Platform. re
!ftTat"1 oI the stock arguments fer free
silver He wanted free silver because he
wanted more Money ard better times He
thought lin eS wee row full OF woe and
th'rrs ~ that kind. lie was listened 10 Al
first WITH amusement. and Their the al-
6ierca 9vowsed til ne run down The meet
iHg VAS frost and f0rehodiug q. i'll to
fusion lsrl.