The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-08-25


lie plundering, extravagant and dishonest
state and county debt building, and ring
corruption which disgraced the State OF
washington from 1889 to the first day OF
the year 1897.
The Great Divide.
The general election of November. 1896,
marks for all time the end of one period
In the political life of the state, and the
beginning of another. IT was the end OF
bad things and the beginning of better
days in our public life 1t put stop 10
the unholy growth of a public floating ana
bonded debt that had reached the enor-
nous sum of 50, 300 1880. against popu-
lation of about 400 900 and put in operation
an administration OF popular government
that set about reducing this monster debt
at the rate of over $1,000 per day, as
against its increase during the previous
two years of $500 per day. And this grand
change is noted among the first bless
ings of the 'blight of Populism."
1t put out OF office a gang of dishonest
ringsters that was running the credit of
the state at home and abroad, and re-
placed them with honest state and county
officials who have restored confidence. re-
established immigration from the East
and started the tide of capital in its flood
towards our borders once more.
Change Was Grand.
It turned a band OF the most corrupt
political rascas away from looting public
treasures and despoing contractors that
ever disgraced a free government and
gave us in their stead:
/. United States Senator Turner. who
Is opposed to Capitalization of power. to
monopolies and trusts. and combines or
all kinds, and who believes in a currency
wholly controlled by the National Gov
eminent and the government ownership
of railroads. He Is a man of the people.
a Populist and commands the respect and
confidence of all the people.
g Congressman Lewis, through whose
able and brilliant representation our state
has taken a higher place at the National
Capital-a Democrat and a man of the
people: Congressman Jones, a Silver Re-
publican who has given strength and char
acter to the important political faction
which he represents in the Government at
Washington.
g. One member of the Supreme Court of
the state, Hon, James b. Reavis, a Demo-
crat and = venteen Judges of the Supe-
rior bench out of a total Of twenty-one.
a. A complete state administration, with
Gov John r. Rogers at Its head. Popu-
list, and one of the ablest most learned
and fearlessly honest public men of the
State of Washington.
&. Twenty-one State Senators out of a
total OF tlirty-four and sixty-flve men,
of a total of eighty-seven. In addition to
this vast sweep the Peoples Party elected
a Large majority of the county officers.
Victory Only Begun.
Thus Il will be seen that the people Of
the state spoke with a mighty voice and
dealt the enemy an all-destructive blow,
smashing the Republican ring government
In state and county into fragments, and
dispensing the horde of political grafters
that had infected the public Offices
1t was a glorious victory. but only the
beginning, as these pages will show. The
work of redeeming the state had only be-
gun. An arduous task lay before the
brave men whom the voters had commits
stoned to undo, as far as possible, the
wrongs inflicted upon the people by their
predecessors.
Could the new officers only have start.
ed their grand work with a clean sheet
the burdens upon taxpayers would have
been very light. but there stood ont n
public debt of over two and a quarter mil
lions. with but little to show for II. which
had been heaped high by Republican ex.
travagance, and this would not yield its
claims upon the property of the state.
The task forced on the new government.
was to minimize the load as much as nos
sible by the most rigid economy and ths
strctest business principles in the adj
ministration of public affairs These tbnv
have practiced to the extreme limit roalr.
ing a record for good government such
as no state of the Union has VET nIacad
upon the annals of our civil history
This record is herewith respectfu1Iv cub
mitted to the voters in the BELIEF that
they will. regardless of their political ~
fllations. give it most careful study on5
critical investigation, to the end thai pen-
une merit may be rewarded at their
hands
Facing a Serious Situation.
II was serious stuati that tho acts
iature of this state had to face wben :,
convened on Monday, January II Ioo,
The state was almost bankrupt az the 70
suit of eight years of Republican njsr,,,a
A gentleman in summing up the o11t,oH,.
al the time very pointedly SAYS: The stats
had been plundered. Her land grants ba5
been ruthlessly despoiled and hundreds ~
thousands OF acres of the most valuable
farm and timber school lands were In the
possession, use and enjoyment Of Tho
leaders of tho Republican Party vitbo,.
one penny OF compensation to the stato
Her credit was at the lowest ehb H.
puollc institutions were threatened ,,,ith
FORCED closure for want of funds 81
some or them had actually been c1osad
her treasury was practically emntv Uer
deot was appalling. Her revenues WE'VE
uncollected. Her harbor areas were o.
proprlated by private individuals and tba
most valuable tide lands in the largo o.
ties had been sold al private sale for
nominal consideration to railroad ana ~
er corporations. o'A-