Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-10-28
Duty Of Voters.

cerned our solemn injunction is to
vote strictly the party ticket. 1t is in
deed far the better of the two, aside
from the principles involved. Any
body who is candid must admit this.
The State fusion ticket has not 4 weak
man, mentally or morally, on it. And
there is, fortunately, scarcely doubt
Of its complete triumph.
If you must scratch, let it he on the
minor Offices; but be sure you vote for
the best men. ii you know man to
be dishonest or tricky pass him by,
even if he is on your ticket; if his OPP
ponent is honest and true, vote for
him, even though you may not agree
with him altogether on tariff or
finance.
Observation leads us to remark,
right here, that local political con.
tests nowadays seem to have degener-
ated into mere scramble for place.
The candidates arc invariably good
during the canvass and Indifferent to
almost everything but drawing salaries
after the campaign closes. Many u
man will shout himself hoarse over
the prospects of his party favorite,
only to find, if he is successful, that
he has not the slightest sense of an
obligation to reciprocate by word or
deed. This exhibits one of the strange
anomalies of human nature-that
man, who is by nature the embodi-
ment of selfishness, should during ex-
element SO far forget himself as to
bow and cringe to some demagogue OF
probably less brain-power than him.
self, and perform the most foolish acts
in the exuberance of his zeal. A men,
orable instance of this hypnotic craze
was witnessed few years ago, when
in a Republican torch-light parade,
grave and dignitied men, from profes-
sional and business ranks, bore aloft
the flaming tlambcaux while they in
toned their martial footsteps with the
name of the then demi-god of the
hour: Authorization; John B.
Allen" 1t was sight to make angels
weep to witness such evidences Of the
sycophancy which animates poor
frail humanity. A decent self-respect
sccms, at such times, to be wholly
eliminated from human nature, and
the average citizen springs up to do
the most servilc acts for the man who
is, for the moment, riding upon the
wave-crest OF popular favor.
Candidates should be regarded SIM
ply as men on their good behavior,
and treated with just the considera-
ton which their personal character
warrants. If they have been fair and
honest in their dealings in private life,
it is just to infer that the same quail
ties will influence their acts in more
extended sphere; if they have been
tricky and dishonest in dealings with
the public, individually, it may be re-
garded rs an infallible result that they
will be untrue to the interests of the
people collectively.
So the advice We would give is: look
at the matter of selection of county
officers mainly from business stand
point. If you think the record of the
fusion party for economy will be per-
pctuated by & retention OF the present
incumbents in Office, that is good
reason why you should cast your vote
for them. If you know they are bet
ter men, when tested by the Jackson
ian gauge of honesty and capability
than their opponents, that is another
safe incentive for support. If, however,
you find candidate eight weight"
when placed in the scale, size up the
avoirdupois of his opponent, and if
you do happen to place a cross oppo-
site his name, rest assured it will not
be sin that will be found charged up
to you on the final day Of reckoning.
"THAT accounts for the milk in the
cocoanut," said quid munc the other
day, when told OF Oiy's windfall OF