The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-01-28
The Mason County Journal.
G. c ANGLE. Editor and Proprietor

Of late. The outfit Of the Economist,
of Montesano, has fallen into the
hands OF ex-Speaker Cline and other
populists, who have issued "middle
of the road" paper at Olympia. Ed
itor Carney joins forces with the Alb
erdeen Herald, for the present the on
ly demO-paper III the county; but
the fusion officials feel that they need
the help Of a newspaper, and the plant
of the OcOsta Pioneer is to be moved
to the county seat.
In a recent suit by "grubstakers"
who had staked a man for the "Cas-
cades" two years ago, but he had fail
Ell and afterwards gone to the KlOn-
dixie, where he struck it rich, Judge
Hanford decided that he could not
be forced to comply with the terms of
the old contract. 1t is hardly to be
expected, that by furnishing a season S
grubstake mortgage can be secured
on prospector's services for life. Still
an honest man, who owes his start to
others, will take the first opportunity
of doing the fair thing for them
There are honest mem, but there are
others, and the grubstaker takes many
chances.
THE Call, Seattle's leading populist
paper, is full of "hot stuff" every issue,
and if Il republican newspaper dared
eXcOriate the state administration as
the Call is now doing, the pops would
rise en- masse. The Call knows the
inner secrets and crooked work of the
present state administration, and the
record is full of black spots, not to be
expected from "refOrmers." The Call
represents the middle of the road pop
ulists, and thinks the party should no
longer act the monkey for the demo-
cratic chestnut-grabbers. Fusion was
an entire sacrifice of principles for the
populists, while the democracy has al
ways been able to accommodate itself to
"any old thing" so as to secure office.
Iris not little amusing to hear
people, some OF whom never had any
wages to chop, talk about having them
chopped in half by the plutocrats;
while they advocate financial policy
which operates, wherever in vogue in
this age, to chop wages, keep them
chopped, and make even "smock-
frocks" and wooden shoes a luxury,
almost beyond the reach of wage earn
ers. If all the bowls which have been
made against the employing classes,
had been directed against the foreign
immigration which has been flooding
this country for the past twent~ years,
there would not now be half dozen
men for the same job, and the fnanci-
al plan would not be troubling the
people.
THE "Olympic Reserve" if it is al
lowed to become permanent, will be
severe blow to the development and
prosperity of Western Washington.
The coast side of the Olympic range
includes many fine valleys, and the
whole reserve is bordered with numer-
Gus small, but fertile bodies of land.
The towns on the west side Of the
Sound require the opening and settle
ment of these agricultural lands if
they are to amount to anything, in
commercial way, and it is only ques-
ton of time when our mills must look
to that section for their timber supply.
As large part of Mason County is in
cluded in this reserve, and practically
all OF its vacant lands, strong efforts
should be made against the reserve
order.
THE increased area OF wheat in
Washington last year over 1896 was
seventeen thousand acres, with a total
production of over eighteen million
bushels. 1t is estimated that forty
percent of the crop is still in farmers
hands. This is for two reasons. some
producers holding for higher prices,
while others could not get their har-
vesting and threshing completed early
enoug h to take advantage of the high
est prices. A we'll known grain buyer,
with years of experience, says the
farmers of Washington should make a
radical change, from spring to winter
wheat. This would bring the harvest
earlier, avoiding the fall rains and
giving better advantages in the mark
ct. The first reason should be suffici-
ent for the change. With an earlv
harvest and an increase of machinery
and labor, there is no reason why ev-
cry kernel of Westinghouse immense
crop should not grade No. l, with the
consequent benefit to the farmers
Ledger.
Distribution Of N. p. Taxes.
COuDty Attorpoy P;oo bon s:,,ov,