Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-26

That must be supplied. and IN meeting II
our Republican opponents Will have 10
leave their cover of national policy. ana
stand forth in all the dark colors of pub
lie plnndering. extravagant and dishonest
state and county debt building. and ring
corruption which disgraced the State OF
Washington from 1883 TO the first day OF
the year 1897.
The Great Divide.
The general election OF November 1873,
marks for all time the end of one period
in the political life of the state. and the
beginning Of another. 1t was the end OF
bad things and the beginning OF better
days IN our public life. 1t put stop to
the unholy growth OF a public floating and
bonded debt that had reached the enor-
nous sum of 5000, $50. against popu-
lation of about 100000 and put in operation
an administration of popular government
that set about reducing this monster debt
al 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 Populsm.'
1t put out OF office gang of dishonest
ringsters that was running the credit or
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 rascals away from footing public
treasures and despoiling contractors that
ever disgraced free government and
gave us in their stead:
l. United States Senator Turner. who
IS opposed to Capitalization of power to
monopolies and trusts. and combines OF
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.
@ Congressman Lewis through whose
able and brilliant representation our state
has taken 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. Demo-
crat, and seventeen Judges of the Supe-
rior bench out Of a total of twenty-one
l. A complete state administration. with
Gov. John r. Rogers at its head, Popu-
list, and one Of the ablest. most learned
and fearieSSly honest pubic men OF the
State of Washington.
g. Twenty-one State Senators out Of a
total of thirty-four. and slxty-flve men,
bers of the House of Representativ es out
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 It will be seen that the people Of
ho gnORa with a mighty vaino md
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 redeemng 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 out a
public debt of over two and a quarter mil.
lions, with but little to show for It. 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
sble by the most rigid economy and ths
strictest business principles in the ad.
ministration of public affairs. These thew
have practiced to the extreme limit. max.
ing record for good government such
as no state Of the Union has vet placed
upon the annals Of our civil history.
This record Is herewith respectfully suh-
mitted to the voters in the belief that
they will. regardless Of their political af.
filiations. give 1t a most careful study ana
critical investigation. to the end that gen.
uine merit may be rewarded at their
hands.
Facing Serious Situation.
It was a serious situation that tbe r.er,.
lature of this state had to face when a
convened on Monday. January II 1907
The state was almost bankrupt as the ra-
suit OF eight years of Republican misru,e
A gentleman In summing up the outIool,
at the time very pointedIy saws. rba state
had been plundered. Her land grants had
been ruthlessly despoiled and hundreds -,
thousands OF acres Of the most vaIuobIa
farm and timber school lands were In ths
possession. use and enjoyment OF the
leaders OF tho Republican Party without
one penny OF compensation to the state.
Her creoit was at the lowest ebb. Her
pubic institutions were threatened with
forced closure for want Of funds and
some OF them had actually been closed
her treasury was practically emptv Her
debt was appalling Her revenues wero
uncollected Her harbor areas were an.
propriated by private individuals, and the
most valuable tide lands in the large c,.
ties had been sold at private sale for .
nominal consideration to railroad and 9th
er corporations. wa
Tax-Eating Commissions.
A great deal Of former legislation needaa
to be repealed or amended, commissions
That were fattening at public expense the
creatures OF corrupt Republican rings
were to be abolished. As has heen ra1s
Normal School Commissions. Land Cnn,
missions. Reform School COMMISSION
School for Defective Youth CommIs.ion
Penitentiary Commission, Soldiers' Hon.
Commission. Hospital for the Insane CO..,
mission, Capitol Commission and ~.
world renowned Worlds Fair Compois'
sion. composed of Republican tax eatars
had grown rich or debauched themseIvs.,
from the treasury.
The condition of public affairs w,s ~.
heartening. Evidences of official corr,n
ton were in bold relief on every -,
State and county warrants had fallen ha.
low par and were everywhere discra5,.,
Some Of these warrants had been n,,t IN
to circulation by the Republican ofno,a,
hand or forgery. Confidence In the hon
or and integrity of the previous Stat.
Government had been lost or witbdra nv,
because there was neither honor nor =,
tegrity in the government, and the neonI.
looked with anxious expectation to the
new Legislature and the recentIy-elect-
ed state officers for relief
Extravagant State Boards.
The preceding Republican Legislatures
had created boards to manage state insti.