The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-08
IN THE HOME OF POPAISM.
WHITMAN COUNTY SEES THINGS N
NEW LIGHT.
The Change of Sentiment Among
Voters Mas Been SO Great inst
the Republicans Are Vow Conn
ae~t That They VIII Win Ont.

,sfen ar the conventions last week is -
strong as co.ild possibly have been nomi-
mated Il may interest P.-f. readers n
osaax counties Of the state 10 get nsaSI
view Of the situation In this incubator al
J,oF:tltg1n IN the State OK washington
The total vote In waitman county ~
.es. was 5 49, In national, state and legsr-
Iatfye affairs. there were but two tickets
in the field approved by the Popaiizts.
Democrats ard Silver Republicans The
entire Republican vote on members OF the
legislature was 1859 while the Fusion Beg
isiat.ye vote was gs2+-a majority Tor the
latter of 1915. OF this fusion majority, II
f. safe to say that i.Jss9 were Democrats
and Silver Republicans. The remaining
as OF the fusion majority represents the
atHaight PopIiist majority over the Repub-
licans that year f - ~
AS affairs have shaped themselves, Re-
publican politicians are strongly inclined
TO the belief iaat al the coming election.
the popuiist vote In this county on; the
legislative ard county ticket will not be
in excess OF 2.2aa or 40 from members OF
that party and from 20 to 800 from the
Democrats and Silver Republicans "A total
vote OF not exceeding $500 is looked for
for and confidently predicted. To over
come this the Republicans present perfect
harmony among the old giiard-ruen who
gave loyal support TO the candidacy Of
3oyed at the success attending the gepub-
tiean administration OF national affairs,
and with sorrow and disgust at the incoIn-
potency and dishonesty az the last iegis-
lature. and the existing state administra-
ton. Added To this strength are three
eiements-silyer Republicans who have
returned 90 the fold. Democrats who Ind
Themselves without "a party home. and
who desire 10 vote for good government,
even II it does not masquerade under the
mask OF reform. and voters from AL three
OF the fusion factions Of iSJS. fer whom the
logic CT events has proven over PoHering,
and who have become firm believers ia
the principles u KepublicaBism.
In 1896. a conservative poll OF the county
showed the Silver Republicans strength 10
be nearly ESQ. The faction no longer exists
as an organized body. II Is doubtful II
the Silver Republicans now number In this
county over 5e-uf % certainty they do not
number 10 exceed IDo-and even In the
event of fusion Ia the state. and the nomi-
nation of Luke -. Wolfard. OF Coifax, as
the Silver Republican candidate for con-
Eress on the fusion ticket. will they cast
To exceed the latter number OF votes. II
can be- safely said that the Republican
ticket-state. legislative and county--wii
have the support and votes of at least
600 gentlemen In Whitman county erst-
while members OF the Silver Republican
party.
Among the 800 voters, who under the
1885, poll were properly ciassed as Demo-
Gratis. at least fifty per cent. have ex-
pressed the Intention Of voting the Repub-
fican legislative and county ticket, be-
leying that In this way they can best
serse their country and party. OF these
~ Democratic voters, more than half
VIII vote the Republican legislative ticket,
cykn II the improbable becomes actual and
the Democrats make independent .ieglsla-
tive and county nominations. IL can con.
fdently be predicted that the Republican
strength OF the county will be sweIled
BY go votes from the Democratic ranks.
The third element in added strength
actual conversions TO Republicanixm. can
be reckonea on with less certainty as to
taeif number. and yet may easily prove
10 he numerically greater than either OF
those. mention OF which has 1ust
been made Within the past year a re-
SoIution has been effected in the political
trend Of many minds. Their point OF view
mas been changed. Among many people
y melancholy pessin,isns relative to The
FIXTURE Of the republic had obtained com
iete control II was a species of mono
Ilansa that had attacked a large portion
or the population. In their thoughts there
MAS no light ahead. unless the people
made actuaiitiss OF their political theories
1fHtCfpd-
election OF President Mckinley was the
s,und Of the bell OF toom-by thAu n
was looked upon as the beginning Of a
Grlevoss end-elther the nation wouiA 20
down In decay, and anarchy would begin
or the poor would be quickly ensiayed nv
tho trusts and combinations. The fact thar
none OF their dire predictions were verified
during 1855. taught them that possibly
they Nigh, have been mistaken I'm their
HtG0naV fNgahNItYrS assE ftn
and the nrst half az ISIS has convinced
Them that they were mistakAn~that not
only WIS the nation stitl a palpable entity
huf was strong. more enduring and
nioFe prosperous than ever before with
the same principle ~ individual liberty
ana personal Opportunity existing. as
had existed from TIE beginning ~ our
national life. II was distinctly new MONT
az view - many 80 them. who had been
led asiray by cvermuch thinking hassi
upon inaccurate ana Insufficient dan
ignorance Of true conditions. a miscou-
cention As 10 the honesty OF intention az
their FELLOW citizens hose opinions 1js-
fered from theirs ;n regar,! So govcrnr,ef,.
tai roiiries-thc best way I'm which 10 Sc
cure the direct restiit OF n prosperous
liberty loving and liberty enjoying peot,ia
Of high intellectually.
Thus convinced ~ their mistakes given
Simple Pr misses upon which ~ sslcr -
many ~ thes' N,ssiini s,ivaily iustfrc,l vot-
evN have reasoned ou5 90 their own salts
faction 'hn' IN HepuSIcahism reposed the
Ss0d of po@ttj, Al i.ft and they have sworn
allegiance 10 TIE principles ~ f.f,1c-s
Grant. Rl.,ins apa ihe host Of statesmen
tkR Satt* ms N,ieN shrea tn aanor. Hew
may thers are THAI HlNe fhls convinced
ta.nSelst' IL IL impossible - SAY. The
ranks Of thcse converts ara constantly he
Ing augmented. aut wi;h.a the perssfi NJ
Know edge - The writer. among ths VOTERS
~ Whitman eounty oNer ie" men have
admitted tliis change ~ sentiment f~s~
radical EopJNen win l.s attendant w.
LEI IN IA; ;ss0nRy. fh- Initiative ans refer
etdusn. s2vcsofueDt ownership az raa-
roads a1a puH.c convenience. she moi
ilad socialism kaown IN America ;he sin
sIe :sN theory. aaj al the gat- fetched the
oriss characteristic of tie party. %. from
the de1sorracy 81 states rights ard fra
tgade. From tftS positive knowledge cf a
% pee ~ Mart TIE wrt,Tr basyes ~ os,. y
ion that ;he Republican vote ~ ~, sS - l.
c,i 10y AZ least 50 additional votes gn No
Se0lSrr neat.