Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-10-27
Mr.. Weir Is Interviewed

1t Is wonderful how proficient the
>mall-iry politicians become in the
use OF the senscless stock-in-trade cx.
presslons by which they imagine the
rlli-rail may he deluded into support
oi the party IN power. The other day
Alien Weir was III Port Townsend. and
a. he has a rod of unusual size ALWAYS
up 10 catch political lightning, he was
interviewed by the Leader reporter
and the Nympian republishes the lolli-
pop that he invariably exudes under
very slight pressure.
Mr.. Weir alludes to the "ilood-tide
OF Republican prosperity" which is
"deluging the land and engulfing its
opponents i'll hopeless defeat" and in
the succeeding sentence declares that,
" Populism which Mr.. W. Uses as
generic term, embracing all oppose
ton is waning before Republican
prosperity like dew before Il morning
SUM-"
There is just about as much truth
in the statement as there is concord in
the SMILES used. 1t is indeed difficult
to sec how Republican prosperity"
can both cngulf and exhalc at the
same time and ono u,,,Sf copcI,,lo tl,ot
the truth and logic OF his assertion are
as faulty as his rhetoric.
Mr.. w. assumes that at is pretty
we'll settled, so far as the Populist and
Democratic side is concerned, that the
brand of fusion that will actually fuse
is what the leading fusion politicians
will most earnestly strive for next
year" There it is. clear as mud !;
isn't it? The fusion that will fuse will
be the fusion sought for by the fusion
lists. Very naturally; and if all Mr..
Weir said was as logical and states
manlike, no exceptions would be taken
to it, but when the rising statesman
deliberately proceeds to set up man
OF straw merely to have some object
to knock down and pound, it is like
his Republican prosperity" subject
to doubt as to whether it is not party
spirit, instead OF common sense, that
prompts his utteraIces. He says,
"They 1.-THE Populistsl will most likely
re-nominats Rogers for Governor.
While there is great deal of kicking
against him in the fusion ranks, the
patronage of his Office affords him a
leverage that will probably secure his
denomination" That Wier, and the
Republican party leaders, earnestly
hope for Rogers nomination, there is
no doubt, and for good reason-that
almost anybody they might nominate
In opposition would have, practically
a walk-over for the Office. 1t is, and
has been, leading incentive in the
Republican party to dictate the nomi-
nees, as far as possible, of both parties
"A strong candidate for themselves
and weak one for their political op.
ponents, and that seems to be the plan
on which they are operating now.
The P.-L. has already done much in
boosting his accidency into promi-
hence, but nobody who has given the
subject any thought believes for mo-
ment that it has been done with q
friendly feeling for the irresponsible
crank who fills the executive chair.
Mr.. Weir closes his interview with
the opinion that the silver issue is
" dead and buried" in State which
in 1896 cast majority of from 1900
to $1,000 for the white metal, besides
the acknowledged friendliness of the
the many who voted the Republican
ticket under the delusion that it meant
recognition of silver through interna-
tional bimetalism. Mr.. w. has the
temerity to say that the issue is dead
and buried" when Senator Hanna de.
clares that free silver will be the
paramount issue OF 19OO," and but two
Republican platforms have had the
courage to declare for the gold stand
ard! But then "Allen" always was
venturesome, if by boldness he could
focus himself in the public eye.