The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-08
DOWNING THE POPULISTS.

DOWNING THE POPULISTS.
The Results Exempifed in the States OF
Washington and North Dakota.
The Tacoma Daily News OF Feb
18th, $780, has leading article which
shows the results OF driving the Peoples
Party out OF power in that state 1t has
been sore experience for the people
We quote as follows from the News
article:
Ii the secret history of the present leg
islature could be made public majority
of its members would GO down to their
political graves ''unwept, unhonored and
unsung"
If it is intended that future legislatures
are to be similar to the present aw-mak-
ing body, the people OF this state can get
along just as we'll and can save many
thousands of dollars by turning the law
making powers over to the railroads in
stead OF going through the expensive
farce OF electing members Of the legisla-
ture and paying them to do the bidding
OF the railroad corporations
| During the last campaign the cry was
to save the state from the blight OF pop
uism."
| Now even republicans are appealing to
the tusionist governor to protect the
state from the blight OF republicansm
The house, with its overwhelming re-
publican majority, is dominated by the
railroad lobbyists. of whom George Ste
venson, representing the O. r. & N. COM
pany, is the head and front, with B. S.
Grosscup, of the Northern Pacific and
w. H. Thompson, of Seattle, represent
ing the Great Northern. as his active
lieutenant. The Temple Flats. in Olym-
pia. is the headquarters OF the railroad
lobby and there it is that in nightly Sc
cret conferences the legislation OF this
state is really controlled
No matter how meritorious a measure
may be. it cannot pass this Legislature
without the stamp OF approval OF this
railroad lobby
sideration a deal must be made with
them.
At the very beginning OF this legisla-
ture the railroads secured control of it
and they have kept strong grip upon
it all the way through
The governors strong recommendation
Tor the appointment OF a railroad COM
mission to regulate rates has never even
been seriously considered, and the rate
bill which is SO strongly demanded by
the people of eastern Washington, after
being banded back and forth for several
weeks, has finally been put to sleep in the
senate railroad committee
Every bill that has been passed is in
the nature of job intended to benefit
some particular locality
No bill OF general benefit to the people
OF the state has been passed. and it is
not probable that any such bill will be
passed in the few days of this session
still remaining.
From the election OF United States
senator down to the present time, every
bill that has been passed has been the
result Of trades and combinations.
You help us on our job and we will
help you on yours is the prevailing
rule The merits OF measure seem to
cut no figure.
But as bad as this showing is it gives
but faint idea OF the corrupt character
OF the present legislature
The fusion legislature of two years ago
was far from perfect, but it shines as an
arc light by the side of a tallow candle
in comparison with the present body of
lawmakers.
Already the appropriations are pling
up to degree that is appalling, and even
those who have heretofore reviled the
fusion administration are turning to the
governor to protect the state from bank
ruptcy.
AT the last election the people went
wild on republicanism and under the idea
that they were performing a patriotic
duty in supporting republican president
III time OF war they carried the state
for the republican ticket and elected
republican legislature
! Now they are beginning to realize what
a return to republicanism in this state
means
The state of North Dakota was an
other instance of the defeat of the Peo-
pies Party, and the results are found in
the following telegram:
Bismarck, March 5.-The recent SEES
sion of the legislature was the most ex-
pensive in the history of the state of
North Dakota, not excepting the Short
ridge administration 1t is estimated that
over $5o, 900 was spent for clerk hire alone.
Exactly 1853 employees drew pay during
the session, and of that number the house
enjoyed the benefits of thirty janitors.
The total expense of legislation, from the
point of the legislature alone, will ap-
proach closely to $1oo,ooo The expense
should not have exceeded $4,000 at the
outside
This excessive expense, it is said, was
the price paid by the machine for the
defeat of Congressman Johnson in his
fight for the senatorship, and that the re-
cord of the legislature testi6es to the
promises springing from the contest, or
represents assistance given the state ma
chine
Every effort was made to conceal the
number of employees. In this luxury the
senate was fairly conservative, but the
house was carried away by reckless dis
regard of its needs So strong were jani-
tors about the state capitol and SO numer-
Gus the clerks, that the matter became a
8 I e