Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-09-01
Is He Fair Representatives


>lbly to attend the Annual Convention
OF Insurance Commissioners, at De-
troit, but it is given ont that his main
object l. to attend the antitrust con-
ventlon lately called by Gov Sayrcs, of
texas, t" meet IN 1t. Louis on the
10Th inst. The plan ri the Governor
was to secure u conference of the eX-
ecutlve> and attorneys general Of the
several States, on the matter OF means
OF meeting and checking the growing
evil OF corporate power, and as no plan
was outlined, nor method suggested, it
was plainly 4 meeting for discussing
conditions and from them suggesting
the best means OF relief to the masses
of the people.
1t will he remembered, however, that
the person who by accident fills this
executive chair, declined an invitation
to attend, apparently needing no inter-
change OF opinion to settle in his mind
that this was not a matter for State
legislation. Whether his position is
tenable or not, there are many of the
old guard, to whose ranks he now
seeks admission, who still have enough
of lingering attachment for States
rights to justify the suggestion for a
conference OF State delegates to settle
matters of expediency by the concen-
sus of opinion of the many rather
than the finite judgment of one or
more individuals.
1t seems that Mr.. Heif'ner saw in
this reticence of the Governor an cp-
portunity for himself to pose as a
representative of the State in the pro-
posed convention. So he very truth
fully represented to the Texan Cover
nor that Rogers did not reflect the
sentiment of majority OF the people
of the State, nor OF either of the united
parties which elected him to his pres
ent position and upon this unprece-
dented presentation of facts secured a
promise from the protector OF the con-
vention that delegate other than the
executive or Attorney General would
be admitted, provided he presented a
proper endorsement. And herein lies
the rub. What is proper endorsement?
The credentials that Mr.. H. has Sc.
cured, it Is stated, are endorsements
from the State officers, upon which
he will ask for admission to the st.
Louis conference.
In an informal assemblage like that
proposed, there may be no rule of us.
age to govern qualifications of its
members, but there certainly would be
a protest if the deliberations of the
conference were intended to prescribe
any definite line of action for the PEG.
pie to follow. The State Committee
of the party favorable to the proposed
reform would be nearest the people
and the recognized authority in emer-
gencies when convention of the
party is not available, and it seems to
us that Mr.. Heifner should have that
backing before he assumes to speak in
behalf of any organized party.
The State officials who signed Heiff.
ner's credentials may be both wise and
influential but it will hardly be con-
coded that they possess an unques-
toned right to manage in any degree
party details of which the people very
naturally insist upon maintaining con.
troll. Outside OF their official duties,
their acts possess no more binding ef-
feet upon the public than those of
individuals OF similar standing in the
commonwealth.
With the committee specifically Sc
lected to act for the party under I'M
usual circumstances, there is, however,
a power and authority that the party
would readily recognize should the
plans of the st. Louis conference
merge into political action.