The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-03-16
AConvert to Republicanism.

=
New WHATcoM, March, 8.-Charles
Donovan. one of the pioneers and best
known Democrats of this section OF
the state, stated to the Post-Intelli-
gencer today that he expects to never
again vote the Democratic ticket and
is, from now or, an avowed and full
fedged Republican.
Since coming to Whateom county
in 1873 Mr.. Donovan has held nearly
every county Office in the list, securing
his election, each time, as Democrat.
In 1877, Mr.. Donovan was elected
treasurer of Whatcom county, which
then comprised the entire northwest
ern part of this state, and served two
terms in that capacity. In 1883 he
was nominated by the Democrats and
elected to the Office of county clerk,
having served the previous two years
as deputy sheriff. He was clerk feur
years, and al the close of his term was
elected TO the Office of county commits
sioner, serving in 1S91-92. In 1894
he was candidate for reelection on
the Democratic ticket and was defeat
ed.
| was known that Mr.. Donovan
was dissatisfied with the Chicago plat
form and it is understood that lie
voted for Mckinley in 1896, but he
has never, until now, publicly au-
nounced his withdrawal from the
Democratic party. Fusion was the
first cause OF his drifting away polite
ally from the associates of twenty-five
years. "Fusion has always been re-
pugnant to me-" said he today 81
believe it is right for every candidate
to use all fair and legitimate means to
secure his own election, butit seems
to me that fusion is much too bald a
remuneration Of party principles for
the sake OF securing the spoils of office
l was never party to any efforts to-
wards fusion on the part of the Demo
cratic party
II am for sound money and always
have been, and l believe the new fin
ancial laws, about to be adopted by the
nation will settle that matter. In my
opinion the Republican party has iul-
filled every promise made IN its plat
form in 1896. There were two planks
in the Chicago platform to which ]
was wholly averse. One was the free
silver plank and the other was the one
advocating the taking away of the
power of government to enforce law and
order and the aiming of blow at one
of the great, great bulwarks of our
government, the supreme court.
While | never believed that the Dem
ocratic party, if placed in power, would
carry out such radical measures. do
not believe in the advocacy for the
purpose of vote catching
On the newer question of expansion
Mr.. Donovan is thoroughly in accord
with the administrations would
have preferred that the Philippine
islands had never been left on oul
hands," said he, "but that circum-
stance was unavoidable and the only
honorable solution of the question is
the pacification of the islands and theil
retention by the government. Presi
dent Mckinley could have adopted ,iC
other course. | used to believe thai
the United States was big enough, oui
i now realize that we are in new ers
IAN era of expansion, and if we do no,
keep up with the times we shall be lef
! behind to become a minor power. ane
perhaps be absorbed by greater on
-"I am now Republican and vii
vote that ticket next fall. I do no
expect to ever vote the Democratic
ticket again as its disposition toward
anti-eyery thing is now too firml.
grounded to give any hope for I
change to the path Of progress"