Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-06-08
The Potency of the Issue.

gave color to the hope the anti
expansion papers held that the re-
suits in Oregon would favor their
cause. The Spokesman Review,
commenting on the situation as
shown by the first days dispatches,
says:
Weighing the republican losses of the
past two years, and considering the fact
that the issue of expansion appeals more
strongly to the voters of the Pacific
coast states than to the voters of the in
terror and the Atlantic seaboard, it is a
fair conclusion that the vote in Oregon
betokens no especial strength in the
issues of the republican party as they
will be presented this year to the country
i'll general.
The expansion issue was pressed with
great vigor and maniiestly with much
effect, by the republican press and speak
ers. Day after day the Portland Oregon
ian hammered on that line with black
letter editorials. Here are two specimen
paragraphs:
you can vote for great future for
the Pacific coast or you can vote for it
to stand where it is today while Europe
divides among its powers the trade of an
awakened Orient You have two choices,
but no third
Every man who votes the fusion ticket
today votes to tie millstoAe about the
neck of Oregon industry, to throttle
transPacific trade, to continue the sub
servience of this coast to the influences
that have hitherto held back its progress
al, Al, ~
today votes to kill the business of every
Pacific coast city and saddle hardships on
the children he will leave behind him."
That line of argument would be espe-
cially persuasive with the voters of Port
land the people along the lower Column
bia river, and the producers of the VII
lamette valley. 1t would appeal also to
the voters of Western Washington. But
its potency would diminish toward the
interior
In the light of later returns
there seems to have been no doubt
as to the potency of the issue in
the interior of the state. In the
Second congressional district en-
bracing the extreme eastern por-
tion of the state, at points far re-
moved from the Portland influ
ence Congressman Moody's plu
rality has been increased from
66oo to 5000. Where is there any
lack of potency in the issues of the
campaign
Why should there bel What
has the interior to fear from the
expanding markets OF our Pacific
possessions? Five years ago the
total Hawaiian trade with the
United States amounted to only
ST., 500, 900. Last year it reached
S33, 500, 900, having increased al
most threefold in FIVE years, and
most of this increase has occurred
i'll the past eighteen months. A
like development will follow in
Porto Rico and the Philippines.
An increase of trade means more
markets for the trade of the inter
ior.
The main staple of the Inland
Empire is wheat. The few thou
sands of square miles at the head
IF the Columbia river basin sup
plies more OF this cereal for export
than any other equal area in the
world. The low price OF wheat
today is due to the fact charters
can not be had at more reasonable
rates to carry this export to dis
tant European markets. 1t is OF
vital interest to the interior to re-
duce this long haul to market by
developing the trade in the Pacific,
in Hawai-, in the Philippines, in
China and Japan. Anything that
will facilitate transportation, any
thing that will bring the interior
into nearer touch with its markets
will appeal to the people with po-
tency enough to carry such a pol
icy by increased maJorities, such
as have been given in Oregon.
There is az potency in the issue
against which no sophistry of the
opposition can prevail.
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Maui VarIr a~d st.a nIotfa~,,.