The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-30

the chorus of denunciation. The matter
nothing could Be done. the colony being
practically independent. In Canada and
Australia, even, the news OF this start
ed upon. and advanced American politi-
clans cast an eye upon territory which
supplied even them with an object lesson
of the possibilities which proper organiza-
ton could accomplish.
Reid shows Fight.
Until this agitation subsidized. Reid dared
not attempt any further movement. But
last winter things seemed TO favor MIN
again. The Liberal crusade had 'petereo
out and the public sentiment seemed
at vanishing point. Reid accordingly put
before the Winter government request
that he be allowed to transfer all MS
properties and concessions TO limited la
bility company, which he would capital
ize at s25,0ooooo, raising, one-ffth' OF the
large scale. He explained that he had
paid out of his own pocket $1,000, 900 for
the railway, another for the steamers. and
a third for the dock. telegraphs and roll,
ing stock. This was as large personal
outlay as he could be expected to under
take, and he had interested many promi-
nent British capitalists with a view to
their joining him in large industrial en-
terprises in the colony.
Naturally, the government, with the
memory, of the recent agitation still fresh
before them, halted before taking this ac-
ton. and this halt proved destructive to
Reid. Parliament met and the Winter
government was overthrown by hos
tile combination. This led to the Access
sion to power of Hon. Robert Bond. leader
of the Liberals, who wete. bitterly hostile
to Reid. When the Bond ministry were
sworn in the first thing they took up
was Mr.. Reds proposal. and after exam
ming il they sent him reply that they
would refuse to consent to 1t unless he
agreed to abandon the ownership clause
as to the railway. relinauish the tele-
graphs, amend his land grants SO that set
tiers whose seedlings he had encroached
pie guarantees that the money he would
raise would all be spent in the colony.
Mr.. Reid. while accepting the latter two
conditions. refused to accept the former
two. and things came to deadlock.
The government pointed out that Mr..
Reid had no right to transfer; he could
not make It without their sanction. and
he should carry out his contract.
Menace of War.
He met this declaration with menace
OF war. He shut down on all work not
obligatory under his contract; he dis
charged every man he could dispense
with; he transferred his steamers (Which
were his OWN and his lands Ito which he
had got titles) to companies composed Of
himself and his sons and he concluded
by political party nnder the
light the bond government In the general
election, which must take place this fall
The audacity of this latter conception
has only been exceeded by the complete
ness of its execution. The idea of pub
lie contractor making a fight for the mas
terry. of legislature would be ridiculed
by the staid steady; slow-soing English
man as impossible: but here was the ex-
pertinent in actual process of trial. Mr.
Reid planned the. work we'll From his
own employees and people he traded with
he picked a number of candidates. Morine
the solicitor is leader OF the party, and
contesting one seat: Gibbs his law part
ner, another Two of Reds steamer cap
tains are candidates, and an ex-captain
nj Ia ont ~, a ,-a
his clother and coal merchant. and the
father of his tram car manager. The ed
itor of his paper. some lawyers who are
at times retained by him, and tradesmen
who do work in his line, swell the list
A large campaign fund seems to be avail
able. from all the evidences In sight, and
special trains are run with Reds candi-
dates. and Reds son Is going around the
districts canvassing. so that there is no
mstakng the fact that Reid is in the
thick of the fight.
Alarm in the Colony.
Proceedings so clearly opposed to the
ordinary principles of fair play as these
are aroused much feeling in the colony,
and not little alarm among right-think-
ing people. The Liberals used this for its
full value and pointed out-.which could
not be denied--that IL Reds party won 1t
would make him dictator. He would be
supreme in the colony: he would dominate
the legislature; the passage of laws and
the collection of revenue would be under
his control and there would be nothing
he could not do which he wished. unless
the sovereign power of Queen Victoria,
or the British cabinet, stepped In to re-
duce him to his proper position. Indeed,
with the aid of an adviser as clever and
aggressive as Mr. Morine has shown him
self to be. Mr.. Reid could make himself
monarch of this island In all but name.
He could put 1t into confederation by a
, wave of his hand for all that is necessary
to accomplish this would be the passage
OF a bill through the legislature at the
session next March. Success in this cleo
house. He is almost equally in control
of the upper house. One of Its members
has the management of his dock. Another
is ships husband for his fleet OF steamers
Another supplies him with all tho stores
for these ships. Others are on terms OF
commercial and social intimacy with him,
which compel the conclusion that he
would obtain much support In that branch
well as in the other. Cecil Rhodes In
South Africa is not as powerful as Reid
in New Foundland. for here In no radical
the issue.
To Fight mt the Polls.
In a small. poorly educated and sparseiy
settled province like. this fight with
such a question involved was certain to
be waged with exceeding bitterness. The
struggle was regarded as a life and death
one on both sides. and no effort was
left untried 10 score. point. The Bond
government appealed to the electorate TO
throw Off the shackles OF this threatened
dictatorship and to preserve the liberties
their forefathers fought for, and tho
Reid-Morine party tempted the working
men with the prospect of continued work
and wages to follow as a result of Reid $
expenditure OF 100000 among them. The
Bondites asserted and supported IL by an
incautious newspaper interview which
one Of Reds principal officials gave. that
Reid intended, out OF the S.00o,oo0 he
raised. to hold three millions himself
TO recoup him for his outlay on the rail-
way on steamers and rolling stock etc
and 70 apply only the remaining two
millions to development purposes This
charge the Reidiies evaded by ignoring
a direct denial and by reiterating that
Reid would spend the whole sum, and
they retorted by accusing tne Bonu.tes
of being the apostles Of stagnation and
unprogreSsiveneSS. Personalities of a
peculiarly puneent character We're COM
mon, and the abusive epithets applied
were probably not approached anywhere
else
The defeat OF Reid at the election nut
a stop to his schemes but he Il too DOW
erful to be ignored and must SIN be
counted as an important factor In New
foundland politics.
a rs- a