Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-11-02
Federal Bayonets VS.. American
Labor.

AT the opera house Friday night
something over 1000 people had the
pleasure of listening to one of the most
striking political speeches that has yet
been delivered in this city in the
course of the present campaign. Hon
F. c. Robertson, of Spokane, candi-
date for Congress on the Democratic
ticket, presented one of the most
unique and at the same time forcible
arguments against the retention of
the Republican party in power that
we fancy the people of this city have
ever listened to. Mr.. Robertson is a
man of magnificent physique and of
excellent voice. His bearing and de-
livery are simple, modest and direct.
Force OF conviction and earnestness OF
purpose were strikingly manifest
throughout his whole address. While
he discussed at considerable length
the paramount issues along lines al
ready familiar to his audience, the
principal part OF his remarks were di-
rected to the coolie labor question.
He demonstrated to his audience in
in the most conclusive and striking
manner, that this was not an imagi-
nary but real danger. That in the
event OF the election of President Nc
Kinley il was one of the necessary re-
suits of the Oriental policy to which
the Republican party stands commit
ted. This much other speakers have
made plain to the people of this city,
but Mr.. Robertson went farther and in
the most circumstantial manner
showed his audience that the danger
was not prospective but present
one. He cited numberless instances,
giving names and dates and places, to
show that the contract coolie system
is already in our midst. That white
labor is being every day displaced in
this State aud that the movement is
in its infancy. Replying to the at
tacks made upon him by the Post-In-
tetigencer, Mr.. Robertson took occa-
sion to describe his connection with
the celebrated Occur d'Alenc martial
law situation. Anyone who could
listen to Mr.. Robertson's description
of the indignities and outrages
wrought upon hundreds and thous-
ands of workingmen in the name OF
justice, but really in the interest of
millionaire mine owners who hap.
pened to have a pull with the Cover
nor of Idaho and the federal authori.
ties, and not feel his blood boil with
righteous indignation, must have had
the inherent elements OF either q
shark or a Hanna. II there was a la
boring man in that audience or any
other voter who believes in justice
and fair play and equality before the
law, who did not leave the opera
house with the firm conviction that
Mr.. Robertson was not only a firm
friend and champion of the laboring
classes, but loyal citizen and defend
er of the legal rights Of all classes, he
must have been either in his dotage or
absolutely blinded by red eyed parti-
sanship. 1t is safe TO say that Mr..
Robertson on the 9th OF next month,
will 60 out Of this county with the
vote Of every laboring man and OF
every other man who repudiates the
idea that the federel arm and federal
bayonets should be employed to de-
fend the special interests OF the
moneyed classes againet the general
interests of the whole community and
OF the toiling millions who create the
wealth of the land.