The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-17
Disguised With Fusion and Its Work

Disguised With Fusion and Its Work
John l. Yeend. who was a fusion mem
Der Of the state senate from walla walla
county at the sessions Of 1897 and 1899.
has made a public statement in which
he announces his withdrawal from the
political organization with which he has
associated for the last few years. Sem
ator Yeend was formerly a Democrat, but
with the rise Of the Peoples party and
the Inauguration OF the so-called fusion
reform movement. he took up with the
new ideas to some extent. and in 1896 was
elected to the Legislature He was one
of the fairest. most conservative and In
pies party. He was consistent through
out his legislative career. voting for
measures which had been demanded In
the platform upon which he was elected
and generally giving his support to those
which he thought would benefit the peo-
pie he represented. as well as the state
at large. In this respect his record is
in sharp contrast with that Of some of
his party associates whose political mo-
rality was different from his own.
Senator Yeend had not been in Olympia
long before he realized that this reform
which his party had been preaching was
mostly humbug He saw that the ma
jerity of his fellow reformers didn't want
reform: that they were not at the state
capital to legislate in the interest OF the
people, but rather to make hay while the
sun shone and pick up a few dollars on
the side whenever It could be done con-
veniently. Evidence was forthcoming
nearly every day to Senator Yeend tend
ing to show that II was not reformers
but grafters who had been selected by the
Peoples party to legislate for the state.
and the more he saw Of them the easier
II became for him TO see how much sham
there really was behind the Peoples par
ty reform movement.
II was not only In the legislature. how
ever. that he encountered bogus reform
ers. They were to he found in many OF
the state Offices. and II was early seen
that perhaps as conspicuous a one as any
other was the very head of the reform ad-
ministration. Senator Yeend shows in
his statement how Gov. Rogers in hi.
first message TO the legislature threw out
insinustions that there had been Grim
state penitentisry. and then refused 20
ceuntenanee an investigation OF the insti-
tuition. although urged 10 do so by Yeend
and others who believed that n there had
been mismsnagement OF the peniientiary
II should be made public. The governor
objected 20 the investigation on some
nimsy grounds, and It Is eviden; that from
that time Senator Yeend regarded him
as an inslncere triHer who had taken up
with reform ideas for tho purpose OF nd
vancinE his own personal interests.
Recent disclosures Of fusion rostenness
IN the management 81 state affairs were
all that was necessary 20 convince tho
honest Peoples party men that their re-
form administration, which they thought
would be honest and ericieni. has in real
ity been incompetent. wRsteful and rccz-
less almost from the very day !, took ever
power. Men Ike Senator Yeead have been
in position 20 see how much OF prsicnss
sham and failure there has been IN the
fusion state government. and I; is not
surprising that they feel under the ne
eessiiy OK repusla;inx Il utterly.