The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-09

isted since the Governor Set
Out to Rule or Rufn-PopuIist.
Who Were Independent Haired.
In the reform administration Of Gov.
John r. Rogers the people OF Washing
ton have beheld the triumph of machine
politics of the very worst sort Every
large state institution has been drawn
upon 10 furnish Jobs for the Unsuitable
Rogers Turner machine. Public interest
has been allowed TO suffer that WILLING
tools OF the unholy combine perfected at
Olympia in January 1897. might be placed
In positions of power and emolument,
where they could labor for the perpetua-
ton OF Senator Turner's political rule
and the Advancement of Gov Rogers
from the executive mansion 10 the United
States senate. in the fuilness of time.
In his message to the legislature of
1877 Gov. Rogers said IN speaking OF the
senatorial contest then In full swing:
For this coveted position each faction
mas It's candidate or candidates. for
whose success some of the factionists
may be ready TO imperii the future ex-
by means OF which their election was se-
cured. and which II rightly guided and
honestly managed will finally and secure
~ lodge In the hands OF the great plain
people OF this state those rights powers
and privileges with which as American
ci,iyens they are inalienably endowed,
tegration of hitherto allied forces shall at
this time ensue and the ardent hope
which has arisen In the hearts of earnest
men that there had been formed an or
ganization devoted solely to the advarSe-
ment Of pure politics and lust rule Of
political action. only to be destroyed by
the strife OF politicians eager for rrefer-
ment-if this shall be the result. do not
hesitate here and now to place the blame
for the vile surrender Of a great trust
--- -. heads Of ofYice seekers and their
THIS was written by plain John n.
Rogers. In anticipation of his inaugura-
tion as governor and was delivered TO
his fellow Populists In the legislature
when he assumed the Office to which he
was elected. He probably never dreamed
that az the end of his administration his
very words would be applied TO hifnse,f
by the Populists OF the state
Within very few days after the M.
sage was delivered the governor became
@ prey to consuming ambition for his
own political Advancement, even at the
cost OF his party's existence and Mt the
sacrifice of the interests OF the state COM
mitted 70 his care.
Turner nnd Rogers
The mighty change worked In the ''re-
former wsS due 20 the spell exertei over
him by George Turner. the millionaire
owner Of the fe Ro mine which was
afterward 10 play such prominent part
In the senatorial contest When he came
20 Olympia at the beginning Of the sos
sion of 1891 Turner found that Rogers and
the state patronage under his control
were necessary for his PURPOSES. The
siren song % the practical politician"
entered the governors ear. and the job
was done
-. -
willing and seTvile tool - Georee Turner
orices were parceicd oit and promised
right and left Ia order 10 bring workers
among the populists In line fer the Spo-
kane candidate. Rogers was promised the
ssnatorshsp IN 1883 or recollection IN 1890
After Turner's election the two "statea-
men" naturally sought ont some means
hy which their Joint hold on the fusion
party 81 the state could be made perme-
neut The EoVrrno~ had fortunately said
y, his message % the legislature that ono
hoard ef control should replace the iocal
boards ~ trustees ~ the state instilu-
tions when he wrote the Inaugural mos
sage the governor was not in bondage 70
the Le Rci boss lie had planned as he
stated 70 the legislature 20 have the
hoara ~ control consist % stg>s officers.
hut when ne determined 20 70 into roll
tics for his own good a. a partner ~
Senator Turner. the governor radically
changed his mind. Tie said n the legis-
lature
n am of tho ouinlon that the eoarss
naw controlling the penal, FsfnrmRtnrv
anl elcs rnnsynarv institutions - the state
misht with propttetN he ahel-
iqhaa ard control % these fmsftUtinrF faN
vested iH ore h1arf % conslsf ~ the
governor the lieutenant gcvernnr, the
secreisrv ~ state the state auditor and
an ofrelsl whose once is ia De Nrraiet-
~ b. called the commissioner % public
institutions
Practical Politics.
After his aiisAuce Wfh Serstnr Tnrnrr
had been celueutsd hy the delivery ~
sroaga Popuiist votes thvoaEh state pzf-
rorAGe. 20 elect the - Res bees Gov
Rasurs turned ~ thr practical sits - pol
itirs again hls niiui fun ~ measures -
r,rrfstf a political machine which wonld
heii, him b. his ambition o. b. ricrsc1
senator: or failing tnRt 90 ~ r0-s'.-tei
evvernar 80 tNe state The Audit sus con-
troi bill was changea 80 as So give thc
governor entire power 90 aelect the mem
bsrs af thr board. fho provision nAmtnE
certain state ofiicers as cv-ef1letn members
being stricken egt at Bogsrs d.rcctiou
- inpatient was he to start En- an the
construction % his machine that Gov.
Rorers dla not walt fQr the canstita-
ttanal ninety DAYS to elapse for the hill
Witch lacked the emergency clause fa
become 4 iaW but forthwith appointed
th.. members ~ the board No sooner
ve-r these named than hc fen into q vi1-
{ lent quarrel with them. fer ihs only rea-
som that they would nnt sbiectiy So his
hidding The members pf the arst boani
Auditor cheetham, Treasurer Youas.
.,outlnusd on PAGE six