Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-08-31
Democratic State Convention

Democratic State Convention.
Subordinated to Machine Control-lllustrativ
Of the cohesive Power OF Public Plumber
and an Example Of Modern Methods of Ex
erting Senatorial Influence.
That it is the unexpected viii cl
sometimes happens Is amply demon
strated by partisan events the pas
week. The result of the Fusion Con
vention has but further demonstrated
as did the nomination Of the rebel
sympathizer Selucius Gariielde, along
in the Cos, by the Republicans, fol
Delegate to Congress from the Terri
tory Of Washington, against the gallant
soldier Marshall F. Moore, who carried
rebel lead in his body, received while
fighting the battles OF his country
that truth, justice, honor and consis.
tency has very little to do at times
with the operations OF the bosses
the Mark Hannas of the party. The
rebel sympathizer Gartielde was elect
ed by the professed monopolist oil
the patriotism of the Countrywide
Republican party-but here it is hoped
and believed the similitude will cease,
for while it may be possible to corrupt
conventions by the use of money and
promises, it is hardly probable that
the same appliance will change 10000
majority TO victory for the Rogers
ticket. Mr.. Bryan will receive the
votes of all true Democrats, notwith-
standing its organization has been
turned down by turn-coat Rogers, and
q Senator who has changed his party
three times within twice as many
years.
The result of tying up to some de-
gree the forces opposed to Republi-
canism" at Seattle, is due to over-con-
fidence of the opponents to Rogers and
his ring. After they had secured the
election of an anti-ring chairman (Mr.
Heiffne) from a county which leads
in opposition to the executive, because
they know him best, they little realized
that the executive "bar'" and Sena-
torial promises had secured reserve
force that would be apparent later on
in the game. So it was understood by
them that to secure that fusion which
depended absolutely on the consent of
Rogers opponents, the "bar'l" was
not to be rolled up against such con-
tingency, and Senator Turner, with
Machivellian craftiness, consented to
his own defeat as presiding officer OF
the convention to inspire his oppon.
ents to accomplish that more perfect
union so essential for success at the
ballot-box.. So enough fight was made
to create that jubilation which subor-
dinates reason and which made the
opponents OF Rogers a unit for the
best means of carrying the largest pos
sible majority for Bryan and the prin-
ciples of free government now assailed
under the policy OF imperialism.
As an indication of the methods
adopted in the Seattle Convention, we
have only to direct attention to those
of the last Senatorial election. The
same corrupt practices were adopted
in precinct, county and State, wherever
opportunity was presented for work.
ing" up q support for Rogers. II is
charged that the ring did not hesitate
t" add forgery of returns, to other cor
rupt practices. to carry the day, and it
was in the remote precinct primaries
that the bung-starter first struck its
telling blows.
Just how the opposition to Rogers
will make their work effective has not
yet been decided upon, but there 10
nothing stronger in the heart of man
than the resolution to knife him at all
costs and all hazards. Men who de.
nounced him in such stalwart lam
guage as was used Sunday night, in
Masonic temple, at Seattle, are not to
be deferred by such ropes OF sand as
usage to party which surrendered its
organization upon an understanding
that this primary cause for revolt had
been eliminated from the contest. The
knife will be used, and welded effec-
lively, is the prediction of those lead.
ers who spoke Sunday night, and they
voice nine-tenths of the personnel of
the Populist party.
1t may seem like folly to assert that
Rogers would not have been nominal.
ed had they known his personal and
political unfitness better, with the
memorable experience OF the Garfielde
campaign before US in evidence of the
~'''SSA seaoCy vi HuUIdu nature. 0Ut
there was one advantage which Gar.
fielde possessed in an eminent degree
which is wofully lacking in the icicle
at the head OF the present State ticket.
Garfielde was a man of fine address.
OF magnetic presence, of grand de-
meanor, and this or any other age
never produced a more brilliant orator.
Rogers possesses none of these. He is
about as magnetic as a clam, and his
words fall in the speeches he makes,
with dull thuds, like clods on the cof-
fin OF Despair. 1t is plain that every
effort to foist him upon the people for
another term, can only be accomp.
lished by main strength and awk.
wardness."
The details of the convention work
will be the subject for future comment.
Suffice it to say, for the present, that