Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-03-22
CRY OFFICIAL PAPER.
THURSDAY, MAR. 90, loOo.
IS FUSION A FAILURE?

the Cosmopolis Enterprise ie'gns sur
,,;se that a fusion paper should admit
that times are better now III tie s'a'e OF
WASHINGTON than they were in 1896 1t
is wearving to be constantly reminding
our republican contemporaries mat they'
NOT we. were the false prophets OF 1886.
Their columns shrckcd with ca'ainltv
howls about the distress that would iol-
low fusion success in the state ana county
chat wear. If the editor of the Enterprise
will nx,miue his files he will find himself
telling his readers that the election OF the
fusion state ticket would drive what cap
ital was already here out OF the state,ahd
prevent any further development OF OF
wonderful resources; that the industrial
establishments already erected would be
abandoned. and the workingman, de.uded
wv the hewhiskered, wid-eyed, anar-
chstir (l,siouists would have TO trek to
find q lob. On the other hand, fusion
papers promised that the public business
would be managed as a business PROPOSE
ton. and not as private political snap,
and that with our boundless natnf"l
wealth capital would always be found
ready to aid its Development The pe'-
ple believed them. Have they been
deceived?
Let MS see. When fusion officials as
summed the management OF the state and
this county the affairs OF both were III
denlorable condition. Both We're beyond
the constitutional limit OF Indebtedness;
their paper was hawked about at usurous
rates of discount, that was added to the
claims against them. In this county, IN
ceived it paid at least one hundred and
forty cents, in discounts and interest.
The fusionsts took hold Of the state, and
Chehalis county, much as a receiver
would assume control OF looted and
bankrupt corporation. and proceeded in
a business way to reduce expenses and
put them on a cash footing.
How we'll they succeeded is already
matter Of history. The capital at Olympia
and the court house at Montesano were
empicd 0! their hordes OF useless tax
eaters, ard expenses were reduced wher-
ever it could be done without disturbing
the efficiency Of the service. Having the
Legislature with them, laws were enacted
compelling The state, and all its political
subdivisions, to pay as they went. There
was an end to reckless expenditure paid
in warrants that were calculated to bur-
den the coming generation, and within a
year warrants were worth par. The only
capital (?) injuriously affected were a
few rotten banks on the Sound, that had
been doing business with public money.
When called upon to pay up, they shut
up.
Within year capital, attracted by the
businesslkc methods adopted in public
affairs, began 20 seek investment within |
our borders, until within the past few
months the treasurer OF this county has
had inquiries from eastern capitalists
proposing to pay all taxes delinquent in
the county and take delinquency certif-
Gates for it, and that official has no longer
any use for the rubber stamp, "Not Paid
for Want OF Funds" that played such an
important part during the booding days
Of his republican predecessors.
Looked at calmly, and without partisan
bias, the taXpayer-no matter what Lis
political convictions-is compelled to adj
NIT that, for the state Of Washington and
the county OF Chehalis, fusion was not
only success, but Il Godsend. Don't be
surprised, Bro. Pattison, when we fusion
lists brag Of the good times now here. It's
only the natural fonIness, that every fell
low has, for saying IL told You so.''