The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1902-11-21
John /. Wilson for u. S. Senator.
(TacOma NeWS.)

(Tacoma News)
The time has come for a frank align
ment on the question Of the senator
ship. The matter is of vital import
ance to the state. There seems to
have arisen some miscOnception as to
the support the various candidates ex-
pect. This is because a little recent
history has been forgotten. 1t is re-
membered by the men who were fac
tors in the making of it four years ago.
Then there were promises made and
pledges given that still are binding.
1t is not to be supposed that the
friends of Senator FOstor will do them
selves the wrong Of waving obliga-
tons, nor that they assume for an
instant that Mr.. Foster would desire
them to take such a course. They
made open declaration of the policy
they would pursue under certain cir
cumstances. The circumstances have
developed exactly in the manner that
had been anticipated, and the word
given four years ago there can be no
impulse to count as worthless. To
place this construction on the intent
of either Senator Foster or his friends
would be to them a grave and manifest
injustice
The News is in favor Of the election
of John L. Wilson. The honor be-
longs to him. 1t was won by his con-
duct when he was a candidate before.
But for his faithfulness in carrying
out the arrangement entered into at
that time the senatorship would not
have been given to Pierce county. The
division was such that only by the
union of the followers of Foster and
Wilson could the former gentleman be
elected. Accordingly there was drawn
up an agreement by which the Wilson
forces were to turn their votes to Eos
ter. This was done, and victory rested
with Pierce county. One clause of the
agreement is produced herewith.
'Fifth-If it should transpire that
John L. Wilson's friends desire to
present his name four years from now
to the legislature as a candidate for
United States senator, it is agreed
that A. G. Foster will contribute the
assistance of himself and friends to
Mr.. Wilson's election.
(Signed) "A. G. FOSTER.
Witness: James Wickersham."
At the same time there was drawn
up another agreement signed by the
individual members of the Foster and
Wilson delegations, with knowledge
Of the above agreement Therefore
there can be no denial of the intention
of the several gentlemen to stand by
their pledges. The assumption that
they would do otherwise must be re-
cogniZed as the assumption that they
did not mean what they said, and did
not endorse that to which they sub
scribed. There is no ground upon
which this assumption can stand. The
friends of Mr. Wilson are not ask
ing anything but that which by the
terms of an honest, open compact
they are entitled to receive. Senator
Foster was willing to sign an agree
ment, and understood all the agree
ment involved. That he woul d not
regard it as binding, that he would
not expect his friends to regard it as
binding, is a view of the case that
cannot be taken.
The election of senator requires
nothing but the fulfllment of promises
freely given. The promises were given
to Mr.. Wilson as a return for the
strength he was able to throw. and
did throw to Mr.. Foster. There is Il
honesty in politics, and there is graft
tude. Mr. Wilson bestowed a sub
stantial favor, and the fact should
not be ignored at Olympia.