The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-11-16
CAN'T Do OTHERWISE.

The East Washingtonian, the reput
the following lecture to Senator Ank
any's paper:
The Walla Walla Union never
tires of abusing Governor Mcbride
and seiZes upon every pretext to
make what that paper is pleased
to call an exposure of the gov
ernors misconduct. The inward
ness of the whole matter is the
Union is opposed to a railway COM
mission, and seems to regard as
deadly foe every man who
stands for regulating rail-
road traffic. The Union per-
sistently ignores the bald fact
that every republican who held
out against the commission bill at
the last session of our state legis-
lature was a traitor to his party.
Whenever a man is elected to Of
flee under a certain pledge it is
his duty to stand for that pledge.
If he Will not do this common de-
cency should prompt him to re-
sign. Personally Governor Nc
Bride is of no more Importance
than any other good citizen of this
state but politically he is the re-
cOgnized leader of the republican
forces who believe in living up to
party pledges. In other words the
governor is at the head of the re-
deeming element. He is fighting
for a measure which officials be-
trayed their constituents to de-
feat. If Mcbride is defeated be-
fore the next state nominating con-
Vention, republican politics will be
in a sorry plight. Indeed, it be-
gins to look as if the party must
go up or down. as goes Mcbride
Politics may develop another peb-
bic on the beach, but this much is
certain, the next republican nOmi-
nee will be defeated if he is not
an open advocate of a commission
law. In view of these facts it is
hard to see how a republican pa
per claiming to stand for the best
interests of its party can oppose
the commission movement. To
say such law would be harmful,
would be lodging the point. The
party pledged it and it was defeat
ed by unfair and disgraceful meth
DDS. The people demand it, and
Will vote with the party which
stands firmest for the service want
ed. In the success of the commits
sion movement lies the redemption
of the republican party of this
state.
n little over two years ago the I'm
on was zealOuSly advocating an ap
railway commission an
threatening to brand as traitors to tn
party any republican members of tn
legislature who should dare to Oppos
4 measure SO vital to the interests {
eastern Washington. But a chang
came over the spirit of it's dream
after its owner had entered into a
offensive and defensive alliance wit
the railroads. the terms being that til
Levites in the legislature should de
feat the commission bill in return fc
the support of the GroSScup- Stevenso
railway lobby for Ankeny as
for the United State
senate. That bargain has been faith
fully carried out so far The commits
sion bill has been twice defeated ar
IN return the railroads gave Levi h
seat in the United States senate. {
course under the circumstances M
paper is bound to oppose
railway commission so long as i
owner remains in the senate or is
candidate for reelection. 1t is not
matter Of conviction with the orga
but merely the imperative necessity
fulfilling a bargain made with the pow
ers of evil in this state, a bargain {
binding as that which bound D
Faust to the service of the devil.