The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1904-11-01

convention and nominating that ticket
are in favor of such legislation. This
being the case, it becomes the plain
duty of voters who believe the crea-
ton of railroad commission to be the
dominant political issue in the state,
to vote for all the Democratic candi.
dates. Any other position or any
other action on the part Of a man who
so believes is illigical, insincere and
demagogic.
Republican Tax Plank.
Having turned down the proposed
railroad commission plank, the Re.
publican state convention offered the
people of the state a tax commission
plank instead. But that plank, it
will be noted, was adopted by con-
vention which expressed its opposi.
ton to effective railroad regulation
by a convention made up largely, of
those leaders of the Republican party
who are responsible for the violation
of previous Republican promises Of
this character. Two years ago the
Republican party promised the people
of the state, legislation tending to
the more equitable adjustment Of as.
sessments on the property of corpora
lions. The legislature elected on
that promise passed tax commission
bill which may fairly be taken as an
example of what the Republican party
would pass this time if given the pow.
err. But that bill was so notoriously
weak and powerless that it was We.
toed by Governor Mcbride who, in
his veto message said:
'This bill would authorize the ex.
penditure of $4,000 as a smelling
committee" without the power to do
anything, without even the power or
privilege of recommending to the
county assessors or county boards Of
equalization, the figures at which such
property should be assessed.
"In other words the sum of $4,000
is appropriated to enable the state
board to satisfy it's curiosity, if it has
any. The result of the investigation
must be properly concealed from the
public that pays the bill.
Offer a "Soothing Syrup"
"The forces consenting to the pas
sage of this bill defeated every meas
ure that would have afforded any re-
lief, and offered this as soothing
syrup" to the public.
"The purpose of the passage Of this
bill is not to cure existing evils, but
to postpone the inevitable day when
legislature will be elected that would
prove true to the people, that will not
be subservent to private interests, that
will see to it that everyone who en-
joys the protection of our laws shall
bear a fair share of the public burden
in the matter of taxation"
The same purposes which Governor
Mcbride says inspired the Legislature
of 1903 in the passage Of the tax COM
mission bill, APPARENTLY inspired the Ia
coma convention in the adoption Of the
tax-commission plank Of 1904. The
same forces were in control of both
bodies, the same forces offered the
same soothing syrup" to the public,
the same forces are endeavoring only
to postpone the inevitable coming Of
real relief in that direction.
The Direct Primary Law.
Much complaint has been heard In
Washington during the past five years
regarding the manipulation of the po.
litics of the state by the railroad lob
by, and other corporate and capital
istic influences. Without going into
the merits of these complaints it Is
hut fair to assume that there has not