The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-03

nished by it to them through the in
strumentality of the law and the execu-
tive power Of the government.
Every person within the hearing OF
my voice knows that this is true. II
has gone on in this state until it has
become a scandal and a reproach. The
people of the state are not to blame
for it, either republicans or democrats
They have insisted time and again, ir
season and out Of season, on regula-
ton and control of these great public
agencies. 1t is subservient public Off
Gals, following the dictation Of a cor
rupt and debauched public Leadership
which is to blame for this condition OF
affairs But all things have an end
and this leadership, by its audacity
has at least brought the public mind
to a state where this condition of af-
fairs must end on the Sth day of next
November.
Have Thrown OFF the Mask.
Hitherto the leaders of the republi-
can party have always professed de-
votion to the interests of the people
trusting to time to efface the vast gulf
between profession and performance
But in this campaign they have thrown
off the mask, have declined to make
any profession whatever, and by the
character of their nominees for state
ination have given it to be understood
by. all men the character of perform
ance which it is designed to give tC
the people of this state should they
ratify at the polls the action of the
late republican state convention at Ia
coma.
The republican party, recognizing
the almost universal demand for a rail
road commission, declared in its plat
form two years ago that it would, il
again trusted with power, pass laws
for the creation and establishment of a
railroad commission, and the people
relying upon the honor and integrity OF
that party and its leaders, again re-
turned them to power in that year.
But it's representatives had no
sooner convened in Legislative session
in Olympia than they put themselves
under the control of the railroad lobby
and then at all times during the ses-
sion. declined to pass any law prOvid-
ing for the creation of a railroad COM
mission.
Governor Mcbride, an honest eXecu-
tive brave and cura geOus man, and a
republican, denounced this betrayal OF
trust as false and perfidious, and he
declared it to be his purpose to see that
the declaration made in the republican
platform in the ensuing campaign
should be so strong, and the candidates
nominated on the state and Legislative
tickets so high minded and honorable,
that there would be no doubt in the
minds of any man of the purpose of
the republican party to carry out the
mandate of the constitution and meet
the just wishes of the people by the
creation of a railroad commission.
How this high and honorable re-
solve on the part of Governor Mcbride
was DEBATED can be read in the history
of the late republican state convention
which assembled at Tacoma. That con-
vention was dominated by the officials
of the Northern Pacific railway and the
Great Northern railway. 1t threw of
the mask under which it had gained the
confidence of the people two years age
and declined to make any declaration
whatever on the subject of the creation
of a railroad commission. 1t turned
down Governor Mcbride in his aspira
tons to be renOminated for governor
and at the dictation of Mr.. Farrell ant
Mr.. GrOsscup nominated a man in hi:
place whose record was an assuranc,
TO tnen tnat ne would carry out lnell
wishes if elected governor.
1t also nominated, still at the dicta
ton of these gentlemen, a mistit ticket
composed of candidates having no spe
cial fitness for their respective posi-
tons and known to be devoted hear
and soul to the interests of the grea
transcOntinental railways in this state
Il do not suppose there ever was 81
| bold a surrender of party integrity t.
| private and selfish interests as tina
/ made by the Tacoma convention. | hav
! heard and read of many vain and fool
! ish things in politics and otherwise
! but this is the first instance in Ameri
can politics at least where a politica
body has appealed to the suffrage
of the people and accompanied tina
appeal with a bold, open, shameless
manifestation of contempt for the PEG
pies wishes and desires.
Their manner of doing it was almos
as bad as the doing of the thing itself
no Of no