Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-06-03
Washiugtou STANDARD
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY MORNING, !rNE 5, 1901.
Is 1t Meaningless PLATFORM

Is 1t Meaningless Platform?
The Republican papers OF the State,
in order to csIole those vino favor some
restriction OF railroad arrogance, de.
clare that Mead, if elected State Exec
utive, will not oppose railroad com
mission bill, and will sign and enforce
the provisions Of any law that may be
passed by the Legislature.
Ii convention pledges mean any
thing; if promises made with all the
formality and deliberation implied by
a rejection OF the railroad commission
plank, after thorough discussion and
substitution OF a measure intended to
give bare promise of some relief in
the dim future, are satisfactory to the
railroads, and made in good faith, how
can the assurance now be given that
the executive, when elected on plat.
form so carefully drawn, would. under
any circumstances, ignore its most
salient expression OF party policy :?
What authority have these fuglemen
to stultify the position OF presumably
an honest man, by the assurance that
he would deliberately ignore its provis-
ions, if the Legislature should be in
clined TO provide for q commission?
He lie made, by the veto, q coordinate
branch of tho law-making power.
Does the election OF a controlling ele.
ment to the Legislature OF his partisan
opponents, release him from a duty
enjoined by his party to oppose it?
Will not his election, upon platform
adopted with so much formality and
precision, bind him to sustain it, IRE.
spective all that may happen in selec.
ton of his colleagues in law-making?
Suppose, however, he does approve
such measure, as his supporters seem
sure he will do, the bare idea that the
railroads feel security in . friendly
commission" being named, who will
nullify its provisions, is so repugnant
TO the common instincts OF humanity
that We cannot entertain it, though
corporations may realize that there is
q difference in official acts performed
under tho patronizing caress of friend
ship than the rigid guiding.hand OF
duty.
The way that violation of laws pro.
nounced valid by the highest judicial
tribunal of the State has been tolerated
and condoned, by the people and those
charged with their execution, we con.
Tess there seems to be just ground fol-
apprehension that As much reliance i,
placed upon it a. that the party will
tote fair" if successful.
The coarseness Of the means adopted
Tor escaping the righteous indignation
ofthose who honestly oppose extortiou
from corporate power, is 90 apparent
that it seems impossible for him who
runs to fail to read its import. Eithe,
the commission plank WAS defeated fol-
an object, or much effort was wasted.
Either it means something or nothing.
Has the conduct of corporations given
any assurance that their persistent in.
termeddling with primaries and con-
ventions. with campaigns and cleo.
lions, with legislative and court pro.
ceedings, given any assurance that
promises made to "copper" the result
OF election will be tolerated in the
candidates bought and paid for under
bond 40 stern and relentless as tina,
involving Shylock's pound of flesh!
Surely nobody will be deceived by
such . transparent dodge who pos.
sesses the brain power to reason by the
narrowest cut from cause to effect, and
the effort of over-zealous partissns to
avert the thunderbolt directed by their
own presnmptuous audacity, excite.
only derision and contempt.
Since the above was written, We find
that the announcement of MI. Mead's
position is authorized by himself; &C
we have the unique spectacle OF q can
didate standing on = platform acknowl
edged to be opposed, by implication q,
least, TO any form of railroad supervi
sion by either sppointive or elective
commission. and at the same time an
nouncing his determination to sigr
any commission bill tho Legislator,
may pass. It is quite evident tha
both candidates and leaders have be
come thoroughly demoralized by i'm
pending conditions. Truly, "Whon
the gods would destroy they first max,
mad"
IT is now said that Cleveland WA
for nobody (unless it might be Cleve
land) for President. He was forced Il
declaration for Parker, simply be-
cause he feared the increasing strength
Of Hearst. He says. in an "inter
view" given out from Princeton to tn.
press for publication, under date o
3Oth ult., 81 saw the necessity fol
checking . movement for This mar
Hearst which might become formid
able. and gave out . statement favor
ing Judge Parker"
The annual convocation of Olympus
District of the Episcopal church
opened in Tacoma Tuesday evening
with . sermon by Rev. C. w. Shep
pard of Vancouver. At q business ses
sion, Wednesday, clerical and lay del