Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-12
HAROLD PRESTON
ARRAiGNS THE HOLY ROLLERS
IN THE SEATTLE P.I.
The How, Why and Wherefore Of the Opposi.
ton to Mcbride. The Issue Is, Who Shall
Govern the State. the People or Great
Corporations7

To the editor: Insomuch as have
been the recipient OF many kindnesses
from Gov. Mcbride at time when
was the representative Of this country in
times, I will be pardoned for feeling and
expressing dissatisfaction with your ed-
torial of May 6. The editorial has for
its text the statement that "Gov. Nc.
Bride is defeated as candidate to sue
coed himself. Eewill not be nominated"
and you follow that statement with what
you consider the reasons for that result.
1t is not my purpose to discuss whether
or no he will be defeated. The conven.
ton will determine that, but 1 will assume
for the purposes of this communication
that he is to be defeated, and so assum.
ing, ask how, by whom and why is he
defeated, and what will be the result OF
his defeat?
The King county delegation to the
state convention Ql5 strong) is to be
named by King county's candidate for
United States senator. 1t is to be voted
az a unit II that vote be cast for Nc
Bride it would nominate him. Insomuch
as he is to be defeated, it follows that
that vote is to be cast bodily against
him. An attempt to obtain an express
sion from the republicans of this county
in favor OF Mcbride was frustrated by
the plea that it was necessary that the
senatorial candidate should be privileged
to name and vote as unit the delegation
of lis in the interest of his candidacy.
Now it frankly develops (see YOUR edi-
toriaD that tn ase lis votes are to be cast
solidly against Mcbride. The conclusion
is irresistible that Mr.. Piles candidacy
has been used in this county to secure
from the county a solid anti McBride
delegation to the state convention. 1t
was put into form through the machin-
cry OF county convention, which at the
came time permitted the denomination
for the state legislature of i've of the nine
house members, who had violated the
instruction of the last preceding county
convention, and had betrayed the then
candidate for United States senator,
whose candidacy had received the
unanimous Endorsement of that (last pre-
ceding) county convention.
Insomuch as the 115 votes of King
county, added to the votes which are in
structed for McB,ide from other counties,
would nominate him, the query how
Mcbride is to be defeated? is plainly
answered; but ought not to conclude
without mentioning the fact that the
'favorite son" plea has been used in
somewhat the same manner and to the
same end in other counties; e. e., What.
com. Snohomish, jefferson, Thurston
and Chelan.
By Whom?
| BY the railroad companies owning or
operating lines Of railway in the state.
The answer is SO plain in the light of the
political history of the state OF Washing
ton for at least four years last past that
I apprehend no discussion OF it is
necessary.
Why?
| Because he has dared to oppose the
control Of his party by those companies ;
because he has been brave enough to
denounce their political methods and
purposes without cessation; because he
has time and again publicly offered to
stand or fall with that issue; and be-
cause, he being the strong man that he
is, in the state, the man of positive
character and uncompromising fighting
ability, it has seemed necessary to those
companies to crush him in order to
demonstrate anew to those having politi-
cal ambitions that no republican in the
state of Washington can aspire to politi-
cal preferment unless he is willing to
bend the knee to them. and that to him
who will do their bidding in office and in
convention and elswhere, no political
ambition may be too lofty.
The Result
The mistake is often made OF stating
the principle for which Gov. Mcbride
stands to be the establishment OF state
railroad commission, and in speaking of
that as "his hobby" In fact the desire
for the creation OF a railroad commission,
while genuine, and in my judgment
praiseworthy, is but a drop in the
bucket. The issue is larger-it is ire.
mendous. Shall the state be governed
by the people of the state, or by great
corporations? For, as the dominant
party is controlled, so is the state. Nc.
Bride happens to be the exponent Of one
side Of the question. Mcbride, the man.
may be defeated, but the issue still