Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-05-05
PEOPLE VS.. LOBBY
WHO SHALL GOVERN THE STATE
OF WASHINGTON?
The People or Corporations7 That is the
Question at Issue in This State in the
Coming Campaign. National Questions
Not at Issue.

1t makes little difference what the re-
publican state platform may say, whether
it declare for an elective or appointive
commission or any other kind of COM
mission, the experience of the last
campaign and of the session of the
legislature that followed it proved con-
cusively that republican platform
pledges are absolutely worthless. The
republican platform in 1902 promised
the people that if the party was given
the governor and the Legislature it would
create an effective railway commission
fol regulating rates ami fares and pre-.
venting extortions and determinations.
furthermore it pledged the party to
equalize the burdens OF taxation SO that
the railroads and other corporations
would be compelled to paw their just
shares. When the 'gislature met both
houses were organized by the railroad
lobby against the reforms promised by
party platform and the entire session
Was made by the majority travesty on
deCency and a mockerv of justice and
honor. "To h with the party, plat
form, and the people be damned" was
the way that one Of the mercenary trait.
ors expressed his sentiments, and there
is no doubt that such was the motto of
all the republican majority who repudi.
ated the sacred pledge Of the party to
the people.
After the defeat of the proposed APP
pointive commission bill by the senate,
Tolmam If Spokane introduced resolu.
ton instructing Bakers railroad COM
mittee to report the elective commission
bill, the Scent fare bill and other bills
buried in that graveyard. The resolu-
ton was voted down by % solid repub-
lican votes, every democrat voting for
the resolution.
Is any further proof needed to demon.
strate what may be expected of a repub.
lican legislature in the way of railroad
legislation regardless Of what the party
platform may promise? If Mcbride
we're elected governor this year with a
republican legislature what more could
he do than with the legislature of 1903?
The lobby already has nearly enough
republican holdovers to control the sem
ate and by electing three or four more
the railroads can block the passage OF
any commission bill that does not meet
with their approval. Mcbride may fume
and scoid and storm and thunder till he
is black in the face, but he will be un,
able to dislodge the lobby for moment
from its seat VI power.
The only relief for the people is
through the democratic party. Let them
elect democratic governor and demo-
cratic legislature and an effective railway
commission will be created within twenty
days after the assem- bling Of the legis-
lature. The democrats OF the state are
practically unanimous in their support
of such legislation and a democratic
legislator who would dare to defy his
party's will would be given short shrift.
The issue this year is, shall the corpo-
rations o. the people govern this state?
The railway commission issue is only
one feature of this paramount question.
II the people of this state would not be
bound hand and foot for years to come
by the corporations they should throw
t1n nd thoe s~1,
to govern both themselves and their
creatures. the corporations. In this
campaign it is the duty Of all patriotic
republicans to join with the democrats
in rebuking the traitors who violated
the pledges given by the dominant party
in the last compaign. Otherwise party
platforms in the future will be mockery
and farce and the people will be left
without voice in their state govern.
ment.
On national issues it may as we'll be
conceded that the state OF Washington
will 60 heavily republican. The cause
Of Roosevelt is not in the slightest peri
in this state. There is nothing left tc
fight over but state issues and all gooC
citizens should unite to settle these fol
the best interests OF the commonwealth
regardless Of party prejudice. Thu
honor and the good name Of the stat,
demand that the perfidy and dishono
OF the last republican legislature b.
severely rebuked and that can be don,
effectively only by the election of ,
democratic legislature. In order to avoit
the friction that might result from divid
ed responsibility 1t would be the part o
wisdom to elect also democratic
governor. Only in this way can tn
people make sure Of checking the powe
Of the corporations and restoring thu
government to the people.-Walla Wall
Statesman.