Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-02-17
Shams Of Modern Politics.

via. ~ e'i'uit w, iiiaue 50 peTslsteutiy
just now, passes without applying to it
any query which might lead to an in
telligent consideration OF the subject,
instead Of granting a claim that can
he 30 easily controverted by reason.
The sessions Of the Legislature are
never less than the limit fixed by the
con>titution-sixty days-and the en-
actment certainly contemplates that,
when the law.maker arrives at the
capital he shall remain there till the
close Of the term, when the " freight"
/ is paid on his return from the seat Of
/ government, just as it is paid to carry
! him to tie scene Of official labor, out
of the States fnances-even though it
may be that he carries and travels on
a pass, in violation OF the law he is
sworn IL support.
1t may be true that, despite all
efforts made for his entertainment as
an official guest of the people at the
capital, the community may not be SO
large as to satisfy giants ambition,
especially when the prospect is before
him that his pose in the lime-light is
OF brief duration. He thinks he may
augment his pleasure in larger towns,
but this is, to some extent, delusory.
The results are generally a vindication
of the affirmative side OF the familiar
question OF debating clubs, the relative
pleasure derived from pursuit or pos
session OF any acknowledged desirable
object in life. The generally convinc-
ing argument asserted is, that with
the majority OF temperaments, pursuit
gratifies and possession satiates.
The regular recess taken by the
present Legislature, from Friday till
Monday. to afford junket to Seattle
or Tacoma, is unusual, bpt so are
other characteristics of the assembly
that has developed many surprises.
That more consideration should be
given the important measures before
them, and that they might avoid the
blunders of hasty legislation, did they
remain at their posts and endeavor to
earn the per diem and mileage paid
them, seems to be a reasonable p-opo.
sition; and that to separate the legis.
lative functions rs much as possible
from the clash and turmoil of bushes,
centers, to say nothing OF the frivoli-
ties OF the " Vanity Fair" always open
to the wayfarer in larger cities, is desir.
able, has been shown by almost un-
broken precedent. Nearly all the
State capitals are isolated from the
business centers, and very few are as
accessible" to the whole State as the
commercial mart of each common.
wealth.
1t seems so incomprehensibly stupid
for vest.pocket politicians and road.
corner newspapers to urge this condi.
ton for a removal to larger place,
that very little effort has been made
by sensible people to controvert it;
but now that the parrot.like utter
ance is again doing service to place
the State.house on wheels, we deem it
a duty to merely stick pin into the
bubble to show how easily it is shat.
tered.
The proposition is incontrovertable,
unless indeed those contemplate mer-
cenary wretches who lead men BY the
nose through pandering 10 their van.
ity by fattery, their venality by posi-.
tive or indirect brides, or arouse their
fear by bulldozing methods, are the
modern statesmen, and the example
of the leading States, to protect the
integrity of lawmakers and the purity
Of the public service, il the work of
fools.
Just imagine the nerve it requires
in a man of the stamp OF George Stew.
enson to take the contract for delivery
of law in the interest of any corpor-
alton, q seat in the U. S. Senate, for
any man who has money, or, a. now, q
removal Of the capital, for q satisfac.
tory equivalent, or to crafty his spleen
and punish those who have refused to
be his tools. By stretch Of imagins.
ton the reality may be family grasped,
but the audacity Of the act is beyond
comprehension whom We endow man.
kind, who have at times acted az his
tools, with the ordinary self.respect
and dignity of freemen. Does it not
fairly make the angels weep to see how
poor frail humanity, can be led by the
nose by such soulless mentality, such
an immoral monstrosity, and influ.
enced to vote for man OF mediocre
ability to fill place in the U. 8. Sen.
ate, or in supporting legislation in
conflict with the interests OF constitu.
ents who elected them. as has been
in times past, and is attempted to be
done now. .
If lawmakers have votes to sell
the humiliation comes when the bar.
gain is struck and the price paid, and
we may respect, to some small extent
the individual who candidly admit.
that he has yielded to tho song of the
mercenary siren, on tho plea of neces.
sity, and urges as an excuse that mortal
flesh under such circumstances il
weak at best, but all respect is lost iol
those who can be dragooned into doing
despicable acts solely through threat.
Of personal vengeance.
u WASHINGTON dispatches state that
the confession of Judge Tanner rathe,