Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-02-17
It's Always Thus.

The Republican party does not oc-
cupy an enviable position on the qnes-
ton of the railroad commission. The
last State Convention refused to embody
such a proposition in its platform. The
Republican legislators in the past re-
fused to pass such laws. After the
election there was change of sentiment
apparently by many Of the prominent
Republicans of the State. Each candi-
date for the office of United States Sena-
tor declared in favor of Railroad Com.
mission; so did all the leading journals.
The Governor in his message advocated
it. Several such bills of one kind or an
other have been introduced. The Leg
islature is now warned that the people
will accept nothing less than commits
sion that will in spirit and in truth be
clothed with sufficient power that it can
regulate railroads to the fullest extent.
This is case where the people of the
State will permit of no triilng, jugglery
or evasion. '-!Sedttle R9pubttcan.
The above extract is from a dyedin-
the.wool Republican paper, and is as
true of the party trend now as it has
been of its record OF the past decade.
In 1896, it changed, without any ex.
cuse or premonition, from the silver
to the gold standard. Then Blaine
departed from rock-ribbed protection
to reciprocity, and the stalwart Nc.
Kinley acknowledged that revision
OF the tariff schedule was necessary
"by its friends" Then the trusts
grew, and grew-like Jacks bean.
stOck-under the sustaining hand of
the party that had given its pledge to
monopoly, until the strenuous Roose-
welt, reading the warning sign in the
clouds lowering over the American
people, and, gave orders to enfoce the
Sherman law, and the complaisant
party which bad become such an adept
at turning somersaults, Immediately
fell into line, and the damphOol fac
ton OF Democrats who had voted with
the Republicans in 1896. dominated
their party in convention, at st. Louis,
and nominated man they believed
would draw support from the moneyed
power.
There is no wonder that protests
come from such consistent Republi-
cans as the writer of the paragraph
quoted, when the same deviating
course has been SO notably followed in
the late campaign in this State. The
Tacoma convention eliminated from
its platform all recognition or support
OF a Railroad Commission, and its
leading members went on record as
opposing either an sppointive or elec'
tive commission. But there came up
such murmur Of discomfort from the
masses, that each and every candidate
for Federal or State Office was had to
make plank, favoring the measure,
to save himself from defeat. This was
done with just as much assurance as
the party had often before reversed
itself. Whether or not the matter was
satisfactory to the corporations in.
volved, is matter of conjecture, but
it is presumable that "a reform by
friends" OF the measure will carry with
it no very great apprehension OF any
thing that will interfere with the
established order of things. There is
hardly any possibility, if commission
bill is passed, that either its provisions
or the appoiutees under it, will be OF
the sort to " run amuck" Of corporate
interests, and the Republican might as
we'll abandon all hope Of regulating
railroads to the fullest extent"
The people OF the State are just as
likely to have dust thrown into their
eyes hereafter as they were last No
vember, and it will require something
more than the Republicans assurance
that the people of the State will per.
NIT Of no trifling. juggling or evasion"
They seem TO be in a mood to 60
right along in the same beaten path.
way. despite persistent warning and
repeated experience.