Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-12-29
Holds the Fort.

SCUObl IbT DeicCtiNc lOuLII, AT Ndu-
couver. Neither the State Board OF
Control, having immediate charge OF
the campaign, nor the Executive, who
is the 1t, have had single inning
since Watson assumed the bat, and
there is no telling when he will allow
himself to be caught out. His eigh-
teen Years OF experience stands him in
hand, for he knows all about the game
he is playing, from former matches
with other determined men, who have
had to weaken when it came to the
tug oi-war.
Mr.. Watson declares he will not
vacate his Office till his term has eX.
PRED, May 1st, unless dispossessed by
the Sheriff, is thrust ont by the State
militia, or is elected by some officer
who has clear right to oust him.
The former he probably assumes has
no authority, the militia is only effec-
tive in time OF war, and the courts will
have to decide, on quo acarranto, wheth-
er anybody has right to forcibly eject
him from his position. He defies the
Governor and his Board of Control to
do their worst. He has taken this
stand before, and won out on it. He
relates that once Superintendent, by
appointment-or Is the lawyers say
de jure-attempted to succeed him
took seat on the front steps of the
institution, after a demand for the
keys had been refused, debating doubt
less in his mind whether he had not
better force the door, while DR.. Watson
sat behind a glass panel in the door,
ready to pitch any assailant down the
steps, if occasion required. He was
what the laity call the de .facto ele.
ment OF the controversy. The de jure
faded away in the cleaning, even as
the evening star sometimes disappears
when overcome by mist or cloud in
murky weather.
Then again, he declares, during the
reign of Gov. Mcbride, coin was
Tipped by interested parties for the
privilege of naming his successor. He
never took the trouble to enquire who
won, but kept on holding the position.
It is said that Gov. Rogers bad the
same experience when he tried his
hand at arbitrary removal, and that
Watson vas sustained by an appeal to
the courts.
DR.. Watson seems to think that the
present effort is purely partisan deal,
as is shown by the selection of personal
friends of members of the board-men
who can be directed what to do-to fill
the various positions. For instance,
the President of the Board, M. F. Kin.
caid. brought over a brother locomo.
tive engineer to take charge Of the
machinery of the institution; the
clerk was bounced" and another
friend of Kincaid installed, . youth
said to be rankly incompetent for the
duties involved; Mr.. Jones, another of
the Board, brought over from the
grasshopper side, lad TO fill the posi-.
ton OF farmer who knows as much
about raising turnips and cabbages as
he does OF preaching sermon. Mr..
Davis, sometimes Auditor Of. Pierce
county, sometimes Deputy Auditor,
sometimes . candidate (for nomina.
tion) as State Auditor, although .
young man, has been adhesive to the
public treasury many years, aud DR..
Watson shrewdly suspects that he is
after the job Of Superintendent him.
self, and the use of Marshall's name is
only subterfuge to lessen the audac.
ity Of the proceeding. If things had
worked smoothly, time would come
when, like penitentiary guards, they
would become handy to manipulate an
administration movement in the pri.
maries.
At last accounts both parties were
resting on their arms, ready for attack
or repulse, at moment's notice. The
delay seems to be occasioned simply by
. reluctance to give the order. 1t is
another state Of conditions that in.
wolves the query: "Who shall bell
the catf"
New York city 10 paying over $500
a day more than the receipts for oper-
ating, as public utility, q ferry from