Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-28
PEOPLES FORUM.
REPUBLICAN NESTOR'S OPINION

REPUBLICAN NESTOR'S OPINION
Tie Comes to the "Standard'' for Recognition
of That God-Given Right to Be Heard
There Was Too Much Truth in His Comments
to Serve the Purpose Of Organized PIunder.
EDITOR STANDARD:
Dear Sir: Please give space in your
paper to the following and also to the
enclosed communication, which tried
to get before the people OF Thurs.on
county two months ago through the
columns Of another paper. but they
would not print it. 1t will be seen
that it was intended as timely warn.
ing to Republicans to keep the ma.
chine out of the convention and as an
advocacy of the direct primary and an
endorsement of Independent voting, so
far as that vote would affect honest
reform.
As our form of government is by
the people and for the people, hold
that none but independent voters can
be real and true patriots. "Vote it
straight" is not after sound doctrine.
No man ought to be expected to sup
port undesirable material at the polls,
just because it happened to get on the
ticket.
If man is indebted to a machine
for his nomination, it would be natur-
al to predict that he might be under
the Influence of the machine after
election. PETER MCKENZIE.
Mr.. EDITOR:
As the time for holding primaries
aud conventions is drawing near, in
the interest OF political reform and
unity in the Republican party in
Thurston county, 1 would like to get
space in your paper for the following
In order that the Republican party
in Thurston county msy be reunited,
and harmony promoted in its ranks, l
think it would be wise for those who
may be elected delegates to the con.
vention to consider we'll what caused
the disaster to the party two years
ago, aud avoid . recurrence of that
cause at this time.
We might as we'll look the fact
squarely in the face, that the people
of Thurston county, and for that mat.
ter of the country at large, are rapidly
becoming q people of independent
voters. Although it must be admitted
that the independent vote of Thurston
county in 1904 did not mend matters
much in general way. as far as county
economy or progression is concerned,
it is we'll known to oil that it put
check on the workings of Republican
machine that knew no bounds in
poli,icsl iniquity, as far as primaries
and conventions, were concerned. That
machine is now q thing OF the past
and it is to be hoped that new ma.
chine may not he formed.
The great reform wave that is now
passing over the United States, and
that is eminently successful, at least
in spots, is largely due to tho inde-
pendent vote of the country. That
vote gave President Roosevelt an un.
precedented and overwhelming ma.
jority, and much strength and sup.
port to his natural characteristic,
personality. 1t made his prestige and
influence more powerful and effective,
not only in the United States, but
throughout the civilized world, than
that Of any other man living. Even
proud. gigantic, and despo.ic Russia,
and gamey, invincible little Japan,
were glad 10 bow to bis suggestions.
Now il is safe to say that President
Roosevelt set the pace to the reform
sentiment that is now moving the
people Of the United States, when,
during that memorable coal famine,
he gave those arrogant and domineer-
ing coal barons to understand that
they could only 90 so far and no
farther with their vicious extortion,
and later, when he made those wealthy,
powerful and influential leaders OF the
beef trust squirm, and wiggle. and
twist, before the majesty Of the law.
The law is the most powerful and
effective weapon on earth, but what is
such . weapon good for unless We
place men in authority who have the
courage and ability to WELD it, and
usually such men can only be placed
in authority by the people themselves.
welding another powerful and effective
weapon, namely the independent bal
lot. Such men can seldom be placed
in authority by an exclusive partisan
ballot, because, under our present po-
litical system, the bosses of any ma
jority party will manage to prevent
their nomination.
John Weaver, Mayor OF Pbilsdel-
phis, following Roosevelt's lead, had
the courage to WELD that weapon,
when he made that quiet, submissive
Quaker city quake from center TO cir
cumference by placing some of its
most wealthy and influential citizens
behind the prison bars because they
were grafters.
We witnessed the effectiveness Of