Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-11-02
COl NGH Tl(kEC.
Will You Vote for Increased Tax alton?

AnEo III sh
II. III. McCRAY
Will You Vote for Increased Tax alton?
The cheeky proposition to increase
the salaries OF judges is no more than
might have been expected from the
descendants of the Federal party, un-
der Hamilton, and later on the Wing
party, as opposed to the Republican,
Democratic party, headed by Jefferson.
The former WAS the champion OF the
so called better classes" professional
men, the wealthy families, those who
did not have to engage in manual
labor for a livelihood. They claimed
the salaries of Office by natural right,
q right to rule and to live far as posi-.
Bile without labor of any kind. 1t will
be remembered, when Cleveland was
elected. under supposition that he was
q Democrat, what a howl went up
when the Office holding gentry we're
severed from their pap.bottling and
what dire predictions were made that
the country would 20 to the demna-
ton bowwows" from incompetency Of
the new class of people placed in Of
fee.
This disposition to seek for, increase
in number and advance in salary, of all
public Offices, seems an inherent trait
of the Republican party, successor OF
the Federal party (whose founder fav-
ored . limited monarchy and the
Wing organization which strongly
stood for everything that might tend
to q Capitalization of power in the
general government, as opposed to
those reserved rights of the States
when they entered the Union, held by
the Democratic party. The leading
object, If not tenet, OF their creed was
70 hold Office and make the pay large
enough 10 make their holders inde-
pendent Of the ordinary cares OF life.
The proposition of the Republican
party to increase the salaries of the
Supreme Judges, who now receive $4,.
OOO year, and the Superior Judges
who receive $1,000. is in this line of
an "endowment" competency for life.
The Constitutional Convention fixed
the salary at these figures, and provid-
cd that the salaries might be increased
BY legislative enactment. It is hardly
necessary to state that the Coustitu-
tional Convention was largely Repub-
lican: 43 OF the IS members belonging
to that party, and 80 were distributed
among the Democrats and Independ.
ents. The general election, the year
the Constitution was adopted chose
Legislature consisting of 81 Republi.
cans and Democrat in the Senate
and 81 Republicans. Z Democrats and
l Independent in the House, Re-
publican majority OF 81 on joint ballot,
out Of . total membership of los. So
this suggestion Of an increase of sal.
aries had its inception with the party Of
public plumber, aud has been stealthily
struggled into the State and county
platforms, alta time when it was doubt.
less thought it might pass without dis.
covery, a. instructive to the State Leg.
istature. But thanks to the vigilance
Of one Of their own party and the
want OF discretion on the part of Mr..
Owings as we'll az the reticence of DR..
Carlyon, who evidently regarded the
proposition as . lighted torpedo, the
issue is fairly and squarely made in
this county.
Will you, Mr.. Voter, deliberately
place an additional weight upon your
own and your neighbors' shoulders?
Will you, fellow Laborer, close your
eyes to the fact that the Judges salary
is now, counting every day in the year,
and four years in succession, from five
to ten times your wsge.rate, even were
you afforded any opportunity for work
without intermission for that length
OF time, q condition that never hap
pens? The Supreme Judge receives
nearly thirteen dollars day for every
working day of the year, with a few
hours labor each day and q month or
two Of vacation each year. The Su.
perior Judges receive nearly ten dollars
every working day in the year, with
like concessions as to short hours and
vacations.
Why should the hardy man of toll,
the farmer, labor from Gun to sun, the
mechanic from eight to ten hours
day, and all tradesmen ample hours to
meet requirements of business, at an
average OF say three dollars per day,
wage or profit, while these Judges are
paid, rain or shine, work or pay, salar-
les going on day and night, at the rate
of $3.50 or 1888 per month, vote for
men who consider it a sacred duty"
to probably double that altogether too
liberal payf Will you, with your eyes
open vote for men who by either
silence or explicit declaration maintain