The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-10-18

! Listen, listen, we red-bloOded
American citizen of Spokane coun-
ty, or pay the Washington Water
Power company's taxes. along with
those of other favored ones.
AS a taxpayer, were you interest
ed enough in the way things are
done by that party, to go to the
Republican county convention and
see things in action and note how
matters are manipulated?
Did you see that large, determin-
ed looking man, pacing up and down
the lobby Of the Elks' Temple?
Did you notice the worried and
nervous expression on his clean
shaven features while things were
a-borning?
After adjournment, did you note
that the look of suspense on his
face had changed into satisfaction,
that his restless pacing to and fro
had disappeared and he stood on
the sidewalk, calm and cool in de-
meanor?
Had you seen this man hold hur-
ried conferences with the repub-
lican platform committee?
Had you seen him call from the
floor of the convention certain dele
gates and to them clay down the
law" touching how that delegate
should vote a certain precinct?
Then did you see him step back
and watch if the goods were really
delivered?
Did you notice that the voting
was done in such a manner that
this large and handsome gentleman
could check up and tell whether GER
tain ones had voted right?
| Did you notice certain candidates,
who were later nominated, rushing
to this Great Father" and pointing
out some doubling or wavering
Thomas; and in few moments see
said Thomas receive shoulder tap
which involved warning concerning
the disadvantages Of an electric
shock?"
During that session of the So
called republican party, did you
note that every few moments that
rotund and amiable appearing gen.
tlemen rushed to a telephone and
called Exchange 5 for hurried con-
sultatiOn with the car?
Did you note that sometimes the
call was for Exchange II?
Did you understand that this I'M
obtrusive, smiling and bland gentle
man was the confidential agent of
two great corporations, and that his
duty was to see that the right men
were nominated?
Did you know of meeting in a
certain office in the Lindelle block
a short time previous where the
merits and dement's of aspirants
were discussed in star chamber?
If you did not note the matters
suggested above, you would have
been satisfied had you been able
to note the entry of that same
man, smile, satisfaction and all, on
the evening of June 16, into the
sanctum of the president of the
Washington Water Power company
to receive congratulatiOn and ap-
prevail in the possible words, We'll
done, Blocker, thou good and faith
full servant. Thou has been a good
fixer over few people, go thou and
fix many"
Think, Mr.. Taxpayer, what it
means to live and work in a com
munity where one of it's great polit-
ical parties is dominated by one
monster with two heads and many
willing hands!
Contrast, now, that other scene in
that same Elks' Temple. on July
2S. Men gathered there selected
by the popular vote of great pol
! itical party. A committee carefully
counting the votes. The convention
unanimously adopting. without the
semblance of wire-pulling, the will
of the party members and formally
registering that will of the common
people in the ticket composed of
those aspirants who received the
largest vote at a direct primary.
1t is for you, Mr.. Taxpayer, to
choose on the 9th of November,
which method of declaring the
wishes of the people" will be es-