The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1908-05-08
WHO WILL BE GOVERNOR !?

lie O0dCClC clllOu1lCO0
that it will support Governor Mead IN his
candidacy for the Republican nomination
in the direct primary to be held next Sep
tember. This announcement has been eX-
pected for some time and it forecasts the
lineup that will be made between Mead
and Mcbride, and in the judgment OF the
Bulletin will result in the selection of S.
G. Cosgrove of Pomeroy on the second
choice provision of the direct primary law.
The Bulletin not only believes Cosgrove
is a winner, but that he ought to secure
the nomination This newspaper believes
the Republican party will be in better
shape to make winning fight with Cos
grove as it's nominee than with any other
candidate now before the people There is
bound to be bitter contest between Mead
and Mcbride, and in the event of the Selec-
ton of either the bitterness of the prim-
ary campaign is certain to have an effect
on the election afterwards.
Following his defeat four years ago
Governor Mcbride retired to public life
and has not since been active in any of the
partys affairs He unquestionably con-
tributed his influence towards the effort to
defeat the party nominee He could very
appropriately have left this to his support
ers, who felt aggrieved over his defeat, and
himself have given the entire ticket the
support it was entitled to, but he sulked in
his quarters and now comes forth bearing
the banner Of the railroad lobby he so op-
posed
While nominated by the railroads and
corporations of the state, Mead has stood
steadfastly with the people, and Mcbride
himself could not have done more to secure
the legislation he pretended to favor than
has Governor Mead.
This newspaper is not in favor Of the
denomination of Governor Meade for other
reasons, but it is going to be perfectly fair
towards him, as it is towards all aspirants
for public position. Its reasons for Oppos-
ing Governor Mead are largely personal
and it is not trying to hide behind any other
pretext or deception. These are reasons
sufficient to our mind, to justify us in op-
posing him. If he is renominated this pa
per will support him, because it believes he
is honest and means to do the square thing
by the public, even if he is lacking in judg-
ment and steadfastness of purpose.
Before Henry Mcbride is entitled to the
support of Republicans, even those who
supported him four years ago. it will be
necessary for him to explain the activity
in his behalf of the men whom he SO bit
terly opposed at that time. 1t requires no
high and lofty tumbling for the lobbyist to
explain their support of Mcbride. They
called him all kinds of scoundrel then and
say now it was because he was opposed to
them and not because he really was what
they claimed That's equivalent to saying
he is with them now.
Mcbride found it advantageous to de-
nounce them four years ago, but inexpedi-
ent to do so now There is but one infer
ence, and that he is now the candidate of
the lobby and the bosses of the machine.
From the house tops he denounced the lob
by yet it infested the capital as never be-
fore, during his administration. Mead said
nothing but quietly eliminated the lobby,
and it has been less in evidence during his
administration than ever before in the his
tory of the state