The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-12-03

dem ocratic parties Of the territory
were reasonably favorable 10 the rail
road company, and it. was certain that
the people would vote for any reason
able plank in the territorial platform
that would favor an extention of time
for the completion of the railroad.
Yet they would safeguard their own
and the territory's interests.
The railroad company, together with
the o. L. * y. company, which had it's
agents and friends along its lines Of
trans pOrtatiOn. undertook to manipu-
late both PARTIES. The railroad con-
pany demanded an unconditional ex-
tension of time. The people of the
/ territory, while willing to ask congress
to allow the extenlion of time, felt that
! they had interests which should be pro.
tected.
When the conventions, were held, the
democratic platform unfortunately was
dictated by the railroad party, but the
republican platform firmly voiced the
interests Of the people. Here, at last,
was well defined contest between the
railroad Interests and the people, to be
/ fought out with great warmth, and
even bitterness, before the end of the
campaign. At the very outset the
chances seemed favorable to the success
of HE railroad company. The men
who headed the tickets As candidates
Cation, (democratl and Judge Thomas
II. Brent, republican,, both of WaIla
Walla. Both We're Go)i men. Neither
one, think, had anything to do with
the framing of the railroad plank in
his platform: yet each accepted the
position in which he was placed, and
conducted himself accordingly. The
interest in the railroad plank over
Swallowed all other political questions
at that time. II Mr. Cation were elect
ed he wonld go before congress with a
resolution adopted by vote of his con-
stituents which would read, THAT we
favored an unconditional eXtention of
time for the completion of the Mort hern
Pacific railroad"
If Mr.. Brents were elected it would
be because the voice Of the people had
said that. 1--WE favor an eXtention Of
time for the completion of the North
ern Pacific railroad, Vrovid ID that they
build at least - NIL year from
Puget sound east
one of the planSs, twill be observed
was wholly in the interests Of the rail-
road company; the other, while favor
ing the railroad. did not neglect the
interests of the people. Which should
triumph? Should the railroad com
pany by one bold, decisive campaign,
become supreme force in the common
wealth or should the people arise in
their just anger and assert that they
had certain inalienable rights which
were too dear to be surrendered to the
corporations?
Colonel Black, the railroad COM
pany's superintendent, undertook to
furnish an answer at the coming cleo.
ton which would be so emphatic, so
conclusive and so thoroughly adverse
TO the people'' wishes that they would
forever afterward be guided In all po-
litical questions by the dictates of the
co, pOrations He first gave his lieu
tenants in Office, and next all laborers
on the pay rolls of the Northere Pacific
to understand thai if they valued their
positions they must talk, work and vote
for the democratic party at the coming
election, aud especially for the head of
the ticket They were ordered to at
tend this meeting or to stay away from