Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-10-29
OUR MAN for CONGRESS-
LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DIST.

conflict is Between Cannon ldrichism and
Progressive Republicans and Democrats
Party Ties Now Loosely Drawn-Econ-
omy and Retrenchmcnt Are Too Import,
ant to Be Lost by Indifference.
Ernest Lister, Of Tacoma, the
Democratic nominee for Congress
from the Second district, is mailing
the following letter to the voters of
the district, outlining his views. as
much H. il is possible in the circum-
scrlhcd limits of a letter. He is
plainly emphatic in declaring where
he will not be- found if elected that
is with the Cannon Aldrich crowd.
Below is the letter:
10 the voters of the Second Con-
greSSiOnal District:
As YOU are aware. ! was nominal
cd FOR Congress at the Democratic.
district convention held in Olympia
on October 2ud. ON account of the
short time in which To mallc the
campaign, it will be- impossible for
M" 10 see more than Il small number
of the voters of the district. am
therefore taking this method of rep
rcScntlng my candidacy to You.
Never in the history of parties
were party ties So loosely drawn as at
present. The result of the different
votes taken on the tariff bill during
the late session of Congress. when
We found the progressive Republicans
and progressive Democrats aligned
on one side, and on the other the so
called regular or Cannon Aldrich
Republicans and portion of the
Democrats; the holding of special
sessions of the Legislature in our
own State during this year at "A cost
of thousands upon thousands of dol
lars without any apparent benefit
whatever To the taxpayers of the
State; the Schively trial; the i'm
menSe increase OF taxes in different
towns, cities and counties: all of
these CAUSES have resulted in the
voters becoming more independent in
their actions SO that now they are
looking more closely into the records
OF the individuals nominated for of
flee, and Scrutinizing the position
they take upon important matters, in
deciding upon the candidate who will
receive their support.
While | do not favor taking one
backward step in our State. whose
resources. in my opinion. are rquallcd
by no other State in the Union, vet |
feel that our progress ought To be
made along safe and sane lines. This
line Is not bein. followed when the
State, county and municipal taxes of
some of the smaller towns and cities
in our district have reached from } 10
u per cent. per year on the assessed
valuation of the property. In the
larger cities the taxes are not so
high. but reach to between 81 and
per cent. of the assessed valuation.
While this more closely refers to
matters within Our State. vet the
tendency of Congress has been along
! the same lines during recent sessions,
and feel that every effort should be
put forth to hold the expenses of the
national government down to the
lowest poSSibI" point consistent with
the proper management of its affairs
and the continuation Of the necessary
| improvements.
In short letter it would be impOS-
| Sible to outline my views on the diff
ferent issues that now confront the
people. but | think that | can Shor
what my position would be by stat
ing. that should be elected to Con
| greSS by the voters of my district,
my alignment would not be with the
Cannon Aldrich' type Of Republic
cans or with Democrats who support
them. but would be with the pro
grcSSive Democrats and Republicans
| have resided in the State for the
last twenty-five years. For four
years occupied the position of Com
missioner of Public Institutions. and
| for two years was Chairman ot the
State Board of Control, having
framed the law under which the pub
lie institutions are now managed.
This year | was elected Il member OF
the Charter Revision Commission OF
| Tacoma; the work of this Commits
sion was recently completed. and to-
day an election is being held to pass
upon the charter prepared
If you feel. after investigating my
record. that | would better repre-
sent the interests of our district and
its people than would my opponent,
! | earnestly solicit not only your vote
at the polls on November I'd, but,
also. your active support
Very respectfully.
ERNEST LISTER.
Tacoma. Wash, Oct. 16, 1909.