The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-02-04
New York Man AdmireS POindeSter


person, nonresident of the state o
Washington, but one who is interested
in the welfare of the people every
where, and particularly in the reform
movement of today, it is my pleasure
to write and congratulate the people o.
Washington upon the representation Of
their state by Miles Poindexter, mem
Der of the house Of representatives in
the national capitol. I became so in
terested in this man through observing
his effective work with the progressive
element Of the republican party that
sought him out and made his acquaint-
ance for the purpose of probing his
motives and estimating his sincerity. I
sum up the result Of my observations
by saying that he is true reformer and
true man Of the people.
Mr.. Poindexter has developed a re-
markable influence in the house during
his brief sojourn at Washington. He
is a member of the so-called insurgent
wing OF the republican party. He is
accused by his party Of being a traitor
to the pledges Of the republicans. This
is not true. There is not one OF these
progressive republicans who is traitor
They stand for everything that is good
and pure in national legislation and in
political work. They demand change
in the house rules which will make it
for the speaker to hold de-
spotic power. For this, they are
termed insurgents.
These progressives stood for an i'm
partial investigation Of both parties to
the Ballinger-Pinchot controversy, and
not an investigation that would simply
approve of the presidents numerous
They said, in the Ian
guage of Mr.. Poindexter, If there is
to be an investigation, let US have a
real and honest investigation and let
the parties to the controversy stand on
their own merits. We do not want a
committee appointed whose sole pur-
pose will be to issue findings as per
Because these progress
sive republicans stand for this kind of
they are branded as trail
tors to their party and enemies to the
And why? Because
Mr.. Taft, the president Of the United
States, has already indicated Mr.. Bal
linger and declared that he has been
guilty of committing no wrong, and if
the house committee on investigation
should find against Mr.. Ballinger, the
president OF the United States would
be totally discredited for the remainder
of his presidential term, and this would
very possibly be fatal to the republican
party. Therefore, republicans are
asked to place party above right, to ex-
onerate Mr.. Ballinger, no matter what
wrongs he has been guilty of, simply
because the president has already vim
dictated him.
I admire Mr.. Poindexter and his col
leagues for their stand. He dared to
sacrifice the support Of his party, with
whom today he stands entirely discred-
tied, for the sake OF doing what he
thought was right, and he is going to
the people of Washington to ask them
to elect him to the senate where his
powers will be broader and his influence
greater. He will go before them with
out the endorsement of the republican
leaders, but I would like to ask if any
citizen wants the endorsement of the
leaders of a party who advocate crimi-
nal legislation 1t is to such men as
Miles Poindexter and the other brave
spirits who are associated with him,
that the common people of the United
States must look for emancipation from
the control of the national legislation
by special interests.
It is not only question of the con-
troll of the house by Cannon, or the
appointment of clean investigating
committees, but upon every issue that
comes before the house and senate the
representatives Of the people who be-
long to the republican party are ex-
pected to vote with the party. 1t is
this condition which has accomplished
so much Of corruption and so much Of
evil and so much that is terribly de-
structive to the interests and happiness
Of the masses, and the people of these