The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1910-12-31

letter to this office which is so full of practical
worth that it is here reproduced in full:
The election is over and we are now in posi-
zion to take view of the political battlefield and
possibly see wherein and whereby the democracy
of Washington played so insignificant part in the
last campaign While the democracy of almost
every other state in the Union was either win
ming victories reducing republican majorities to
the vanishing point, Washington has the unique
dictinction of taking its place along side of the
rotton borough of Delaware-these two being
about the only states in the Union that failed to
exhibit little human intelligence on election day.
To my mind nothing is palmer than that we have
ourselves almost wholly to blame for the result in
this state.
I'm the first place, for 10 years the democracy
of this state has failed to show any courage, ag-
gressiveness or confidence in the justice and
righteousness of our cause. In the hope Of elect
ing some one insignificant officer from some par
ticular county, we have stultified ourselves and
suppressed our convictions in regard to the repre-
hensible and unjustifable official record of repub
lican officials from Roosevelt down to the lesser
political satellites in the state of Washington.
We will never win nor deserve to win if we have
not the courage to attack and denounce official
turpitude and dishonesty wherever and whenever
found
again, because of the anxiety of thousands of
democrats to assist the republicans in their fac
tional difference, we have gone to the primaries,
called for republican ballot, and thus not only
made the democratic vote infinitesimal but con-
taminated our democracy and stutified our con-
victons by an unsavory association with republi-
can rottenness. Democracy can not hope to asso-
ciate with republican outcasts on primary day and
hon fo hop of
on election day. The democratic party has itself
and only itself to blame for the amentable showing
made on election day. Had we gone to the polls
on primary day, as we did on election day two
years ago, solid phalanx So, 900 strong, we would
not only have put the fear of God in the hearts
of republicans everywhere, but we would have in
spired such courage and confidence in the hearts
of our democratic associates as to have made our
selves invincible on election day.
May we not. however, out of the blunders of
the past, learn lessons for future guidance? Are
we willing to see brethren in other states win
victory while we neglect not only our duties and
our opportunities, but also act the humilitating
part of assistant republicans? In the last primary
election democrats, generally, instead of acting
the part of brave, courageous and militant demo-
cratic soldiers, apparently preferred to act as
camp followers to the republicans. desire, there
fore, to appeal to you and through you to the dem
ocrats of your county to take an oath never again
to swerve from the path of democratic duty by the
Establishments of the republicans at primary elec-
tions.
The democratic party has every reason to be
proud of its leaders and of the record it has made
when entrusted with power. 1t stands now, as it
has always Stood for justice, for equality before
the law, and for equal rights for all and special
privileges to none. If other democrats forget
their duty and run with the republican hares, let
resolve that it shall never be said of us that we
failed to respond to the bugle call of democracy
when the need for political righteousness was i'm
perative.
'The recent democratic victory throughout the
country presages the election of democratic pres
ident two years from now. want you to join me-
and from this hour on let us volunteer our services
and make ourselves worthy of joining in the great
democratic triumph which is sure to come, Let
US agitate, let us educate, let us organize, and at
all times let us stand for civic decency and pro-
gress; let us fight for honesty and efficiency in
government affairs, and let us have the freedom
to think and the courage to speak the truth as we
see it. And, finally, let us be
True to our coors. Though the shadows grow dark
We will spread our white sails as before,
And stand by the rudder that governs our bark
Nor ask how we look from the shore.
~-CHAS. G. HEIFNER, Chairman"
The present tax system in Washington, says the
tax commission, is crude, unjust, unfair and
serious hindrance to the development of the state,
and that under the constitutional limitation of
Washington I'VE are confined to the general prop
erty tax" and that under this system the heaviest
burden is placed upon the common everyday and