The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-02-02
Admirer of This Districts Repre-
sentative in Lower House of
Congress Writes Impressions of
Washington Patriot lnsurgent.

Washington Patriot lnsurgent.
From time to time the Herald has
published articles which have ap-
peAred in the leading dailies as well
as weekly and monthly periodicals of
the country laudatory to Congressman
Poindexter. These have made it clear
that the Washington congressman is
fast making place for himself in the
national capital because of his fear
less attitude toward the "stand-pat'
wing of the republican party That he
Is mum bered among the insurgent pa
triots who are fighting for a cleaner
and better administration Of affairs
within and without the republican
party has been attested again and
again AS another evidence of the
popularity of his fight the Herald re-
produces herewith a. letter from one
of his ardent admirers. 1t follows:
NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 1910.
EDITOR HERALD:
Dear Sir-Writing entirely as a dis
interested person, a nonresident of
the state of Washington, but one who
Is interested in the welfare of the peo-
pie everywhere, and particularly in
the reform movement of today, it is
my pleasure to write and congratulate
the people of Washington upon the
representation of their state by Miles
Poindexter, member OF the house of
representatives in the national capitol.
I became so interested in this man
through observing his effective work
with the progressive element Of the re-
publican party that sought him out
and made his acquaintance for the
purpose of probing his motives and
estimating his sincerity. 1 sum up
the result of my observations by say
ing that he Is a true reformer and
true man Of the people.
Mr.. Poindexter has developed a re-
markable influence in the house dur
ing his brief sojourn at Washington.
He is a member Of the so-called in
surgent wing of the republican party
He Is accused by his party of being
traitor to the pledges Of the republi-
cans. This is not true. There is not
one Of these progressive republicans
Who il a traitor They stano for every
thing that is good and pure in national
legislation and in political work. They
q
which will make 1t impossible for the
speaker to hold despotic power. For
this they are termed insurgents.
These progressives stood for an i'm
partial investigation of both parties to
the -Pinchot- controversy,
and not an investigation that would
simply approve of the presidents nu-
merous vindications. They said, in the
~
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
purpose will be to issue findings as per
instructions" Because these progress
sive republicans stand for this kind Of
investigation they are branded as
traitors to their party and enemies to
the administration. And why? Be-
cause Mr.. Taft. the president of the
United States. has already vindicated
Mr.. Ballinger and declared THAT he has
been guilty of committing no wrong,
and II the house committee on investi-
cation should find against Mr.. Balling-
er the president of the United States
would be totally discredited for the re-
mainder of his presidential term, and
this would very possibly be fatal to the
republican party. Therefore, republi-
cans are asked to place party above
right, to exonerate Mr.. Ballinger no
matter what wrongs he has been guilty
of. simply because the president has
already INDICATED him.
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 dis
credited, for the sake of DONG 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 in
f1uence greater. He will go before
them without the endorsement of the
republican leaders, but | would like to
ask if any citizen wants the endorse
ment of the leaders of party who
advocate criminal legislation? IT 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 lvok loi
emancipation from the control of the
national legislation by special inter-
ests.
1t is not only a 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
belong 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 happi-
ness of the masses, and the people OF
these United States must learn that be-
fore they can secure relief they must
send to the nations capitol men who
are not obligated to vote with the
whips of their party who are entirely
composed of men who are placed there
by the financial interests of this coun-
try.
When the insurgents say 1--WE want
to remove Cannon" they do not mean
the Individual; their purpose is to re-
move the obnoxious system prevailing
In the house today of house control of
bills which was instituted at the close
of the civil war, when it was absolutely
essential that the republican party
control The instituting of this rule
in those terrible days of reconstruc-
ton. l submit, was entirely necessary,
hut IT was a condition for good which
was allowed TO prevail beyond the
period when it was required, and until
II became an evil of tremendous ma
tional Importance.