The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-06-03
PLAIN TRUTH FROM POINDFXTER
Writes Letter to ElIensburg Man-Wiling
That Voters Should Judge Him
on His Record

Hon. E. K. Brown, Ellensburg, Wash;
Dear Sir have yours Of recent
date and note your statement as to the
Misrepresentation of certain Seattle
and Tacoma papers questioning my
party conduct. In reply, l would say
that I do not propose to submit the
question of my republcanism to the
decision of John L. Wilson or John E.
Humphries; neither do I propose to
submit it to the convention called for
the purpose of nominating judges OF
the supreme court. The nomination
of judges Of the supreme court should
be kept entirely free from bitter parti-
san politics and should not be involved
in any way with the senatorial cam
paign. Judges Of the supreme court
should be nominated by the people at
non-partisan primary as was provided
in the direct primary law of 1907; but,
now that a convention has been called
for the purpose of nominating these
judges, it should not be perverted into
vehicle to further the candidacy
either Of standpat or progressive repub-
lican candidates for the senate.
l do not propose, as a candidate for
the senate, to engage in any such con-
test in convention called for the pur-
pose of nominating judges Of the su-
preme court; furthermore, it is notori-
Gus that the demand for a direct pri-
mary nomination law grew out OF con-
troll of conventions by political ma
chimes; and, of course, the big special
interests who thruout the history of our
state have been seeking with more or
less success to dominate its politics,
will seize every opportunity to revert to
the old system which gave such an op-
portunity to the ward boss and corpora
ton agent. 1t is species of political
slavism which should be guarded
against in every way possible. The
direct primary law guarantees to the
party as a whole an opportunity for all
of its adherents to vote directly at the
primary election for their choice for
United States senator unhampered in
any way by caucuses or conventions.
The Tory press of the state has been
| filled with statements that | voted
against the party pledges. Whether
or not l voted against the party pledges
is not to be determined by the ipse
dixit of special friends of the Guggen-
helms and Hill railroads and other big
interests which they are seeking to
promote by special legislation. Their
object is to defeat every law which is
proposed in the interest of the general
welfare and which would interfere in
any way with their monopolistic privi-
leges. They care nothing for party
pledges or party loyalty. Their politi-
cal methods are absolutely unscrupu-
lous, as has been demonstrated on
many occasions. Their attitue towards
politics is identically the same as that
Of Mr.. Havemeyer, the head of the
sugar trust, who testified before SEN
ate committee that he was in the habit
OF contributing to campaign funds.
When asked to which party he con-
tributed, he replied:
That depends on circumstances.
To which party do you contribute
in Massachusetts,"
To the republican party"
TO which party do you contribute
in New York;"
To the democratic party"
ITO which party do you contribute
in New Jersey7"
well, that is a doubtful state, and
I will have to consult the books as tc
that"
This indicates accurately the real
attitude Of the big interests towards
party loyalty and party principles. They
are for the party which will serve theil
interests; and it has been demonstrated
during this congress on many occasions
as we'll as elsewhere that they maintain
support in both political parties. Sen
ator Foraker and Representative Joe
Sibley look alike TO them. Theil
agents are the machines and bosses il
both parties. During the last munich