Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-08-15
OR"PARTYF FEAL7Y"
DUTY TO Citizenship COMES Be-
FORE PARTY OBLIGATIONS.
Political Parties Are Useful Tools of
Government, but Nav Become a
Dangerous Master. Republican
Majority So Great in This State as
to Compel Action with II.

While political parties are useful
instruments of constitutional govern
ment, good citizenship demands 10y
atty to good government in prefer
enco to blind or sentimental party
fealty. The editor of The Herald be-
lieves in parties. and has been an ac-
tive party man for nearly forty years.
For rs years he has labored to main
tain democratic organization in Che
halls county, and as he is about to
take different position in the COM
ing campaign, it is, perhaps, due to
those to whom he has preached party
fealty in years gone by to assign his
reasons. This he will briefly attempt
to do:
Political conditions in Chehalis
county and the state of Washington
are such that citizen is practically
debarred from participation in public
affairs unless he acts with, by and
through the republican party. That
party is SO largely in the majority
that it's nominees are sure to become
our officials, SO that to have a voice
in the selection of the public servants
one must take part in the nomina-
tions of that party. A hopeless min
Ority simply stands aside while the
big majority divides between those
desiring clean, economical and hon.
est administration of public affairs,
and combination of ambitious poll
ticians, grafters and tax dodgers,
with the chances largely in favor Of
the latter.
Were the minority to unite with
the former element of the republican
party they would hold the balance
l~~
men for office and become real fac
tor in government instead of senti-
mental set of dummies. In state and
county affairs there are no questions
of political import; all agree that we
desire the best form of government
obtainable for the least outlay, yet
one hears the politician and agent of
the tax dodger denouncing the voter
who does not vote for constable or
wreckmaster because of views of the
candidate on the tariff or currency re-
form. What rot!
In national affairs, parties are u.s.
ually divided upon lines of public
policy, and in those elections it is
right for the voter to support the can
ddate favOring what he believes to be
the best for the nation. But the pres
ent campaign presents no such align
ment. The division is not on party
lines, but is a struggle between the
we'll intrenched interests with special
privileges, and those upon whom they
prey.
The record of the late session of
congress proves this to be the con-
ditiOn that confrOnts us. The powers
were able to rally both democratic
and republican votes in support of
Cannon and duties on raw materials;
they are able to run the republican
party in California in the interest of
the Southern Pacific railway and the
democratic party in New Nork to suit
the traction magnateS and other Big
Interests. How little those agents of
the interests care for party fealty"
is shown in Indiana, where the repub-
lican bosses would prefer to have
complaisant democrats elected than
to have Beveridge Win his way back
to the senate. In Wisconsin, the an.
hilation of Senator LaFollette would
give the same element great pleasure,
and so on through the states of Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio, and other
states where revolt against special
privilege is on.
The battle for return representa-
tiFS SONSI HHcIlI lS SOiuS OIl all over
the nation, and, in the state of Wash
ington it were folly or worse to give
party sentiment as an excuse for
avoiding the fray. The issue is the
People VS.. The Interests, and the
nominees of the republican party are
going to represent this state in the
halls of congress, including you and
Il. 1t is up to us at the primary elec-
ton to say who they shall be.
Consider the candidates. For the
United States senate, we must chose
between PoindeXter, Wilson and
Burke, one of those three are to rep
resent the state for the next six years.
The two latter are what is termed
reactionaries, party first, country-neXt
men, either of whom would be emin-
emily satisfactory to the powers that
have gained control of the republican
party The third took his stand for
the people in the house of congress,
and is now paying the penalty. To
overthrow him The interests, through
a controlled press and the pie count
er politicians have made him target
for all the abuse their vocabulary is
capable of.
The powers in control of the repub-
lican organization would read out of
the party" Mr. PoindeXter. and those
like him who believe that politics
means principles and public service.
Yet, the political record of PoindeXter
is clear. Believing in the single gold
standard, he quit the democratic mar
ty in 1S96-just as did Candi3ate
Burke-and seems TO have made 50
good as republican superior jadge
that the people of the third district
promoted him to congress, also as u
republican. In his campaign two