Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-01
The Result Of Precedent.

Robinson, was in the very hey day o
his political prosperity, that he held t.
quite u different opinion for the
manner OF arriving at JUS. express
sion Of party opinion as TO choice o.
repreScu tativCS TO conventions anC
nomination of officers, from what he
does now. II will be borne in mind
by those blessed with good memories,
that many-oh very many years
ago, the Judge was allowed to retire
with piece of paper on which tc
indite the names Of delegates to the
Territorial Convention, and We
thought then that the custom might
become a matter of abuse, from the
fact that SO judicious and impartial
an arbiter might not always be chO-
sen, or be indeed available, and time
has demonstrated the infallibility OF
our Judgment, for it has now become
known that delegates to the last Re-
publican State convention were Sc
lected by the "hatchet-faced man.
ager" of the Recorder, in the rear
room Of the County Auditors Office,
by this man, who still acts as chair
man of the Republican Central Com
mittee, and one outsider" In fact
it is said that all the details Of said
convention as well as choice Of dele
gates was arranged by the same
"hatchet-face," or as some other
Republicans call him, the cross be-
tween a seed art and the tooth
ache" having had his way in every
thing. This is little of the private
history of the party which makes it
possible for Tacoma made form of
politics to dominate the Republican
party of Thurston county. Now
that the people know how they have
been used by this unprincipled ele-
ment, it is safe to say it will be held
in check by the honest men of the
party.
1t is with profound satisfaction
that we now find that some OF the
wiser Republicans have occasion to
see just where boss rule inevitably
lands a party which gives way for u
prolonged time to gang-rule. 1t has
its effect. like drip on the stone, from
the highest to the lowest. 1t is seen
in National as well as State politics
in County as we'll as Municipal ma
neuvers. With it, may be truly said
Nothing conspires for success more
than success" Whenever the aver.
age politician, especially of the Office
seeking sort. forms the opinion that
his party is bound to win. regardless
of principle or conduct; that nomina'
ton is equivalent to election; OF
under the direct primary. that sup
port of the bosses will carry orc
through, despite record or fitness
that no matter how infamous ha.
been public life. it will find apologist:
to palliate all transgressions. ane
party zealOts to condone all act.
that may be shown to be in conflic
with a conscientious discharge o
duty; and he is ready to throw repu
tation to the winds and cast his for
tunes with party that. in the goot
old times Of honest endeavor. would
have consigned him to Hades for th'
least deviation from principles uni
versally recognized as fair and hon
est
While the spirit Of retrogression il
party integrity has become so marke'
by long continuation and possession
of power, with scarcely q thought o
accountability to the masses, we ar
glad to observe that as prominent
man in the counsels OF the past o
Judge Robinson. who by cxperienc
has himself been trusted with extra
ordinary power by his party. no les
than the nomination OF q full delega
ton to Territorial Convention
many years ago. can now see int
what troublesome waters his part
has drifted, and who condemns til
policy as vicious and destructive of
unity that should prevail when loca
or general issues have to be matche
to fit.
But his counsel was not needed b
the Thurston County Committe
meeting held Saturday, which was
name the delegates to the State Cor
ventioa held On Aug. Sd to nominal
Supreme Court candidates, when til
issue was well defined and fully di.
cussed of whether the committee ha
the right to name the seventeen deli
gates to Tacoma, or the people OF th
rs precincts to elect them. Th
members of the committee, owing
the skillful manipulation OF w. "
Hopkins. wereall apparessly present
He with the Secretary sat at a tab
! in the rear of the hall. and frol
time to time MIR. Hopkins wrote th
name of some one entering the doc
{ and directed the clerk to add nam
, to the list Of vacancies on the con
} mittee, and occasionally crossin
over the hall for o hurried cor
versation with some incomer il
variably followed by instruction