The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-10-14

ledge in Olympia, They were COM
mon knowledge at the time they &C.
cured and to any person endowed
with the most rudimentary reasoning
powers they should forever bar any ap-
peal of innocence on the part of par
ticipating members OF the supreme
court. They deliberately exerted
themselves to amend the direct pri
mary law and should be made to stand
the consequences.
After the adjournment of the regular
session Of 1909 and the return to their
homes of the Legislators, it was borne
in upon the lawmakers that the people
were bitterly dissatisfied with the
amendent OF the direct primary law.
Then came the special session. 1t
was the intention OF many members to
repeal the judicial convention act, but
once more members of the supreme
court crafty interviewed. They and
their friends were ever watchful and
were never lacking in impediments in
the way OF repeal. A supreme court
DESTROYS of repeating the judicial con-
vention law had an ideal opportunity at
the special session, Of which opportuni-
ty needless to say its friends carefully
RETAINED from taking advantage.
Neither did the members Of the
court seeking election take objection
to the manner of selecting the dele
gates to the convention OF Aug. 8,
1910. 1t was a widely known fact
that for the most part these delegates
were selected at secret caucuses which
made no pretense OF representing the
will or wishes Of the people. This vio-
lation OF the spirit of the direct primary
law passed without unfavorable com
ment on their part.
Coming down to later days, when
this hand-picked convention assembled
in Tacoma on August 8 for the purpose
of naming a judicial ticket in pursu-
ance to the judicial convention act,
these members of the supreme court
were among those present, altho they
were we'll aware that every act OF the
convention was to be in accordance
with plans made long before the con-
vention assembled. These judges
knew, as certain as man may know
anything, that they were to be nom
mated by convention which in no
way represented the people, but which
in every way represented the dominat-
ing interests. Yet they made no pro-
test, but waited with contentment for
their expectations to be fulfilled.
In this same convention a resolution
was offered pledging the repeal OF the
judicial convention law. Here with
their nominations assured, these five
judges could al no political expense
to themselves have indicated their dis
taste with the present law and assured
the passage OF the resolution. But
they were discreetly silent, as beftted
the bene6ciaries OF the system.
Not one of these justices hesitated
for second to accept the nomination
from the hands of this mis-representa-
tive convention. By this very accept
ance they endorsed every step that had
been taken by the foes of the direct
primary. The nominations were not
forced upon them; they had every av-
enue OF escape open. But as matter
of fact they were the five most pleased
men in the state OF Washington. The
Post idea, fostered by Shafer and
nursed by Graves, Palmer and Knick-
erbocker, had with their aid borne
fruit-they were renominated.
Then appeared the Non-Partisan
Judiciary League, and the complacent
nominees and their standpat newspaper
supporters became uneasy. UneasineSs
grew to panic when the progressive
cause swept the state. Arrogant silence
disappeared and courteous willingness
to talk took its place. When the Non
Partisan League held its nominating
convention in Tacoma, Librarian Sha-
fer, first friend OF the court, was pres
ent to stem if possible the trend of
events. 1t was hopeless. When the
democratic convention met the follow
ing day, Shafer, reinforced by John c.
Higgins, who thimble-rigged the King
county republican delegation, was
there pleading for two of the five mem
bers of the court and to no avail