The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1910-07-21
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This state is naturally DIVIDED ny
the Cascade mountains. The needs D
the Western half OF the state are
as different from the needs Oh u.
Eastern half as its climate, Its SOIL
its industries. Eastern Washington
men can no more truely represent
Western Washington-no matter no"
willing they are-than Iowa OF Mill
esota men can represent EasIei
Washington. And, we send men 10 the
Senate to represent us--you ana anu
our interests.
Western Washington is interested
in a merchant marine. 1t Is interest,"
ed in harbor Improvements. 1t Is III
terested in ship canals. 1t IS interest,"
ed in navy yards warships ana coast
protection 1t is interested III Hsht
houses and life saving stations.
Eastern Washington cares little
for these things. Its views on these
subjects are as far afield as the views
of the Iowa farmer. 1t is interested
in government irrigation schemes, the
conservation of water sheds ana
MANY things for which We have only
a passing interest of pride. Eastern
Washington as whole IS raw
product producing section. western
Washington is d raw product consum-
ing section. as a whole. They grow
the wheat and we grind it and export
it. They raise the cattle, we slaught-
pr. pack and ship them to the nations
of the earth. There are exceptional ag-
ricultural spots on the West Side
like the Nooksack Valley and there
are exceptional manufacturing an
commercial spots perhaps on the morn
ing side of the Cascades.
But. as a whole. the Eastern part of
the state has interests that are as
much unlike our interests as the in
terests of Iowa are unlike those OF
New York.
Our system of government provides
fer choosing representatives from
districts and senators from states
that each commonwealth may have
a voice in the legislative halls. There
are few states divided, as is this, by
nature, else. senators perhaps would
also be chosen from districts. Here
tofore this state has recognized the
right of each of its two, so totally
different, sections to representation In
the Senate, and by mutual consent one
senator has been chosen from the
Western and one from the Eastern
half. Only a few years ago when
Western Washington politicians I'M
dertook to grab second Senator
there was loud cry from the East
ern half cry that appealed to the
farmers even of Western voters.
Now the shoe is on the other foot
1t is the Eastern half of the state
hntl
cannot do it without Western Wash
ington votes. Will it get them? Why
should it get them?
Who is this man PoindeXter? What
has he ever done? either for the
Eastern or Western part of the state,
He is an insurgent," is the only
recommendation that comes from
the East.
Well so am | an lnsurgent. Why
not elect me to the Senate? Why
not? Why, because | am not
statesman, because | have never done
anything to prove my fitness for the
office, because the people don
know me.
What has Poindexter ever done
Where has Poindexter proved his sta
tesmanship? What do the people o.
this state know of Poindexter He
says he is an Insurgent. Insurgent IA
gainst what? He was against the ruiz
of Cannon. Did Cannon know it,
Insurgent against the tariff that did
not revise downward. Let's see
What did he do? Was his speech
in favor of removing the tariff OF
lumber? Was it his speech thai
echoed from the front pages of the
dailies even In his home town? In
surgent? He is an Insurgent for Of
fice.He dare not measure his strength
against the East Side senator-Hon
Wesley l.. Jones, One year from now
so he would seek to slip in this yeal
when it is Western Washington
turn to elect "A senator. He hopes
to carry his section of the state easily
tor surely it would rather have two
senators than one even though he Is
hot considered a heavy weight. And
he hopes, with the West Side split VI
by four or five candidates to secure
enough Insurgent votes here to make
him the choice at the primaries.
And, his hopes may be realized
Western Washington is unfortunate
in having SO many able men men
who have done things and who are ca.
pable OF doing things more.
There is Wilson, Ashton and Burke
all able men-anyone capable OF
making a mark in the Senate, but
fighting so bitterly against each Other
that all may stay at home to let this
man PoindeXter go to the Senate.
The Tribune has a choice of West
Side man, and it positively dislikes
one of the present candidates. but
II would gladly support anyone OF
the three if the other two were
Withdrawn, In preference to seeing
the toga go to the East Side. So
long as all are in the race there is no
use in making choice. Unless at
least one of the West Side candida
ties withdraw in our humble opinion
Eastern Washington is going to pic !,
our Senator. 1t may not be Poindex-