Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-01-31

ago, while apparently hopeful sign,
since 1t places their stamp of approval
upon questions they have bitterly as
sailed, really shows incapacity for
leadership, lack of convictions. and un-
willingness to assist the march Of
progress, until threatened with abso.
lutte destruction. This is SUFFICIENT to
show that the Republican party can
never be revamped into any semblance
CT Its former condition of virility.
The so-called Progressive party ap.
peared upon the scene rather abruptly.
1t is not newborn party with pros.
pect Of future development through
growth into symmetrical entity. 1t
Is not birth at all, but an amputa-
ticn. The surgeons who performed the
operation on the Republican party left
less avoirdupois on the operating table
than they took away. Whether most
Of the vital organs were taken, or left
In the patient. Is q mooted question,
but one organ has been definitely 10.
Gated: the spleen was left with the pa.
tient on the table,
There was probably too much blood
letting and too much shock for either
portion Of the erstwhile Republican
giant to survive. As Governor Osborn
says Of the old party, 1.-THE patient is
weak and anaemic." In the meantime
the Progressive leaders are calling LUIS.
tily for volunteers to sacrifice. cuticle
for the skin grating necessary to heal
their party's wounds. The Progress.
sives have not decided 30 far whether
to re-organize first or organize.
The Socialists after most spectacu.
lar display of political activity appear
to be Quiescent. The Socialists are in
no reflective mood-they. begin to re-
alize that they like q breaker on the
seashore which rises high and flows
far inland when the waves are storm
dashed, only to be returned to the pa
rent body by the immutable laws of
gravitation, will sooner or later be
compelled to forget their aloofness and
join forces with those who are build
ing bridge to cross the stream imme.
diately before them, rather than waste
effort to evolve constructive plans to
surmount obstacles that may have no
existence outside Of the realms of fan.
cy. Some Of the Jagged points in their
propaganda are wearing down. They
will soon lop of many Of the contra.
dictory points that show them up in q
false light. and In due time they will
be content under the beneficence OF
real democratic principles.
The Democratic party does ont need
reorganization. but survey is advis.
able and an inspection to take up the
password as 1t were. also some drilling
on the countersign and the manual of
arms. Defeat has It's terrors, and VIC
tory its perils; vigilance must not be
relaxed in the hour Of triumph. 1t
would be criminal to yield to cunning
what was gained by hard work and
patience.
The battle for human rights. as a
Democrat understands them. ia just
beginning. 1t Is important that all
Democrats understand them alike. We
must know what we want before we
can hope to get 1t. The re-organiza-
ton of all the other parties will not
endanger the Democratic party II the
individual members will see to 1t that
Democracy becomes a condition and
not theory.
How this can be done effectually and
expeditiously Ia the real task ahead Of
the organization. Concerted action
will turn the trick.
Consult with your neighbor who is
a Democrat and expound your princi-
pies before the neighbor who is not.
Get acquainted with our public serv.
ants, and don't be afraid to voice your
opinions, but fortify yourself by hav.
ing right and truth on your side. Get
into the habit of writing to our off,
clais clothed with a little brief au.