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

(Skagit County Times, Democratic.)
The new governor is making aDpar-
ent to the people of the state that
when he said that he would not play
politics with the legislature he meant
what he said. He has made no move
SO far that is not intended to produce
results beneficial to the state and the
people now here and who are to come,
and be 1t said to the credit of the Re-
publican legislature that it is respond
ing in kind TO the governors recon-
mendations and desires. The right
spirit Is there and with due thought
end restraint in relation to appropria-
tons, the people may expect more and
better results from the thirteenth as
sembly than any preceding one.
Prophesics Best Administration.
(Colfax Commoner, Democratic.)
Newspapers of the state, regardless
of party politics, are praising Governor
Listers message to the legislature Pa
pers which opposed Listers election
are pronouncing it Sound, sensible
and. If carried out, will make his ad-
ministration one Of the best the state
has ever had" That Lister will make
good is not doubted. II he adheres to
his expressed determination to fill ap-
pointive Offices with men of ability and
base his appointments on merit only,
he will give the state the best admins
tration it has ever had, not excepting
that Of Governor Rogers, in which Lis.
ter, as chairman of the board of con-
troll. played a large part.
LOgged-On Lands.
(South Tacoma Press, Progressively
When Governor Lister in his speech
suggested that the logged-off lands be
cleared at the states expense, he sug-
gested thing that would solYe more
than one vital question now troubling
the state. This would result in not
Ionly an increase Of revenue to the
Estate but the bonded indebtedness
would be paid of with interest as fast
as the rescued land was developed.
| The logged lands are the most desir-
ed lands that exist in the state after
the second year of cultivation. They
would be covered with the class of set
tiers who through their thrift make Tor
progress and good citizenship and who
give to the state the large families of
robust man and womanhood needed to
drown the ever increasing flow Of
weaklings brought from congested dis
tricts.
The state can afford to clear these
lands or pay the settler suitable
amount, living wages, for the clearing
of the lands they would like to own
and develop. The state should not ask
dollar In return in payment for the
lands until the first crop has been sold
! from the cleared land. People with
money enough to buy cleared land will
lot consent to go to the far away acres
of the state where hardships face the
! pioneer. These are not the ones who
need the assistance of the state to clear
] the lands. The man Of family who
needs acreage to support those depend
ent upon him is the one who will work
,,'and develop place. This is the man
who needs the state to help him clear
the land. The price asked by the state
should not be so high that prospective
settlers will hesitate to take the land
and no land should be sold on such
conditions unless the buyer is man
of family. If this were made one of
the requirements there would be less
land held for speculation