The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-04-25
WHOSE'S RESPONSIBLE?

on the point-of-view, and the point-of
view seems to switch with easy alac-
rity according to the interest of the
possessor thereof.
For eight years prior to January Is,
1913, the governor was held by num-
Der of ardent sympathizers OF the tax
payers to be wholly and solely re-
spOnsible for appropriations. Since
that date the entire responsibility has
shifted, by some strange process to
the legislature, if we continue to be-
lieve these worthless.
1t is just possible that this changed
point-ofview is coeval with the
change from republican administra
ton to democratic administration
by mere accidental coincidence. AS
a rule, however, there is a reason and
a cause even for apparently acciden-
tai condolences, and the reason I'M
DERIVING the sudden change in this
case doubtless lies in the modest
shrinking from responsibility inner
ent in the democrats, or. more correct
ly, habitual from lack of experience
in being entrusted by the people with
the responsible cares of government
Last summer Mr. Ernest Lister, of
Tacoma, was one of a number of am
bilious democrats VINO sought the
tltn c-fD ri n,,l hnn fNe
his party in the state before the pri-
maries. 1t developed that a majority
of the democrats in the state, at that
time, did not hold him in sufficiently
high esteem to honor him with their
confidence, but conferred the distinc-
ton of party leader upon Judge Black.
of Everett. Later Judge Black was
declared Ineligible for the office OF
governor by the state supreme court,
on the strength of very wholesome
constitutional provision which inhib-
its judges to aspire for any other Of
flee during the term for which they
are elected. Mr.. Lister, being a clever
and mature politician, Immediately
pulled the wires on the democratic
state central committee and extracted
a hand picked" nomination from
them, and thus became the leader of
his party in spite of the expressed will
of the party rank and file. He at once
entered upon vigorous campaign in
which he was ably assisted by E. W.
Ross, John H. Schively. Otto A. Case
and other detected republican and
bull moose politicians He made
economy his battle cry, and whirled
up and down the byways and high
ways denouncing the extravaganza of
his chief opponent, upon whom he
loaded all responsibility for the ap-
preparations made in 1909 and 1911,
and he repeatedly and earnestly de-
clared that in the event of his cleo
ton he would reduce the cost of state
government 100000 a year. or S4.-
100000 biennium, over what it had
been costing the sorely burdened tax
payers. He used an editorial that an
peared with strange and unaccount-
able apportunism in the Wall Street
Journal, of New York, as his princi-
pal ammunition, and he published that
article broadcast throughout the state
as justifiable and truthful presenta-
ton of the facts concerning the finan-
cial management and condition of
He may have been mis-
lead into honestly believing the ar
ticle, but, If so, he displayed a woeful
ignorance in that belief. That, how
ever is of little importance. The
point to remember is that as a candi-
date for the high Office of governor he
expressly charged his chief opponent.
the then incumbent, with the respon-
slblllty for the size Of the "extrava-
giant appropriations" of the two pre-
vious legislative sessions. and prom
ised again and again, if he were vest
ed with the powers and duties of GOV
ernor, that the appropriations made
by each legislature during his tenure
would be less by 100000 a year. or
$4'oOO,OOO a session, than those made
during the term of his rival.
Now Ernest Lister was doubtless
honest and sincere when he made
those emphatic promises to the people
OF this state. At least enough of the
people, by 600, believed him to be both
honest and sincere. He became gov
ernor There was talk of a contest of
the election because of alleged frudu-
lent counting of votes in Tacoma and |
seattle. Lister got very busy with
the members of the Legislature e,oo+ |
10 Dlock all possibility of a contest
and through Representative Hughes
d Whatcom, the shrewd and capabIe
ioor leader of the democrats in +ho
house, he secured a friendly organi-
,ation of that branch of the lep;sla-
ure. The votes of the Democratic
members made possible the election of
'aylor as speaker of the house.
Inc senate was also organized nv
listers friends. Lieut.. Gov. Hart nc
PRESIDENT of that body, put througb .
late for committee appointments an
'roved by Lister, the most important
assignment in republican senate
nat OF chairman of the appropriations
onmittee, going to a democrat
warm personal friend of Lister 9 on
tor Troy of Jefferson county.
Inc chairman of the approximations
oiiiliiittee IN the house was JIMMY
"f.coma a republi ~. ~ ,
I'D