Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-03-21
BLOCKED BY THE
MACHINE, LISTER
STILL WINS MUCH
Succeeds in Defeating to Large
Extent Republicans Game to
Make Administration Costly.
PEOPLE ENDORSE POSITION.
Blame for Extravaganza Lies
Wholly With a Legislature
Which Is Condemned.
dBy Eagle Freshwater in the Aberdeen
Herald for March 1S)

4By Eagle Freshwater in the Aberdeen
Herald for March 1S)
Grim and silent in their austerity
the halls ard lobbies of the capitol
building which for the last 60 days
have echoed and re-echoed with the
tramping of many feet, the clarion out
bursts of one solon or another, the
scenes of probably the greatest legisla-
tive battle in the states history, at
least in recent times, are empty now
and silent and only the heels of the
janitors clinking on the wood floors
disturb the peace that prevails where
the noise of battle once was heard.
The legislature Is overland what
are the results? Utter dissatisfaction
throughout the state. "The worst leg
islature in the states history" is the
most frequent comment; certainly it
was the most extravagant, the most
reckless, in the way OF appropriations.
Some 1,162 embryonic laws were in
troduced; only 2OS got to the COVER
nors Office. Some $25,OOO,OOO in ap-
priations were authorized; so far ap-
proximately $6,70O,000 have been ve-
toed, and the axe Is not through fall
ing.
For, so far as 1t lies in his power to
do so, Ernest Lister is trying valiantly
TO defeat the game Of the Republican
Legislators and to promote his program
of economy. The Democrats might
just as we'll admit what actually hap
pended in this session and happened
solely and wholly because its repre-
sentatives in the house were not of the
best. Despite their holy and lofty in
terviews the Republicans are chuckling
among themselves at what they ac-
complished.
Whats Lister going to do-veto
some more appropriations" one of
them asked me today.
II reckon he is," was the answer.
"Well, he can veto his head off-and
still the appropriations will be greater
than the Hay administration" he said
with chuckle.
And there you have the whole situa-
tion in q nutshell.
Theirs was a petty scheme and 1t
won out to certain extent though Lis
ter, fighting lone fight, succeeded in
blocking the greater portion Of their
propaganda Furthermore he sue
ceeded in placing the blame exactly
where it belongs-not on himself, for
his inaugural address, his special veto
messages aud particularly the stirring
appropriation message he delivered in
person the Saturday before the close
of the session, placed him before the
legislature and before the people Of the
state as waging battle for economy.
The Republicans may talk and write
and editorialize to their hearts con-
tent; Ernest Listers position on ap-
propriations by this legislature Is so
plain it cannot be mistaken or de-
ceived-from beginning to end his one
plea was for economy.
The Republicans are responsible.
The people Of the state realize 1t now
and will remember it when they come
to pay their taxes during the next two
years. No amount of hedging. of talk,
bluff and bluster can avail them to
place the blame elsewhere-the records
OF the session show they advocated
and passed heavy appropriations. that
Governor Lister vetoed them or fought
Tor their reduction, and that they vain
ly endeavored to pass them over his
veto.
The most expensive administration
In the states history"-that and that
alone was the aim of the Republican
legislators. That Is what they wanted
TO tell the people four years from now;
two-faced as the old guard" is in this
state, they proposed to blame a Demo-
cratic governor four years from now
1or what they themselves had done.
ButtheN reckOned without their man.
They cloaked their scheme under the
guise of good roads enthusiasm, and,
working 1t according to all the rules Of
The old, old, trading game. gave one
legislator a bridge here, another a
.orldge there, road, new state build
Ing, or something or other, until they
CONTINUED on page 6.)