The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1914-01-16
AN ALARMING REVELATION

to investigate the wages paid to and
the conditions under which women
work in this state, and to recommend
in their report fixed minimum wage
for women workers.
This is a purely economic and So
cial problem and not a political policy.
The consideration of this question by
the state is in line with the present
day tendency in the several states and
In the nation as a whole to give more
heed to legislation dealing with econ
omic problems. State industrial in
surance, such as provided for in the
law enacted in this state by the 1911
legislature following the report of a
commission appointed by Governor
Hay to investigate that subject, and
the consideration given to the question
Of rural credits are further evidences
of the decided tendency of present day
legislation.
The subject of a minimum wage for
women workers is an important one
in it's bearing both on the economic
and the social development of the
state and it should receive the most
careful and unprecedented study of the
commission appointed for that pur-
pose. Unfortunately for all concerned,
the governor found it necessary to
drop one of his original appointees,
Mrs. Theresa Mcmahon, of Everett.
because of alleged improperly on that
ladys part in giving too free utter
ance to certain opinions that she held
regarding one phase of the problem.
The governor not only acted within
his rights in dropping Mrs. Mcmahon
from the commission, but he probably
considered his act the one course that
would preserve the best interests of
all concerned. The incident was I'M
fortunate, however, as it must tend to
create distrust in some quarters of
the unbiased attitude of the commits
sion as a free agent, unaffected by
partizan motives in dealing with the
minimum wage question.
Now to add to the embarrassment
caused by the Mrs. Mcmahon incident,
Stuart A. Rice, secretary to the COM
mission, has rendered his resignation
in an open letter in which he bitterly
attacks the chairman, Mr.. Olson, who
Is Governor Listers commissioner of
labor. Mr.. Rice's resignation was in
dited in hurry in order to beat to the
records a plainly impending request
therefor, and, naturally enough, saw
ors not little of excitment, indigna-
ton and personal resentment. In fact,
the letter plainly indicates that his
mental attitude was such as to inca
pacitate him for further usefulness
to the commission and to make his
withdrawal or removal not only ex-
pedient but absolutely necessary.
Every good citizen wishes to feel and
know that the greatest harmony and
unanimity prevails in the councils of
this commission in order that it may
arrive at a wise and acceptable de-
cision uninfluenced by internal strife
and friction. Therefore, there will be
few regrets over the action taken by
Mr.. Rice in eliminating himself as
possible disturbing factor.
But his letter contains one startling
little revelation that will not be greet
ed with entire approval by a public
that Is determined to wipe out and
keep out Of the state government all
faint of the old spoils system of poll
tics. That revelation is contained in
his reference to a letter which Mr..
Rice claims was intended for his par
ents but was taken from his desk by
Labor Commissioner Olson, in which
he protested vigorously against being
required to pay monthly assessment
of 1915 to the King county democratic
organization. If that declaration is
true, and it was made, according to
Mr.. Rice, in a private letter to his
1t is also undoubtedly true
that he is not the only employee under
appointment of the governor who Is
required to pay monthly tribute to
the democratic organizations in this
state. In fact, the only inference pos
sible, is that every clerk, stenographer
and other employee under the gov
ernor is thus compelled to help sup
port the machine that the governor
and other party leaders are striving
10 build and perfect in this state, and
It is evidence of the most alarming
recurrence to the spoils system that
his state has known since Governor
Lister served on the board of control
n the days when such methods were
he inseparable accompaniment of |
party discipline and boss rule. At |
hat time Lister was the organizer for
he then democratic-populistic admin
stration and such methods were en-
,loyed to keep the organization in
)ower. There he received the train
ng in methods that he apparently has
lot forgotten and which it must ap-
year are being used to bolster up his |
,wn machine.
This kind Of politics was long since
condemned and reprdiated by the peo-