The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-07-23
The Seven Sisters Petitions.

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All newspaper reports would in
dictate that the Seven Sisters
are going to be denied a place on
| the ballot at the election in
November. The Stop-LOok-Listen
League is moving heaven and earth
to defeat these initiative measures
by not allowing them to go to
vote of the people. Never before
in this state have the big Interests"
taken such an interest in the
squashing of measures that are not
to their liking. Every signature
on the petitions that can possibly
be found not to stand the acid
test-it matters not how we'll in
tentioned the signer's motive may
have been--is eliminated in the
count.
The friends of these measures,
through which it is sought to bring
the government of this state near
err to the people, have been on
deck at the capital in Olympia ever
since those petitions entered 1T.
and are going to stay there until
the work of checking and re-check-
ing is ended. And unless the in
spection, canvass and final decision
is thoroughly straight some one is
going to get into trouble.
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1t would appear that secretary
of state Howell is showing far too
much Partially for q supposedly un-
biased and impartial official. The
people henceforth are going to get
their rights in this state and no
| nff ta1 how
a high station he occupies, Is go
ing to prevent them from getting
them. If not through the ballot
this fall. then at the next legisla-
tive session, or at the ballot box
in the general election in 1916.
There nothing contained in any
of the Seven Sisters measures TO
which any fair-minded and broad
guaged person may subscribe. These
measures will provide better gov
eminent of our state affairs and
reduce the high rate of taxation
And that is what il wanted and
needed.
Charges of misfeasance and NAL
feasance in office. the basis of re-
call for an elective official under
the law, have been ordered pre-
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by the joint committee of the
Farmers Union. the State Grange
and the State Federation of Labor.
The proponents of the Seven
Sisters initiative measures declare
that they will go through with
the move against the secretary OF
state because of what they term
his unfair opposition to the Seven
\ init t.ltt
after they had reached his office
Referring to the Seven Sisters
controversy now being enacted at
the state capitol. the LeavenWOrth
Echo which was opposed to most
If the initiative measures that have
been proposed. the submission Oh
which depends upon the number OF
names upon the initiative petitions,
says: 1T appears that enough
names were secured to insure them
"a place on the ballot. but in comes
the Stop-LoOk-Listen League to
contest the genuineness OF the
signatures on the petitions, and in
some way has secured the friendly
cooperation of Secretary OF state
Howell who has charge of the in
itjatiye petitions. The league,
which is opposed to everything, or
as the Irishman said. "Agin the
government" and is about to Sc
cure the non-su omission OF the fish
cries law and perhaps some other
of the proposed measures.
According to the best informa-
ton the Stop. Look and Listen
League raised a slush fund of five
hundred thousand dollars to bring
about the defeat of certain laws.
The largest contributors to the
slush fund is the fish trust, which
is making everybody pay about
three times as much as they should
and formerly did pay
THE proposed fisheries law will
reduce the profits of the fish trust
which accounts for the opposition OF
the fish trust to the proposed law
and for the willingness of the trust
to pay 100000 to secure the de-
feat of the law.
I'm the beginning this paper was
4 disposed to uphold most of the con-
tentions of the so called Stop. LOOK
and Listen league, on the ground
that more laws would simply in
crease our taxes without adequate
benefits. Since the mask has been
torn from the s.. l.. and l.. League
we will qualify our opposition. we
will oppose only those laws that IN
our Judgment will work hardship
ON the people themselves. IL the
: fisheries bill is not killed by the
maniDulations of the league we Will
cast our vote in favor Of that par
ticular bill with peculiar satisfac-
ton. because its adoption will be
rebuke to corporate activities In
politics and because trusts are Or
ganized for no other reason than
to skin the public.
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The Echo's sentiments are those
of every independent. and fearless
publication in this state.
The Stop-LoOk-Listen leaguers
might as well submit to the newt