The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-10-30
THE GOVERNORSHIP

The Times has no choice between Gov En-
nest Lister, democrat, and former Gov. Henry
Mcbride, republican.
From the large list of gubernatorial aspir-
ants preceding the primary election, The
Times believes the best two men in the field
we're nominated. Each has good qualities;
each has some defects which do not permit I'M
qualified Endorsement
Gov. Lister had the opportunity, which rarely
comes to public men, to become the idol of the
state He did not avail himself of that oppor-
tunity. His administration is marked by moth
ing decidedly bad. Nor yet has he impressed
the state with any great effort for good He
has been negatively satisfactory.
He went into office with the good will of the
entire state. The peculiar circumstance which
made possible his election in 1912 left no en-
mites against him. He could have been an
other John Johnson of Minnesota or Bob
LaFollette, or a Woodrow Wilson of New Jer-
Sey or Hiram johnson of California. He did
not rise to his opportunity.
Gov. Mcbride positive governor He fought
real battles and sacrificed his political fortune when
he deed the railroad bosses of the state in his term
OF 1901 to 1905 1t is really remarkable that there
is not today act of his administration that can
be honestly criticised. Mcbride fought for the rail
road commission, anti-pass legislation, and a more
equitable corporation tax.
Mcbride, however, has not shown the same indie
pendence in the present campaign. He has remained
silent issues of Importance to the people He has
apparently allowed the state central committee to
gag him. Tho he is known to be personally against
some of the referendum measures, if not all, he,
unlike Sen. Poindexter, has lacked the independence
to defy the state committee and express his real
sentiments.
Gov Lister is today campaigning against all the
referendum measures. 1t must be remembered, tho,
that it Gov. Lister who signed his and
gave his approval to four of these measures, and
only two weeks before election announced he had
changed his mind them.
Gov. Listers administration of the state institu-
tions, such the penitentary and the various
asyums, has been improvement the previous
administrations Humanity has been better OBJ
served.
Yet it was Gov. Lister who signed the amended
mothers pension bill passed by the last legisa-
ture, which crippled good measure. He took
the stump two years ago against the first add
initiative bill, supported by labor, and, tho prom
Using equitable bill, was unable to secure it in
the legislature.
Gov. Lister was not as fortunate as he might have
been in the selection of his industrial insurance
missoners. Yet it is unfair to charge the Gies
embezzement to the Lister administration. Gies
republican appontee, and it was republican
industrial insurance commission which formulated the
system that permitted the footing of the state fund
1t Gov. Lister who signed the Renick bill,
admittedly wrong in economics and
public finances. He signed it at the time that
he approved measure directly opposite in its terms,
applied to the state treasury One prevented cities
from doing what the state permitted to do.
On the other hand, Gov Lister took a very
decided stand for nonpartisanshp. Gov. Mcbride
has not committed himself this important
question.
The "dry" and wet" question ought not to be an
issue in the gubernatorial
Gov. Lister failed to lend the cause of prohbi-
ton his affirmative support in 1914 Gov. Me-
Bride was equally remiss.