Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-08-11
LIE TO SAY LISTER
ASSESSED ANYONE
JULIUS ZITTEL TALKS PLAIN TO
SEATTLE DEMOCRATS ABOUT
$4,000 LOAN.

hood" to say that Governor Lister
asked any man for one cent, that he
levied or authorized any assessment
or that any assessment was made"
julius Zittel, the prominent Spokane
architect who, it is expected will be
elected the next Democratic state
chairman, spoke in no uncertain Ian
guage to the members of the King
County Democratic club at recent
meeting, with reference to Listers
alleged assessment of his employees to
pay a $4,000 loan.
There will come time when Gov
ernor Lister will speak for himself
in answering these malicious attacks"
Mr.. Zittel said. THAT will be after
he becomes the nominee of his party
for reelection to the high Office he is
now administering. At present he is
not candidate for Office, and it would
be unseemly for him to reply to the
bitter falsehoods and malicious criti-
cisms of his political enemies. But
he will answer at the proper time,
and in no uncertain terms.
Cannot Attack Record.
''The attacks upon the governor
have been personal and malicious, be-
cause the Republicans have found no
just grounds for attack upon his rec
ord as chief executive of this state.
That record is one of efficient, loyal
public service, in the face of opposi-
ton. He has stood fearless and
steadfast to the promises of himself
and his party, in the face of opposi-
ton from Republican Legislatures and
Republican politicians. He has We
toed corrupt and harmful legislation,
has vetoed excessive appropriations,
has demanded and received econo-
mical administration Of state affairs
from every department of the state
under his direction.
1.-THE opposition cannot afford to
make its campaign on the record of
these facts. 1t cannot afford to bring
into public view the audacious
schemes Of two Republican legisla-
lures, schemes which have been de-
feated only by the steadfast courage
of the governor.
1.-THE opposition has therefore
turned to Governor Listers personal
affairs in search of it's campaign am
munition. 1t has discovered that he
once borrowed money from bank.
And it has alleged that he paid that
loan by assessing his appointees.
LET us examine this accusation.
In the first place, let me say that the
charge of assessing employees and ap-
pointees is an absolute falsehood.
1T may be true that Governor Lis
ter borrowed money from bank. I
do not regard that as being wrong.
The governor is not a wealthy man.
Steadfast Against Enemies.
His campaign was an expensive
one. His salary is modest, and since
becoming governor he has not been
able to give any attention to his pri-
vate business. 1t may be true that
he was unable to meet his note when
it fell due. It may be true that his
political enemies seized upon that
note in an effort to force concessions
from the governor, and that he stead
tasty refused to pay any such price
for the relief from financial worry.
1t may be true that loyal friends of
Governor Lister. men who are will
Ing to back him to the last ditch, so
long as he stands fearlessly at the
head of the state government and will
not yield one step to the interests
which oppose him, came to his assist
ance and gladly aided in defraying
that Indebtedness.
"But to say that Governor Lister
asked any man for one cent, that he
levied or authorized any assessment,
Or that any assessment was made, is
an unmitigated falsehood. That is
the sort Of stuff which this attack on
the governor is made Of. And when
Governor Lister becomes the candi-
date Of the Democratic party for re-
election. the truth Of these malicious
charges will be made so thoroughly
clear that his enemies will go scurry-
Ing off looking for some new fabrica-
tons, If they care to make further
baseless attacks on man who has
served the people Of this state fear"
Iesslv and we'll.
"The people are ready to re-elect