Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1917-01-12

success of a progressively Democratic
national administration, the making
of 1orid and stentorian professions
of progressiveness has become a d.
versive passion with politicians, both
near and arrived.
Not all of these professions, how
ever, will Withstand an acid test. Not
all the professors give satisfactory
prima facie evidence of genuine con-
version. Many there be who do pro-
fess too much. Even where no "lean
and hungry look" doth betray, the
puncture of the pretense is not SO
difficult, if, so be, there is a compe-
tent puncturer at hand.
While all this has wide and gen.
eral application, rather than any spe
officially local significance, a particu
lar instance will serve to illustrate.
In the State of Washington some
few things have quite recently been
done by way of putting genuine de-
mocracy to the fore, and though
many more things yet need doing.
and that sorely enough, the hopes of
all reactionaries were lately macer
ated with neat completeness by
means of initiatives and referendums.
And, so, in that state, for instance.
there came together, at Seattle, quite
recently, an impressive number of
impressive Republicans, yet behaving
true to form, to impress upon sundry
Progressives and others who had
been cordially, not to say urgently,
invited to be present, the cheering
idea that even these stalwart Repub
licans had become as democratic as
one might wish, the virtuous rose to
smell as sweet by some other name,
of course.
I When all had assembled and there
had first been lureful depression upon
the subject of the fatted calves and
such said to be awaiting those erst-
while "bull moosers" who should re-
turn to the stalwart fold, many prom
inent not to say conspicuous lights of
the Republican host hitherto regard
ed as the personification of all that
is conservative and staid, and may
hap REVERSAL then and there pro-
claimed their misrepresentation, nay
even radicalism. They were posi-
lively shocked that there should be
any doubts concerning the amplitude
or the simon purity of their funda-
mental democracy. They were for
the people with an exceedingly large
p, and cheerfully DESTROYS of opening
every avenue by which vox pop might
step forward to claim it's own.
Thereupon rose that most excellent
and remarkable citizen of the COM
monwealth, Mr.. Joe Smith, who was
born with fine Republican badge
upon his breast which, however, has
never concealed the genuinely demo-
cratic heart and conscience of the
man. Mr.. Smith was delighted to
hear all these earnest professions of
conversion to democracy, to genuine
progressivism, from such unantici-
pated sources, Mr.. Smith. believing
in fundamental democracy himself,
was greatly encouraged to discover
these evidences of 1t elsewhere.
AS a token of his appreciation and
an opportunity Of proving to doubt
ing world how genuine were the pro-
fessions made, as we'll as affording
the chance of worthwhile achieve
ment, Mr.. Smith offered resolution
to the effect that the meeting and all
those present, individually and col
lectively go on record as approving
the Incorporation in that part of the
state constitution which relates to
taxation of the following clause: land
such other property as the legislature
may by general laws provide, shall be
exempt from taxation Mr.. Smith
pointed out that such a provision in
the constitution ought at least to
make possible the adoption of certain
radical reforms in taxation now more
and more coming to be both needed
! and desired.
Unfortunately this simple, specific.
progressive proposal raised a fine dis
turbance indeed. There was well
come by neither hand nor voice.
Quite the contrary. After prolonged
discussion, in which the opponents OF
the resolution, imposing lawyers and
such. laundering in heated righteous
ness, stated, among other pleasant
ries. that such a clause in the consti-
tuition would be "gravely dangerous"
that under 1t "the legislature would
be debauched and corrupted" and
other direful and unprecedented
things would happen, vote was
finally taken and the resolution was
overwhelmingly defeated. The vote