The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1918-10-12
TO VOTERS OF STEVENS AND
PEND OREILLE COUNTIES

legislature SnOulQ Drlelly state IiS
position on vital matters that will or
should come before the legislature.
The next session of the legislature
of this state will be very important
one and a great many questions relat-
ing to war legislation will arise which
will be of vital interest to our gov
eminent.
The legislative body will doubtless
be composed of men who desire to aid
in every respect the government in
carrying on to successful termina-
ton the war in which we are engaged.
At the present time the laws of this
state are inadequate in so far as per-
hitting the men who are giving the
full measure of their devotion to the
cause of liberty on the battle front
and in training camps, the right to
vote, and the legislature of this state
Immediately upon converting in Jan
uary, 1919, should enact law where
by the soldiers of our state shall be
permitted to partake in the affairs
of our government. At the present
time every man in military service is
disenfranchised and if immediate ac
ton is not taken the spirit of our in
stitutions will be destroyed.
| think that this condition should
be remedied without delay whatever,
and that our state laws must be
amended to govern this wartime
emergency in justice to the men who
are fighting for the cause of liberty,
justice and humanity.
| shall favor and vigorously sup
port the adoption of the national pro-
hibition amendment to the constitu-
ton of the United States which will
be presented for ratification to our
next legislative body.
A suffrage amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States should
be enacted by the congress and sub
mtted to the various states for adop-
ton without delay, whereby the wo-
men of this government shall be
given the right to vote in every
state They should no longer be de-
prived of the right to participate
fully in governmental affairs and in
many states it can only come by the
adoption of an amendment to the fed
eral constitution. This question has
been settled in this state but there
are many states in the union where
suffrage has not been granted and
will only be given through concerted
action of the states in which the right
of suffrage now exists.
| believe that state road work
should be continued consistent with
the burdens which the people are car
rying and may be called upon to car
ny during the duration of the war,
and that the roads that have been con-
structed should be maintained in
reasonably good condition.
The larger counties of this state
have practically completed the build
ing of their highways to the exclusion
of the smaller counties, which is ev-
idenced in this district and l am
firmly convinced that the road pro-
gram should not remain dormant
during the duration of the war, as it
is of vital Importance that good roads
be constructed and maintained con-
sstent with present conditions.
The people Of the entire country are
devoting all of their energies to pro-
ducing food crops by planting a
greater acreage than ever before, in
order that our army and allies may
have an abundance of food.
| believe that some definite action
should be taken for the determination
of the squirrels, gophers and other
pests that the farmer has to contend
with, as these pests destroy food
crops each year in eastern Washing
ton particularly of great value, and
as no united effort has been made
for fighting these pests they are in
creasing each year and crops in pro-
portion to the increase are being de-
stroyed.
If l am elected state senator from
this district l shall vigorously advo-
cate the legislation herein named and
all other matters that will further
the interest of our government, state
and district. The work of a member
of the legislature should not end at
the close of each session but the rep
resentatives and senator's should keep
in close touch with state affairs and
by doing SO will be enabled to protect
the interests of their districts. Very
respectfully, W. Lon johnson.
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