The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1921-02-19
A POLITICAL SIDE
TO HIGH TAXES

DO party politics nave anything TO
do with high taxes in this state?
Whenever any subject comes under
discussion, it seems to have been the
habit of the American people to tie
it in some way to party politics.
Generally this is started by the
aspiring office holder, for personal
benefit in his campaign, but the re-
suit has been the same. And the
public mind can not seem to dis
associate itself from the thought that
political action can remedy it."
Most needs of the people have
passed the stage where they can be
best filled by application of party
lines. In cities and counties it has
been found that national party lines
have little in common with local
needs. The financial conduct of a
community has little in common with
congressional theories of immigration
or tariff. "Bill' Graham has been
perfectly good sheriff, despite his
ideas on the tariff. w. o. Cum
mings has been a most efficient
county superintendent, despite his ac-
ceptance of the republican national
platform. Ernest Lister was friend
to every legitimate interest of the
state of Washington, despite the fact
that he was an early admirer of
Woodrow Wilson. These things are
realized to a certain extent by men
of all parties-yet why do old party
lines continue in state and county?
The reason is plain to those who
investigate. Maintenance of party
lines is worth money to certain in
terests. Things can be done under
party guize which could not be done
otherwise. Extravaganza of the state,
that private concern may gain
thereby, is possible under a strong
party rule. There are so many
varied interests that can gain for
themselves under party control, that
party control is wanted by them.
And so paid agents and controlled
newspapers and "inspired" politicians
preach the doctrine of strong party
lines so thoroughly that the people
still fall for it,
In the state of Washington it can
not be truthfulIy said that the nation
al principles Of the republican party
are responsible for present high
taxes Even the leading minds of
that party in this state are not the
directing cause of the tax ruin which
has come upon US. But it is true
that the party machinery is so ar
ranged that it can not keep the graft
er from entering the controlling
ring and getting his desired result.
and had any other party been in
control of this state as long, the
condition would have been the same.
1t might have been worse, if pos
Sble.
Where any party is long in control,
the vultures fly to it. And as they
generally make the most noise, they
soon come to be regarded in the light
of leaders. The legislature of the
state of Washington has been under
republican control for many, many
years. Every vulture in the state
has had chance to be enrolled as a
chief among his particular band of
vultures, calling himself republican.
He should worry about tariff or peace
leagues. He is engaged with other
things-largely in the attempt to Sc
cure legislation or office which will
benefit his particular purse. The
honest party members are saddled
with the blame, while he walks home
with the bacon. Republicans are not
necessarily crooks, any more than
democrats or socialists. But in the
state of Washington, during the lapse
of years Of continued republican
control, it was only reasonable that
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