The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1927-01-06
LEGISLATURE
READY TO MEET
Will Session be a Quite
One or One Of Strife
Is Question
(By R. Hamilton)

Just a few more days and the
1927 legislature will convene in an
atmosphere of pretended harmony,
doubt and watchful stalling; while
outside, thruout the state, there
will be popular hope for political
peace. There is, to say the least,
general longing for calm, delib-
erative session in Olympia, shared
by many of the legislators, too;
but the prospects indicate a repiti-
ton of the noisy special session.
Legislators, willing to reason
while at home, run into a tougher
game as they gather in Olympia.
Here the legislator who wants
road money, some bill passed, or
anything urged by his constituency
must go UP against the necessity
of trading votes, the disturber, the
die-hard. the hell-bent caucus, and
gradually submits to the gang
spirit. This time the legislator will
be submitted to more temptations
and provocations than usual.
The 1927 legislature faces trou-
bic in two directions. First, there
is the hangover from the last ses-
sion, when the feeling and fighting
over Gov. Hartley was bitter and
deepset, and it is naturally dis
turbing prospect. Second, the 1927
legislature faces troubles from
within, which may force a breakup
of the present factions. There is
flock of problems and petty
schemes in the offing, such as the
distribution of a $40, 900 road
budget. tax revision, educational
readjustments, ETC., each picking
up trouble as it approaches the
legislature. Considering these, as
well as undercurrents of jingolism,
this reporter fears the demand for
cool leadership, trust and restraint
!, is too great to prevent quarrel
some session.
Primarily it looks as if the tenor
of the session depends upon Gov.
\ Hartley. The legislative leaders
and others who disagree with Mr.
Hartley have maneuvered to pass
the buck to him, the idea being to
tag the governor with the respon-
sibility of starting the fight that
is almost sure to break. Likewise,
the Hartley loyalists. Both sides
are pretty silent, processing conf
dence of harmony and keeping
their powder dry = political jock
ewing for the soft spot in public
opinion. Consequently, things have
been adjusted so it looks as If the
matter of peace is ''up to Hartley
and his message"
What will Mr.. Hartley do? Well
he'll probably take the cutting
edge and militant tone off his pre-
vious messages, reiterate most OF
his recommendations, hear snick-
ers of ssbacking down" and scared
by the recall" become angy, de-
eide to be Hartley again and fight
| il out. What else can he do? 1t Is
written in the book, it seems, that
Mr.. Hartley must win or lose with
his fighting colors unfurled.
Political logic, as well as the
Hartley spirit, rules that Mr..
Hartley must go fighting thru. he
crossed the Rubicon in the special
session. when he made drastic rec
concentrations, recognized and re-
sisted opposition, and fought up
m adjournment. He burned his
bridges with the dismissal Of the
university regents, the removal OF
DIR. Suzzallo, by going into the pri-
mary. by vowing to keep up ms
fight and not compromise. Thous-
ands of people, many OF wnom
were puzzled by some OF the is
sues backed Mr.. Hartley because
che has courage"
Now. then, if Mr.. Hartley soft
ems his recommendations, lowers
his voice. his political opponents
will shout @quitter" to disappolnt
some of his followers. Compro-
mise would be political suicide Tor
Mr.. Hartley, because most OF the
onnososing leaders do not want
him they don't like him, distrust
1 him. ana WOulu WOhh w e~N~F
if he surrendered and offered TO
ha CLAW in their hands. Nor does
tbe governor like them or trust
them.
But. this reporter can not fancy
Mr.. Hartley quitting. He may, Tor
while. yield to his counsellors Of
calm and restraint, but eventuaily
the Hartley temperament will elect
to fight it out on the old lines
Naturally Mr.. Hartley would ra-
ther win than lose, but, either way,
he is the kind who would rather
finish with his face to the foe.
4 = =
Next, as we turn toward the leg
islature, we find many difficult
proposals, and problems to settle.
The following is an incomplete and
sketchy list:
East side counties want more
IL