The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-01-11
New Deal 10 II axe
Over Siafe---Lock,
Stock and Barre.
New governor declares
for policy right down
the line; mad scramble

for policy right down
the line; mad scramble
OLYMPIA, January 10.-In a
fine example of organized dis
order, the sovereign people of the
State of Washington got rid of one
governor, seated another and
watched a State Legislature try to
get itself out of low gear here
this week. -
Not by any means, however, has
it been a case, in these first hur-
ried days, of idle ceremony. True,
there has been a ''swan song" by
Arthur B. Langlie, the former
Seattle mayor who yielded the
governorship Tuesday. True, Mon
C.. Wallgren, the former United
States Senator from Everett, stood
on WOODEN platform on the Capt.
toll building steps and was sworn
in as the new governor. True, the
House and the Senate were organ
lied amid some pomp and more
than considerable circumstance
Gncluding some sharp clashes over
seating members and scrambles
for choice committee appoint
ments). IT..
The casual observer saw only
the ripples of window dressing
breeze. A closer look, however,
disclosed some deep and powerful
currents in the river-strong cur
rents that may wash into the lives
of all the people of this common
wealth.
For example, it wasn't just a
polite "swan song" that Republic
can Langlie read to an overwhelm-
ingly Democratic legislature.
There was very little cts been a
grand experience and thank you
very much.'' It was deliberate
recital of what Mr.. Langlie
thought he and his Republicans
had done for the state during the
past years. In the form of bills
which will be intEsadced in. this
legislature, it was a "futurama"
Of what Langlie and his Republic
cans sswould have done" if the
people had voted otherwise.
In /, 2, 3 order it said what
course Wallgren and his Demo-
Gratis must follow if the state is
to handle successfully the war
and postwar years ahead. It was,
in fact, Langlie's Republican man
ifesto-a recital read into the Off
cial record to which, voters may
be sure, reference will be made
often in forthcoming political
campaigns. t.
Some say Langlie was playing
politics" in his last official mo-
ment; others insist it was a sim
cere pattern for the states future
course by a sincere man. Certain
ly,. the speech cannot be described
as just a polite formality.
Similarly, it was no mere in
stallation of a new man in the
>high-backed, ornate governors
chair when the immaculate Wall
gren was sworn in. It was the
New Deal come at last to Olympia,
lock, stock and barrel. Clarence
D. Martin, the last Democratic
governor, was no New Dealer;
Wallgren is. He has been ever
since the New Deal swept him
from his Everett jewelry store into
Washington, D. c., as a congress
man IL years ago.
A great believer in party loyal
ty, he now has been making state
code department appointments
with frank appreciation of the
Democratic majority which elected
him to the governorship. He has
said that the people elected \
Democratic administration and
they'll get one"
In this 100 per cent Demo-
cratic administration, the new
governorship presents a sharp
contrast to his predecessor, who
was slow-too slow, some Republi.
cans thought-about placing Re-
publicans in office. 81
There is another contrast in the
confident and determined attitude
with which Wallgren approached
his four-year job this week.
Super-critics probably would add
the adjective "belligerent," for
Wallgren seems to know here he
is going, and doesn't welcome OBJ
stacles. ...-- =
In trying to analyze Wallgren,
it would be a mistake to forget
that he is fresh from the nations
capital. Therefor IL years-he
has watched Roosevelt have his
way with the continuing support
of the voters. For example, he
has seen Roosevelt ignore the
press at times and take directly
to the radio.
l.