The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-01-04
Cow County
Representatives
0ufnumher CITY
Possible lineup may
control legislature,
says special writer

| NlyillJld, JdtludIy line Ddl-
ance of power in their hands, the
elected spokesman of this states
small communities were assemb-
ling FOR a momentuous 1915 state
legislature here this week.
True, state senators and repre-
sentatves from the big cities were
here, too, but out Of the weller Of
procession disagreement there
came one agreement-Mr. Small
Town Legislator can, if he will,
run" this deliberation.
Of course, there is no guarantee
that votes will be cast with an
eye by the legislator on his geo.
graphical background. Partisan
politics and a sincere desire by
many legislators to serve the en-
tire state are Just two of the fac
tors which will mitigate against
any Small Town vs.. Big City
cleavage. Still, il is interesting
to study this breakdown.
There will be SO Democrats and
81 Republicans small towns
spokesman on hand when the CAV
ell falls next Monday in the House
of Representatives. That's a to-
tal of 81 as against only AZ in both
parties from Seattle, Spokane, Ia
coma, and few other larger COM
munities. Of the "big city" rep
-esentatives,27 are Democrats and
IS Republicans.
And when Lieut-Gov. Victor A.
Meyers, Seattle, gives his waxed
moustache happy twirl and be-
gins presiding over the state SEN
ate, he will find only IL kindred
big city" souls with him: 13 Dem
ocrats and four Republicans.
There will be 10 Democrats and
70 Republicans from the smaller
communities in the senate for a
total Of pa most convincing
majority if things should ever
get down toza poisqt where tits
a case Of the rural fellow against
the city resident.
A little study of what may make
excitement in the conference
rooms shows that such a geo.
graphical breakdown is not al
together pointless. There are some
broad proposals which easily could
be decided on the basis of small
community versus large city.
One of these is the frank dec
laration of Mon c. Wallgren, Ev-
erett, for an amendment to the
states liquor law to permit the
sale of hard spirits by the drink
in public cocktail bars. This forth
coming legislature already had
plenty to keep it busy for the
next two months when Mr.. WALL
gren, who next week will doff his
toga as a United States senator
for the governors mantle, turned
the state upside down with his
liquor proposal.
While it is true that the little
band of Republican senators al
ready have stated they will stand
solidly in opposition to any such
measure, il is difficult to see how
the cocktail bar issue will be de-
cided on partisan basis. It is
noteworthy that there has been
no similar or opposite stand taken
by any group of Democratic leg
islators, although they easily could
outvote the COP handful.
Many, not SO close to the po-
litical scene, have expressed
amazement at Mr.. Wallgren's
early espousal Of this measure.
Others, however, recognize the
Everett Democrat as one of the
states most astute politicians, a
man who has added sense to sur
round himself with capable adj
visors. Mr.. Wallgren, it must be
remembered, is somewhat in the
position of "big league" base
ball player stepping down in class
to play in the ''minor leagues.
The analogy stops right there,
however, for Mr.. Wallgren de-
liberately chose to end his 12-year
career in Washington, d. c., for
the big, panelled governors Of
flee here.
One, trying to guess the temper
of the man in the small community
and the fellow in the big city on
this liquor issue, is forced, there
fore, to this one conclusion: Gov
ernor-elect Wallgren knew what
he was doing when he promptly
followed his Nov. z defeat Of Gov.
Arthur B. Langlie with his liquor
proposal. --...-.
There are other measures, too,
which may get a small community
big city decision rather than Q
party vote. Shall the sales tax,
which bothers the city resident
more than the farmer, be lowered
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