Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-08-31
ANNEX NORTH IDAHO.

The chief issue Of the pending cam
paign in Washington is the conversion
of the territory into state. The Pu-
get Saunders until very lately, wanted
to start the proposed state with the
constitution framed in Waila Walla
in 1873. As the Onion has repeatly
pointed out, the reason which actuated
the Puget Saunders in their desire is
the fact that the constitution of 1873 |
gives the control of the legislative and
judicial branches of the state govern
ment as long as they wish to hold it.
The Onion urged tha. objection to
that constitution SO earnestly and per-
sistently that the members of the leg
islature from Eastern Washington
took up the matter and succeeded in
passing through the council and house
a memorial asking congress to pass an
enabling act and authorize the forma
tion of new constitution. Taking
this memorial as basis for his action
Mr.. Brents introduced bill for an abl-
ing act which received the condemna-
ton of every paper published west Of
the Cascades, as well as of several in
the eastern portion of the territory. and
b,th the North Idaho papers. The
Union alone sustained Mr. Brcnts and
finally convinced the papers in North
Idaho and Eastern Washington that
his act was right, and silenced the
clamors of the people Of Vancouver
and on the Sound. The coming terri
ritorial convention should, in unmis-
taxable terms, pronounce in favor Of
an enabling act, so that congress at its
coming session may know that the
people are in earnest and wish the act
passed.
Another 20 mt should not be lost
sight of. North Idaho by physical
conformation and usness and social
interests is part of Washington. In
forming the new state the imaginary
line which separates the two regions
should be blot'ad out and the two
made one. Walla Walla county,
which holds the first convention, should
take the lead and pass resolutions ask
ing the annexation of North Idsho te
Washingt' Then let all the Other
counties Of Eastern Washington adop'
similar resolutions. and big step will
have been taken towards the desired
end Even with this united action OF
the part of Eastern Washington, there
is danger that Western Washington
which has sixteen majority in the con
vention, may refuse to allow that body
to pass resolution asking that Nortl
Idaho be included in the boundar-
Of the propose State Of Washington
". W. Union.
The outspoken tone of the abov'
suits US. Action Of the convention
in Washington, such as suggested will
be Of great Importance to us in Nor'l
Idaho, and will cause feeling amonl
US, that annexation is not matter o
indifference to the people Of Washing
ton. Indifference in certain quarter
10 Washington, hitherto has been
stumbling block to the success of ou
union with Washington. As intima
. ted, the people of Western Washing
tou havo the power to override tn
: east in the convention in this respect
if they see fit to do so. But unles
leading men of the Sound country bt
lie the sentiment of the people there
we are satisfied they will not sem
delegates to the convention to oppos
Z our union of boundaries. They ma
j rest assured that the people of Mort
Idaho will not 90 back on themse.ve
H. in this respect at the approaching elee
ton, even though Maj. Manning di
report to the Daily Erents that dis
tinguished committee man in congres
told him that congress would not at
init North Idaho into the bou u1darie
of the State Of Washington, and tbs
> Brentz would have to concede tn
point and leave North Idaho out {
his bill. We of North Idaho don't IN
lieve any committee man of note eve
said what was attributed to him, an
we don't believe that Brents ever col
tenplated surrender Of the point,an v
Z never will believe those statements VI
the authority quoted by the Ereat
The report was to discourage both IL
people of North Idaho and Washin
ton aud done at the instance OF, an
- in the interest of the Boise ring, fro
, whose councils Manning had jus' con
with INSTRUCTIONS what to do. and
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