Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-04
More Inside History.
By 4. q. HOOSlER.

Much is suid in and out of news
paper circles about the city of Mon
tesano. A history OF how it became
city" is necessary to an under
standing of the Temperance war in
and around it; especially SO, as most
of what our local paper prints on
the subject is only calculated to de.
ceive.
The predominance of the Temper
ance element in our population up
to within two years past was widely
known, and our isolation has tended
to increase that element by attract
ing that class of people, class of
producers. The barriers to immigra-
ton began to give way, the tide be-
gan to flow this way, a TOWNSHIP was
plated, and every one rejoiced in
prospect of good things. But the
tide brought with it u swarm of
Sharp's" Agency men, lawyers and
spectators. The property changed
hands rapidly. prices went up and all
were happy! We wondered whose
bones would be picked to satisfy this
swarm of Locusts!
The saloon man had come and by
false pretense gotten control Of a
place on the river bank. He erected
house and opened his saloon in vi
olation of law, and against the wish
of q majority of the people. The
newspaper man came too, and was
received with open arms, and the
new Office and fine residence now in
sight, evidences the support he
found.
We soon found what the Locusts
were preparing for US. Scarcely
were they settled when a Board of
Trade was hatched, a thing of which
we had as much need as the wagon
needs a fifth wheel. This scheme
failed, for there was in it no pick
ings. Soon we were called by the
bugle blast OF our paper, to make of
our little struggling place a city, o
thing we needed about as mu ch then
as the Board of Trade! At meet
ing looking to incorp grafton, the
new coners focked. but very many
oil residents. not favoring the move,
did not attend. Some acquiesced
because there was to be in the char
ter a revolutionary clause (put
there to catch the temperance vote. }
The Locusts were loudest in their
clamor for "power to prohibit the
liquor traffic" and if any one ques-
tons the statement, can give names
and dates to their full satisfaction.
The law.defying saloon, hateful to
minority of the people, was urged
"s pretext for incorporation. >
One would have expected the pa
triotic originators of the scheme to
have employed the best legal talent
to draft the charter, but the instru-
ment was the witness of their unit
ness for the work. When the stupen-
'tous creation was presented to the
people for ratification or rejection,
the true character of the movement
and object of its inception manifest.
Ell itself in the presence of the sa-
lOOnman and horde of habituees Of
his establishment, taking active part
in the pre- ceedlngs. many of them
claiming the right Of franchise lille
gally. BY this means the saloon in
teres. and the prime movers of the
thing, by majority Of three, selected
from their ilk the Mayor and two
Councilmen, which by the original
plan of giving the Mayor vote in
Council, would bar any move toward
prohibition.
Providentially, ths Legislature SO
changed the charter in its passage
through that body, that the Mayor
was deprived of his vote in the Couu-
Gil, leaving the vote in Council
tic" on the Temperance question.
Agitation on the license question be-
fore the Council raised question of
law regarding persons living in the
city and holding claims on Govern
ment land outside of it, which
changed eventually the status of the
Council on the Temperance ques-
tion, giving complete control of that
body to the Temperance patty.
From that date to this, it appears
everything possible has been thrown
in the way of the Council to hinder