Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-11
DAILY -INTElLGENCER
var WHOLLY CoRRECT.

sna,e To a discussion of what tef"S
"Trans- Columbian politics, meaning
"a the article disclOses. the poii'iea'
animation in this Territory. In Tue lna'N
a vary intelligent and unpreiadiced De
liueation of political conditions
given; yet there are some radical con
tradictisas. Referring 70 the soineNna'
hs.tsd exchange of personalities tna'
occurred in the recent convention VIC
Or,oon.an truthfaIly says that the reai
sonree of the heat DISPLAYED "o'
deeper than the rivalries OF politicians
and doubtless will affect the vote I"
soms extent in November-hoV lar u ~
90. ;mnossible to say" Il is fact that
the riyalries Of politicians cot pu' h't'e
tieure in tbs convention until afief 'ne
two main questions upon when "s
members we're divided we're pAsSed
npon. Those were. first, the admission
or exclusion Of a regularly elected se'
NJ Reuublican delegates from Yakima
county, and, second, the insertion "
reaoIution declaring the sense OF inc
convention upon the question OF forfeit
ING the unearned land grant TO the
Northern Pacifis Railroad Company
Upon these questions radical DINER
enee of Opinion was developed, and IN
their discussion there were personal
illusions, not necessary, bat PERHAPS
not totally unwarranted.
For many years the people Of this Ter
ritory have been waiting the completion
of the Northern Pacific Railroad. A
vast area of public land has been with
drawn from settlement, ~ the great em-
barrassment of the people, preventing
instead of acceleratIng, occupation, rem
derine titles insecure and values fuciu
ating and undetermined. Regarding
this the OregoaiaH truthfully says that
nothing but the hope of large dement's
from construction Of the road could IN
dace them to tolerate It," Continuing
il says that they who call for forfeiture
think these benefits are too uncertain
and too far in the future: they think u
will be long time before the
road il completed, and in this they
are probably right" In the opinion of
the Orsgonian the Cascade branch Will
be completed in from five TO ten years,
four of which will be required TO build
the tunnel under the Stampede pass
From its Judgment in this particular We
see no reason TO differ, unless IL tie that
the time for completion 10 too limited.
II is doubtful If, unless compelled by
competition not now in sight, or leeis-
Iation not vet enacted, the Cascade
branch of the Northern Pacific 10 COM
pleted and in operation ten years from
date. II a lease of the D. T. & n. Com
pany's road down the Columbia IL oh
tanned, there will be no necessity for
building il. Ii would be unbusiness
like. Meanwhile, pending this long
hoped for and we'll nigh despaired Of
event, nearly 100000 acres Of public
lands will, uHder existing laws and de-
cisions, remain locked mp. Is II remark
able that the people Of the counties
affected by this prolonged withdrawal
have become worn out; that they de,
inand prompt and adequate relief
Our contemporary is somewhat at
fault in declaring that "for uncondi-
tienal forfeiture there doe. not appear
TO be much demand, except in King and
Yakima counties" In preceding para
graph IL declared that about one-third
of the Convention favored that position,
which the vote upon passage of a reso-
luton demanding unconditional for
fixture plainly established. OF the 80
votes cast In favor Of prompt forfeiture
King county cast bat II, while the va
kima county vote was against the reso-
luton. ID is thus plain enough that
forfeiture 10 demanded elsewhere than
in King and Yakima counties. The
record elbows that from twelve counties
votes were cast for an unconditional
forfeiture resolution. and that in nine
of these the delegations veted solidly
for that plank. II was by no means a
local question, nor were its supporters
confined 10 any particular section of
the Territory. But that vote did not
show the popular sentiment. Yakima
county, with four forfeiture delegates.
had been excluded, and their place
usurped by unelected railroad men.
Whatcom county delegates cast their
vote against forfeiture. contrary to the
expressed sentiments of the Convention
by which they were selected. Lincoln
county cast four votes against forfeiture
by proxies not representing elected del
eoates. no primaries having been held
therein. From other counties. where
there is a vide Differences of opinion
among the people. the railroad company
suceeedsd in getting q few votes.
IL 10 eur deliberate Judgment,
contrary 70 that Of the Oreogon-
ian. that had this question been
referred 20 the Republicans OF
Washington Territory upon its merits,
excluding local and personal contests
over minor questions. an unconditional
forfeiture Of all unsarned lands in this
Territory would have been demanded
by a pronounced majority. II is GER
tain that a pslpable change Of senti-
neni was apparent among delegates
upon this question both before and i'm
mediateIy following adjournment of the
convention.
That majority OF the yespis of this
Territory are in favor OF this act of
tardy justice respecting the unearned
land grant Is unmistakably apparent.
At this writing the platform of the
DenocrAiie Convention, now in session
at walia walla, has not been received.
But in every coanty convention of ,ha,
party, wherever platforms have been
adeufed and reference mazda a sh;.