Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-04-11
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Shortly after noon yesterday CON-
missioner Ezra Mceker, Of Washins-
TON Territory. gave . very substantial
luncheon 10 his fellow Coumissioa-
err, their families and . number Of
fr,enda A large space was cleared
90 the extensive area occupied BY
Washington In the Government
Building. and the invited guesss,
many OF whom were q considerable
prepondcrapce Of ladiea, did ample
justice 10 the delicacies provided. the
coffee and beet root sugar, both pro-
ducts OF Washington Territory, elicit
ing especial commcsdafion.
After the luncheon, those present
having gathered round the little bon.
doir fitted up IN the centre Of the ex.
hibif. Mr.. Meeker gave . brief &C
count OF his journey to his present
home from Iowa In ls52. In strong
contrast 10 the means OF transf orss.
ton which nowadays annihilaie dis
lance. he pictured the emigrAnt was.
on with its team Of slow pioddinR
oxen. He told how when the great
Snake river presented IN aimost i'm.
passabie obstacle to his progress, he
took Oh the bed Of the wagon, plug.
ged up all holes, put Ia Mrs. Meeker,
the running gear, ETC., and then
jumping In himself padded across
the stream in triumph-a feat which
he protested be would not repeat for
the whole State Of Louisiana At
the time Of this expedition Puget
sound was remote and little navi.
gated body Of water, but now Ii pul.
safes to the wheels and propellsrs Of
1855 painting steamers.
The Inhabitants of Washington
Territory BY no means consider them.
selves away of, !" and 10 respect of
salubrity Of climate. fertility Of soil,
educational advantages and business
enterprise, they challenge compari-
son with any State in the Union.
MIR. Meeker expressed himself -
friendly to the Indians 90 long as
they manifested their better instincts,
and with reference To the Chinese
question so much sgitated Just now,
he stated: I'VE believe in accord
ing their rights 10 every man, wo-
man and child, of whatever color.
and whilst as residents on the Pacific
Coast, we understand the difficulties
Of stemming the tide of Asialic i'm
migration aud believe il right that
under the existing state of labor Ii
should be entirely stopped, We do
not for moment indorse the atroci-
ties and lawiessness that have been
perpetrated Ia some parts, and our
law abiding people have In many In
stances summarily suppressed all
symptoms of mob rule"
On behalf of the Board of Man
agement. Assistant Director General
Hubbard then expressed his appreci-
alton of the excellent display made
by Washington Territory. Il Was
his belief that the citizens OF that To-
cality had never made 9 better In
vesiment than that involved by their
participation in this Exposition,
where, under the energetic admins
tration OF Commissioner Meeker, the
advantages and resources of Wash.
ington had been NO thoroughly ad-
vertised among visitors from ell
parts
Commissioner Metteser, of Indiana.
who followed, proudly claimed both
MIR. and Mrs. Meeker as original
"Hoosiers." Commissioner Alien,
of Oregon; Mrs. Jennie c. Nixon,
Superintendent Of all Woman's Work,
and Commissioner Fairall, Of Iowa,
added 9 few appropriate remarks,
and the proceedings were terminated
by the photogrsphing of the whole
party, or as many as could be group
ed within the range of the artists
lens.