Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1886-03-19

AnNkxa21oD uDg1o1H UDADo.
The Lewiston idaho Teiles eivs
the history of the annexaSioa move
menf 10 North 1dsho - follows.
In 1873. long before The question
Of sfa&ehooc for Wssnineton. . co.,
venfion was called II Lewiston for
the purpose Of memorisiixinx Con-
gress for North Idaho 10 be annexed
to washinKton. Representatives
from sli the couafies of North Idaho
were In that convention. which was
largely attended; and the late Judge
John Clark was chosen chairman. A
committee Of nine persons were IN
animousiy chosen by thsx body 20
draff memorial 10 Congress to be
presented, asking for this annexation.
Mr.. HALEY wxs then in Congress.
and the question wss presented and
referred 10 the Committee on Terri
tories; Mr.. HALEY being resident
of South Idaho was opposed 10 il,
and went before the committee and
interposed his objections. At the
next election Hon. 5. s. Fem from
North Idaho was the Democratic
candidate for delegate and Hon
Thos. Bennett of South Idaho was
the Republican candidate and WAS
opposed 10 annexation. while Fem
ran and was announced everywhere
As an annexation man, and 10 the
North received all the votes but
about one hundred on that issue. He
was elected throughout the Territory
over Bennett, but the counting OIL
GERS at Boise City gave Bennett the
certificate of election, which forced
Fem 10 contest the election before
Congress which contest continued for
many months after the time that
Fem should have had his seat. The
decision was finally given and Fem
Was declared duly elected. Mean
time while this contest was going
forward petitions were sent from
every precinct irf North Idaho ex-
cept three. containing about 1900
names, more than four fifihs of the
whole voting population OF North
Idaho at that time, asking for the an
nexstion Of these Northern counties
to Washington, which petitions were
forwarded by DIR. II. A. Kelly, of
this city. and placed in the hands OF
delegate Jacobs, of Washington Ter
ritory and presented to Congress by
him, as delegate Fem of Idaho had
not then obtained his seat. These
petitions were referred TO commit
tee In Congress, from which commit
tee they never emerged. This was in
the spring of 1876. DR.. Kelly of this
city, and ex-delegate Jacobs of Wash
ingten Territory are referred to, as
also the 800 signers in North Idaho
who signed the petitions, and we
presume that the files of the Commit
tee on Territories win contain these
petitions II they are not destroyed.
The first time the state for Washing
ton was agitated In North Idaho, was
after the Legislature of Washington
in the winter of 1878 passed the
act authorizing the calling of Q con-
vention of delegates to frame . con-
stitution for Washington, and pro-
viding that the Northern counties of
Idaho be permitted to choose q dele
gate who should have q seat in said
convention, and be permitted to take
part in the discussions but without
the right of q vote. The question
was then agitated Ia North Idaho.
shall the people elect such delega;es
II was adjudged that they do so and
accept of the terms offered by Wash.
ington. Accordingly delegate con.
venuon of the Northern counties of
idaho was called to be held at Lewis
ton; that convention was fully repre-
sented by delegates from sll the
counties and they chose delegate to
the convention in Washington TO be
held at Walla Walla in June, 1878.
That convention met. framed con
stitution aud schedule. which was
afterwards submitted to the people Of
both Washington and Northern Ida
no, and voted upon receiving votes
of the people of North Idaho. All
but 81 were cast 10 North Idaho in
favor of said constitution. Since
that time the people have acquiesced
ia statehood for Washington with
Northern idaho included with the
expectation that statehood would be
the most expeditions way Of secur-
lRg annexation, but in no instance
have the people of Northern Idaho
relinquished their desire to be annex
ed TO Washington whether or not 1t
became Immediately admitted into
the Union. Hence the statement
made has not always been the battle
cry Of the North, annexation and
statehood. bat on the other hand has
been annexation with or without
statehood.