Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-01-01
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1885.

Ltttef lfOfl all UlU- inner.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1885.
Ed. STANDARD:
In 1875, one hundred years ago,
ere the Allegheny Mountains had
been passed by the pioneer home
seeker, Oliver Evans, of Philadel-
phia, grandfather of our old friend
Elwood Evans, first introduced
steam power to drive q mill. To
day the steam lumber mills in Wash
ing,on Territory, west of tho Cas-
cade Mountains, give that distinct
prc-eminence, in that respect, over
any district in the world. Other vi.
tai interests on the Sound, and olso-
where throughout the Territory,
equally substantial and important,
are growing to prominence and are
attracting so great attention that the
country will not much longer brook
the denial of statehood to SO deserv-
ing and prosperous 4 people. The
sufficiency of population, the ability
to sustain State government and
the high character of the people arc
unquestioned, and there but remains
partisan, selfish fear as an obsta-
Gle, and that cannot long remain,
like Sam Ranlall's rules, as an OBJ
struction 20 proper legislation. 1t
is truo the votes of three Presidential
electors might determine ths politics
of the Administration, and two votes
might decide the complexion of the
Senate. These are matters of no
small Importance, but they are not
sufficient to overcome the mate JUS
tice and craftsmanship OF many lead
ing Senators and Members. Sena-
tor VOORHEES, has already introduced
a bill for the admission of Washing
ton, anl it seems to meet with favor
in many Democratic quarters. The
great Indiana Senator is the acknowl.
edged leader of his party; and the
eloquent young Delegate from the
Territory is deservedly popular, and
is great favorite with the many
Members and Senators who have
known him from his youth; and as
both Delegate and Senator are earn
est and indefatigable in their efforts
to secure the admission, there is
fair grounds to hope that Washing
ton will soon be a State.
All that part of Idaho north of the
Salmon river is cut off from South
Idaho by impossible mountains, so
that those people now have to make
a journey through Washington and
Oregon to reach their seat of govern
ment. They are naturally part of
the people of Washington, aud Mr..
Voorhees, and Mr.. Haley, Dele
gate from Idaho, are each pressing
bills, identical in terms, 20 attach
that district to Washington Territory.
AS no adverse interests appear, this
measure will probably become a law
before the admission bill, that also
includes this district, comes up for
action.
Heretofore the rules Of the House
have enabled q few obstructionists,
like Sam Randall and The "great
objector' Holman, to prevent the
passage of any measure; and the
freedom with which they braced on
the breeching when other than their
own interests were being pressed for
consideration, would have done
credit to government mule. The
new rules, it is believed by many, in
and out of Congress-, will facilitate
the transaction of business, and let
us hope that while they nre passing
around the good things, that the
Pacific Northwest will secure some
Of the chicken-pie. The Delegates
from Washington, Idaho, Montana
and Dakota have joined in asking
that Mr.. Hermann, of Oregon, an
able, industrious and energetic man,
and good friend to Washington
Territory, be placed upon the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors. Cal
ifornia, with six votes in the House,
is claiming the place, and may win,
although commercially. the right is
clearly with Mr.. Herman. No Sec
ton of the United States has greater
need of liberal river and harbor ap-
preparations than the great district
pressing Mr.. Hermann, and in the
near future it will make its political