The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-05-13
NAME FOR THE STATE.


Several weeks ago the Posf-IxrEIII-
oExcER requested its readers and the
residents Of the territory generally. TO
submit their preferences in the matter
Of . name for the state when admitted
into the Union The question Of q
name has been more or less discussed
Of late years, and no hill In. congress
has ever been considered without sug-
gestions being made as to the advisa-
bility Of rcchrissening the new COM
monwealth. The main cause Of the
desire for change seems TO arise from
the fact that the giving OF the name
Washington to the nex state would
lead 10 confusion. and that endless
trouble ard annoyance would arise
from the confoanding OF the national
capital with the political division on
the northwest pacific coast However
true this may be, II IS = fact that most,
II not all, Of those who ask for
change present this probable confusion
OF names as reason for the position
taken by them.
Within the last eighteen months,
and especially since bills for the ad-
mission OF several territories, Wash
ington included. have been before con-
gress. the question OF state name has
been more actively canvassed in Wash
ington Territory than ever before.
The press has from time 10 time made
public the opinions OF few individu-
ais. but nothing like general express
sion OF preferences FROM different parts
Of the territory has ever been secured.
In order, therefore, 10 obtain more
comprehensive idea of just what our
people think on the subject the Posr-
lrELLiGgscEg asked for the first and
second choice OF any residents in the
territory, who might take sufficient
interest in the matter, to make known
his wishes with view TO publication.
Nearly seven hundred replies have
been received since the can was first
made and they are such as give fair
idea of the popular feeling throughout
the territory. Although King fur
nished more replies than any other
county, they were by no means con-
fined TO any particular section. Let
ters we're received from Stevens and
Pacific. from Walla Waila and Jeiser-
son, in fact, with the exception OF
0kanogan. one or mors3responses came
in from every county in the territory.
THE OLD NAME GOOD ENOUGH"
Especially noticeable is the unanini-
ity with which the great mass of the
people support the name the terri
tory now bears. Out of 6A5 replies,
Jjf we're in favor of WAsHIsGToS and
these were scattered quite evenly over
all parts of the territory. Another
fact worthy of note il that there was
an entire absence oi any local preju-
dice. Yakima was favored by more
non-residents of the valley of that
name. Tacoma was the choice of
more people in King county than of
the people in Pierce county, while
nearly all of the expressions favorable
to Rainier we're outside OF Seattle.
The letters selecting Olympia were
from all parts of the Sound.
Public opinion, SO far as could be
judged from the replies received. was
SO decided in the support
Of Washington that in many in
stances no second choice was given
The expression Washington, first,
last and all the time" was repeated
again and again and IN the summary no
second choice is recorded for these en-
thusias;s. As second choice Colum-
bia stands first with Olympia second.
The result as received up to date Is
as follows: