The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-23
'MDHfnDfnT Of ConeaESs.
The People Nay Cali > Constita.
tiensl Cenvenfisn.



hood sub-exeeutsve committee . few
days zgD ara EOS being heard frozn IN
every rzrs Of Washington Letters
are pouring In daily TO the nsemkers
o. the committee. giving information
that the petitions zse i<fng signed
generally. and that the people are
taking bold OK the matter with the
greatest earnEstness and zeal. and
that she petitions are forwarded 10
congress So soon ~ they are filed
The following letter i given as fair
specimen OF ths spirit Of great num-
Der on lie at the rooms 81 the COM
snitsee.
Watson c. 1zuixe--Eesr Sir Year eos
muEsc&t1Gn Of the lSsn last came today
sias1sesils eoznps5ed with ~ per esrcnaar-
EssrYDne ssfEs the petition without arrn-
z1ent. the matter needs 70 sss<axxAo1- -
al parties think alike with regard 10 90
Efsxios- Hspsar for az early epnsnmnax-
fion, am ycHrs #e-y Esspeeffaily.
Fourth class postmaster First elsss
Governor Squire SAYS he has no
doubt thzs this -.Erss class Democrat
IL ahrst class fellow. too
PETITIONS soT sryT ry.
In Seattle greet many names hare
been signed 70 the petitions: but hose
in whose charge they have been placed
hare failed 20 send them in TO the
committee when filed. and for that
reason the city has not made the show
ing that was expected OF ii in the mat
ter
What Is eyeryboay's business is
nobody business" said leading cifi-
zen yesterday. land some one should
be appointed 20 c;tll at the various
places OF business TO collect these PEE
titsons and turn them over 20 the sub
committee, 80 that they can be for
waYded TO Washington without delay.
The present congress has only . few
more days In which 20 consider the
question Of admission, and. while We
have bat little hope of lis doing any
thing towards the admission Of the
territories. We should do cur share
towards presenting our claims in the
most forcibie manner possible !"
Mr. wIIMaRTH's PLAN.
Mr.. FL. G. Wilmarth, who has given
much time and thought to the admis-
sion question since the adjournment
iof the Ellensburg statehood conyen-
ton, Of which he was vice president,
was seen at the Occidental hotel last
night by a reporter OF the Pos1-IxTEH-
LIaEycER. and in the course OF short
interview he said:
1T does not look as though the
present congress viii offer the North
western territories any equitable relief
in the way OF admission into the
Union, nor is IL likely that II has been
the intention OF the Democratic
these territories, unless their Repuhli-
can majorities could be Offset or COIN
pensated for in some satisfactory
way 70 our Democratic friends. The
omnibus bill just passed in the lower
house of congress, is n mean snbter-
| inge and 9 miserable expedient 10 ac-
compiish delay and leave the terrific
RES where they prefer 20 be, in their
territorial condition, 10 accepting
statehood at an absolute sacrifice
The Democratic congress, the Demo
cratic administration, and | believe
the Democratic party is now in the
throes OF approaching dissolution
| but. unlike the diving swan. their
sweetest notes are not heard at APP
preaching death. Cruel. obdurafe and
grim-visaged TO the last they intend
with the last impulse Of their power
/ To strange the young candidates now
struggling for admission 10 the sister
| hood of states.
without relief from this congress.
which nov seems altogether unlikely.
/ il Is hardly possible our admission
may 90 over 10 1891, especially ii
President Harrison should fail TO
convene congress in extra session.
and there is no yerv coed reason that
he will. In view OF this rather uncer-
tain condition of our prospects for ad-
mission. IL does seem that the people
should. rs far as possible, take the
matter into their own hands and push
il with earnestness and vigor.
What can the people do in the alb
sence OF assistance or recognition by
congress, or Of call being made by
the legislature7"
They can do much IL they viii. As
! understand it, there can be no legal
session OF the territorial legislature
anti January, lssso, as the organic act
provides that the legislature cannot
legally assemble until congress shall
have made an appropriation to defray
the expenses of its session, 50 il woufd
appear Ii we make no steps towards
admission until next January. we will.
| In all probability. remain in territorial
condition until close on 10 1891. When
the legislature meets year hence II
would likely call constitutional con-
8 80 - - -.
delegates would have 10 be elected at
special election. the convention held
lin all probability the session would
tie a long oae-and then the eonstitu-
ton would hare to be submitted to the
people for ratification or rejection at
another special eleceson, az which cleo
| ton fnll state ticket must needs be
elected also. liz can lie readily seen
that ali this viii consume much time.
| would. therefore. suggest plan
symefhing like this, to-wit:
Let the people of the territory call
constitutional convention. as was
done in the case of South Dakota,
elect their delegates IN counties and
districts as conncilmsn and represefl-
/ fatiyes are now elected, send them 10
convention IN I've held say at Ellens-
hurgh on the fsrst Monday in Nav, or
a. any ether time and place that may
be deemed advisable, and when the
constitution shalt have been framed.
submit is To the people for ratification
or rejection, together with full state
ticket, both 10 be voted
upoa at the same time and in
the manner provided for by the con-
ventsoa. Ii congress should not then
he IN session. the new state eoald be
admitted By presidential proclamation,
as was done in the cases OF Iowa,
Florida and Colorado. The expenses
Qf these two special elections would,
ko. doubt. be gladly paid BIZ the new
~saie as debts ct honor.
''Saeh a plan wouia be free from
legal or constitutional objection and
would greatly facilitate our eftorss 20
accomplish most desirable result
In that event the plans and purposes
81 oar Democratic friends woak.
be handsomely and successfully
banked and oar admission
nlaced made sure rs the
result al car cwn effort, energy and
pluck This suggestion il made for
tAe purpose Of naeesiag possible con
slEgeucy. and | trust the grnerag press
and the best minds III the territory
IL q