The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-14
SOME ASSEMBLED WISDOM.
THE NEW STATE OF WASHINGTON.
What the New Convention Representative
New Constitution-Tide Lands Explained
Political Matters-The Spoiis of Of
fice-Last Election Explained, Etc.

commonwealth.
The convention is composed of seventy
five delegates, forty-fve OF whom are re-
publicans while thirty are democrats. The
political complexion of the convention is
largely the result Of the law, as the ena-
bling act provided that the territory edi-
vided into districts, each of which should
be entitled 10 three delegates, the electors
respectively TO vote for but two OF such
delegates.
AS body, the convention represents a
fair degree of ability and responsibility.
There are several very bright men of both
parties in the convention, who would be
an honor TO any state. OF the seventy
five members, there is about seven who
are careful students in state-craft, fifteen
who are well read, brainy, industrious and
dignified, and about ten more, who are
quiet and unobtrusive, but who are thor
oughly imbued with the spirit of progress,
who have broad and enlightened views on
all practical business questions, who are
alert, sagacious, incorruptible and patri-
otto, and serve we'll as the break-waters OF
contending factions.
Could the framing of the constitution
be turned over TO these twenty-five men
a month would suffice for the work. and
the work would be well done. But in the
convention, as a whole, there is too much
noise and buster. There is an unhappy
preponderance of mouth and lungs over
brains. There are too many who are Itch
ing to become members OF the coming leg
islature, and who are paving the way to
htta 80 10 oh
ganic law TO favor local interests.
In all deliberative bodies OF considera-
BILE size there is always a surplus OF men
who are only noticed by their noise, but
usually the frothy ones soon subside,
while modest worth asserts its power. But
this convention presents an exception to
the rule.
Basing hope upon usual results, ex-
pected from the general appearance of the
convention fair constitution from sixty
days sitting.
But new difficulties present themselves.
The frothy ones will not subside, and the
useless lumber forced upon the real work
ers is appalling in its varirty, quality and
quantity. Then, too, it is provided by
congressional enactment that the election
for the ratification of the constitution be
held Oct. |. AS it is feared the people
elections, only four weeks apart, but
would rather elect all officers provided by
the new constitution at the October cleo
ton, the politicians are becoming alarmed,
as the protracted convention will leave too
little time TO instruct the dear people their
party duties.
As result, there will be an effort TO
"hurry things up" and high speed with a
rickety machine almost inevitably ends
in disaster. Present indications would
justify guess that the convention Will
adjourn by Aug. 20, and that the constitu-
ton to be offered for the peoples adoption
will be chiefly remarkable for its length.
Nearly every question upon which the
legislature might, with propriety, deal has
been forced before this convention by pc
tition, resolution, or in some other way. L
am not sure that the constitution will not
constitute a code OF laws sufficient for all
time. The instrument may properly be
called the constitution and bylaws of
Washington.
Among the gravest questions In this
grand new state are those affecting the
disposition, or management, of the school
and tide lands. A brief explanation re-
garding the tide lands may be of interest
to your readers. The tide lands in ques-
ton, or, more properly speaking, the
mud fats" are lands marked by the
daily ebb and flow Of the sea, and over
which riparian rights do not apply. The
average tide on Puget sound is about four
teen feet, and on Gray's harbor and Shoal-
water bay about ten feet. Between this
high and low-water line there lies thou
sands of acres of lands usually, of course,
at the head of bay coves, or along streams
where the future cities may stand. These
lands, by sufterance only, belong to the
state and are subject, with certain restric-
tions OF a commercial character, to state
control. Much of this land, from its adj
vantages for commerce and manufacture,
is destined to become very valuable. The
difficulty in handling the question arises
from a deep and growing feeling among
the people that these lands should not be
sold to private parties, but held by and
for the use of the people of the state. To
neutralize this "craze" the attorneys OF q
few wealthy men who have taken posses
sion OF very valuable tracts of this tide
land and desire TO buy it at nominal
prices, are so industriously flying the
scare-crow of state landlordism" or
"Henry Georgeism" that the convention
and the people will probably turn over
this vast domain to private spectators
and local monopolists. But, between the
growing demands of the many and the
persuasive argument OF the wealthy, this
question is causing vast deal of grief
among the statesmen.
While the convention has been In ses-
sion some four weeks but little of the
actual work for which it came together
has been done. The preamble, the bill of
rights and the judicial articles, have been
finished. The articles on counties, town
ships, ETC., have about passed, and some
other questions are ready to emerge from
the committees. Happily the grand jury
system is practically abolished.
AS the political pot begins to boil the
buzzards turn a business eve to Olympia.
The keen-scented politician is all ready, ar
rayed in a straw hat and grin and is cul-
tivating the good graces of the dear people,
who, from raw material, are to manufac-
ture the whole political machinery of the
state. All the officers of counties, of the
state, of the courts, of the legislature, of
congress, with two ornaments for the
American house of lords, called the U. S.
senate, are to be elected this fall. What a
field for ambition, and as there is no limit
to aspiring ignorance the Statesman" who
fails to get to the U. S. senate may get to
be postmaster.
With spoils so rich, the fight must soon
begin, and already the party councils are
being called to prepare for the conflict. In
obedience to a historic order, "claim
everything" the republicans claim the
state while the democrats true to their
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