The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-24

Do you catch the idea, Mr.. Editor?
1t is real popular in this latitude, as
you will find if you pay attention to
the verdict of our voters at the polls.
Now, about the land grant question
This was in issue few years ago. The
people demanded forfeiture of all un-
earned railroad lands within the then
Territory of Washington. Chas. S.
VOORHEES,, Democratic candidate for
Dele gate to Congress, made louder
and more sweeping promises upon
this question than did the republi.
can nominee. The platforms of the
two parties were both for forfeiture.
Mr.. Voorhees,, however, in addition to
his loud and earnest promises, was in
sympathy politically with the then
democratic majority of the National
House of Representatives. The peo-
pie elected Mr.. VOORHEES, largely upon
this issue. A republican U. S. senate
PASSED bill restoring to the public
domain all the Northern Pacific rail-
road lands through which the road had
not at that time been built. This bill
was sent to the House. and, upon its
consideration for final passage, Mr..
Herman, the republican member from
Oregon, eloquently urged its passage.
In doing SO he reminded the demo-
cratic delegate from Washington that
while the bill was not as sweeping in
its character as he (Voorhees) pro-
fessed to desire, yet it would restore to
the public domain about three million
five hundred thousand acres of the
most valuable lands in Washington
Territory, through which the railroad
was being rapidly built, and the land
claimed thereby as rapidly as each
twenty fve+mile section of the road
could he accepted by the government:
also that the bill expressly reserv-
/ ed the right of congress to declare yet
other of the railroad lands within this
grant forfeited.
The bill would lave forfeited the
very lands the people of Washington
wanted. Mr.. VOORHEES, opposed the
passage of the bill, because he said it
did not forfeit enough land. His party,
being in the majority in the House,
killed the bill, an thus violated their
solemn pledge made to the people of
Washington Territory.
For this act of political treachery
Mr.. VOORHEES, was subsequently rele-
gated to private life by majority so
large that he is still politically buried
The people elected John B. Allen !;
but before he could take his seat we
were admitted as state. Mr.. Allen
was elected u. S. senator and John L..
Wilson was elected fy still larger
majority to seat in the House. He
assisted to restore what was left un-
earned of these railroad lands to the
public domain (some 100000 acres)
along the Columbia river between
Wallula and Portland.
But in the meantime, through the
action of Il democratic Delegate and
a democratic House of Representa-
tives, the Cascade division of the N.
T. Il r. had been built, and the vast
body of railroad lands coterminous
Herewith had been patented to the
railroad company by Grover Cleveland,
IA democratic president.
The congress of the United States
has the same right still to forfeit
other railroad lands that it had before
the passage of the forfeiture bill.
The bill expressly provides this-Vice-
President Cakes of the N P. r. r. re-
ported to the contrary, notwithstand-
| ing.
THEREFORE-JOhn L. Wilson DID
NOT vote to give an acre nor foot of
land to the Northern Pacific RAILROAD
Company, as you allege.
He will assist you, or any or any of
your friends, Mr.. Editor, in wrestling
any other railroad lands from the com
pany, if such is possible after the
lands have been conveyed to the COM
pany by reason of parts Of its rail
road already built.
Has this charge of yours against
Mr.. Wilson been sufficiently refuted?
Ii so, please make the AMENDE HON
oRABLE. Respectfully yours,
ALLEN WEIR.