The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-02

zen 10 pay an equal tax Tor the support oil tue
government. There can be 10 quarrel on this
subject Upon the issues made N the platforms
there 10 but little difference between the parties.
| The supposed grievances are merely to cover up
| the leading issue.
/ In this condition OF state politics as TO the
question above stated, the great and leading
Issue az to the i'm proyercnt OF rivers lakes
and hsrcors was made, ind before passing 10 the
present platforms | propose 10 examine the
| platforms of the parties in this state for some
/ years p.st, as we'll tie resolves OF our legis-
| iatures
| In IsS3 both parties favored liberal nppropria-
tons Ior the improve ment OF the Coiumnia
| river above Willamette, demanded by the
commerce OF Washington territory. There 10 a
little history about that rnatter. fellow citz .ns.
| II which will now cal your attention Just
| above the mouth OF the Willamette in font OF
vancouver there Is q large sandbar and while
| We We're territory aud long the boats
| could get up to Portland We could get no ap-
| propfiations. The Legislature asking for
them IN behalf OF the people OF Clark county.
wash, and our platform resolved in favor of
| them.
| We favored liberal appropriations for the i'm
provement of our rivers and harbors, and for
! irrigation and redeeming our desert lands. and
| we pledged the cooperation of our congress
| sional representatives with those of Oregon to
| secure the speedy opening of the Columbia river
| 20 na.igation.
| in lsel we demanded that immediate steps be
| taken to remove the distractions to the tree
| navigation from the Columbia river snd all
! our other navigable rivers, and favored liberal
| appropriations for the Improvement OF our
| rivers and harbors.
| In ISIS both parties favored liberal appropria-
tons for the improvement and defense OF our
| rivers aud harboIs
In 1881 both parties demanded improvement
| from the general government, of congress, of
4! ali the rivers and harbors ana waterways OF the
state This was broad enough, ieilow-citizens,
| to take in even the L,so Washington canal.
| tCheers.l
| In 1850 We demanded immediate steps to be
| taken to remove distinctions from ire uaviga-
ton in the Columbia river and ali other naviga-
| bic rivers.
| In 1897, and up to thai time both parties
| agreed that the general government should ap-
| propriate funds for the improvement OF our
/ waterways. IA why shuu!d they not agree, for
whatever funds ami expenditures are made Tor
Improvements in any part of the state is for the
| general GOOD.
Inow call your attention - the legislative
memC'isis on this question of improvement.
As early ms 1896 the people OF Washington be-
came imbue1 with the idea that in order to the
proper devs iopmGnt OF TIE territory, the i'm
peoyemeui OF the nav G able waters by congress
YVES necessary. Aud at the session of
the .egslatr.e of lsGs67, at which
Judge Dernisou presided, resolution
was passed demanding Improvements for the
nsvigabe rivers OF Washington territory, and
Eskei for IA appropriation of 100000. Again in
lxf and lots. when our eloquent and learned
f&isow citizen. II. q. Strive, president OF the
tnsitoria; courcll, a memorial was passed ask.
itS congress to appropriate funds necessary to
i'"afe. build and maintain = dry dock and
navy yard on Puget sound. fApplausel
At the session of l'75 appropriations were
tioEs at the mouth of the Toutle river This
WAS the first instance in the history OF the terri
try that an appropr alton was asked to i'm
prove any lake or river IN Washington. At that
!imo both the Republican aud Democratic par
ties were in favor of Improving any river, any
lake, any harbor that was for the & ,od of the
Old settlers OF the territory, aud rs the territory
made rapid progress and increased III wealth
| aud population the Old settlers looked
forward to the time when Lake
Wssh ngton should be connected with the
waters OF Puget sounl. Ii was the dream of
their life, and they hoped to see il accomplished
before they passed away. l remember on the
occasion Oh my iirst visit to your magnificent
city III 1872. your fellow citizen John McGilvra
took me in a wagon to view Lake Wash ngton,
and he pointed ont to me with great pr de that
magnificent body of water, which reminded
him, he said, OF his old home in Scotland He
told me how great city was going t. be butt
here. He told me that the national
government was going 20 connect that beautiful,
lake with the waters of Puget sound. and ships
would be sailing from Lake Washington to the
Well, thought nv friend McGilvra was
little wild. but when / got back TO town. and
commenced talking with my good friend Yesler
here, the canal subject was the only topic.
Every body believed in the canal. | tell you
they had it set 10 muse: they sang it in the
churchea
Now, fellow citizens, we have come to a proud
peiod in our history. very proud period. In
1888 our people sent TO the legislative assembly
her best aud shrSwdest citizen, = gentiema an
whom very much respect and admire, the
Hou John Collins. Now let US see what he did.
We expected great deal of Mr. Collins. Mr..
Collins was made chairman OF the committee
on commerce. in the legislative council, u
most important committee for Puget sound
end seattle. There was another leading LIGHT
there also, a brilliant light i'll the Democratic
party, Hon. NJ. T. Cation, of Waila Walla.
Cation represented Walla Walla and the Upper
Columbia. ana both of these gentlemen worked
together for the good Of the state. Let see
what they did. Strong memorials were passed
asking for the improvement Of ne Columbia,
OF Gfay's harbor, of the O.ympan hNrbor,
OF Lewis ryer and the Cowltz liver,
tn of which was there any opposition.
And now Mr.. Collins, believing that tne county
of King and city of SEATTLE had reached that
J point in wealth and population to demand the
| construction OF the Lake Washington cana, aud
that such Improvement was of such charact,r
~ 10 demand and receive aid from the nation,
asked for tho passage of the first and most
famous memorial in the history of WASHINGTON,
the construction OF the Lake Washington canal.
In 1888 teis memorial passed the house with
| out any opposition There were twelve mem
bers iii the legislative council. Nine voted in
favor Of its passage, two against IL, and one was
| absent. Thus was the Lake Washington canal
scheme launched into the politics of the state
| az Washington by an almost unanimous vote of
The council OF lssS Collins is response
HE for putting Il there. because the
| people of Western Washington demanded il.
! because the people of King county asked that
hc do il. and all our Democratic friends tried to
| keep it out Ii is there To stay. ana will stay
until the cana. 10 constructed ty the Federal
! government, and until the ships OF the matt on
| float through its LOCKS into the bosom of our
! magnificent lake Our learned Democratic ora
tors declare that il must be kepi out They
solve il is not there. Fellow citizens, don't you
| remember that it was resolved IN the congress
| of the United states alter the passage ot the
| compromise measure in 1854 that the question
| Of slavery should never again get into the
! United States senate. Did that resolu-
| ton keep IL ont. No. thank Col, tho
! American people were determined u destroy
! the intQuity ~ slavery, aud they did 1t Now
| this canal question 10 before At the FIRST
| session ot our state legislature this question
| Was up again, and q memorial was passed, ask
| lug that tia Lake Washington canal he bui't
/ by the government, This was passed without
opposition, and the stale, through its !esisa
| tuTe. declared that as matter OF public benefit
/ II should bc bnut by the nation. Al the second
session tie question was up again. asking
! that II be built by the nation. Tnis
oniy two men IN the legislature voted against
IL Nhcre was SnivelyS He was in the tobby
! lie do3s i ihc vote again Fellow citizens. he
lodged the general appcopF latlon bill. He
/ GOdgc the revenue law he lodged the ques
| ton Of the building of the canal sud he viii
I do !sc the o.bCe OF tie governor of the state OF
Some Office God knows what. Bat let Us lock
! a little further. AZ this same session occurred