Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-10
As It Should Be.


The readers of the STANDARD will
bear in mind that, not very long ago,
We called attention to the fact that
the commissioners who are managing
the national park reserves recommend
cd to Congress Il change in the name
OF the Washington National Park.
In their last report they pointed out
the fact that this name was confusing,
and quite indefinite as to the true To-
cality of the park, and they, there
upon, urged that this new reserve
should be christened Mount Rainier
National Park" Thus, while this
would definitely locate the grounds, it
would also forever legalize and ma
tionalize the honored name originally
given to this noble mountain. In
obedience to this suggestion, Senator
Wilson introduced bill in the Con-
gresS just adjourned, and on the ID
day of the present month it passed
both houses. Promptly the next day
it was signed by President Mckinley
and is now law.
So much for the legitimate history
and righteous outcome of this matter.
But now comes the Tacoma Ledger,
as usual, vigorously denouncing an ac-
ton which has so cruelty changed the
spirit of its dreams and hopelessly cast
into the shade the little city OF ambi-
tious destiny.
Commenting upon the passage of
the bill, the Ledger vindiciively and
reasonably whines,
Here is anglomania run riot. The
name of Washington National Park has
been changed to Rainier, after British
naval officer. 1t might be in order to
likewise change the name of the State,
and complete the job"
And then bursting out with renewed
vituperation it howls,
There would be no objection to the
bill as originally introduced, but this
change of name is an insult which will
not be appreciated by the people of the
State. Congress has been misled by
whoever was responsible for its action,
and the President should have informa-
ton of that fact with vigorous protests
against the change"
Throughout Western and Eastern
Washington, everywhere in fact out.
side OF Tacoma, the newspapers are
tossing about these little bowls of the
Ledger, and yet that jealous mouth
piece of the little city by the sea is so
blinded by its own impotent rage that
it cannot see the fun its own ridicu-
lous course is provoking among the
conservative press. 1t is safe to de-
clare that this cruel episode is a great
er affection to Tacoma-yes, ten.fold
more Gotham would have been the
success OF the capitol construction bill,
followed by the speedy erection of a
million dollar building upon the origi-
nal foundation.
The most unkindest cut of ALL"
1t is worthy OF remembrance right
here that,~s the story goes, while the
late Judge Elwood Evans was making
a speech in Tacoma, several years ago,
he had occasion to refer to Mount
Rainier, using this name of the noun
tain several times in quite close con-
nection. AS he closed brilliant pan
egyric upon the grand old hoary-
headed peak, some one in the audi
ence squeaked out, "Say Mount Ia
coma, Mr.. Evans; Mount Tacoma I"
"No, sir" Numbered the noble old
pioneer of Thurston county, bringing
his fist down with deafening whack
upon the table, az am speaking of
Mount Rainier!"
Well, now that the name has thus
been thrice officially declared, first by
the Northern Pacific Railroad COM
pany in its pamphlet literature, then
by the National Geographical Society
and lastly by the Congress and Presi-
dent of the United States, it remains
to be seen whether the villagers at the
head of Commencement Bay will con.
tinue to vociferate "Mount Tacoma p
1t is a difficult matter to determine
the probability by the ordinary rules
OF logic. A snake will continue to
wriggle its tail long after its head has
been smashed and punched into the
the mud.
Goodbye, Mount Tacoma!