The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-05-25
EASTERN WASHINGTON
TALKS OF new STATE
Would Join With Northern Idaho
The Charleston Republican Dis
cusses the Proposition.

The Spokesman Review has started
the agitation of eastern Washington
breaking loose from the rest of the state
and annexing herself to Idaho, or form
ing new state out of eastern Wash
editorial on the subject in the Charleston
Republican. Will +. Willis. formerly of
this city. says:
All of this agitation more clearly
than ever demonstrates that the inter
ests of eastern and western Washing
ton are by no means Identical The
truth of this statement was never more
apparent than it is today. As one re-
suit, there is revival of the idea of
forming Il new state out of that por-
ion of the state east of the Cascades,
together with northern Idaho. The ac-
ton of last weeks convention has given
the scheme quite an impetus and now,
people who were formerly disposed to
combat the idea, are inclined to strong
ly favor it.
In speaking of the action of the con-
vention in thus so completely ignoring
us, one of Spokane's leading citizens
thus sizes up the situations: 81 think
the only solution now is to work for a
new state. The interests of the coast
and of eastern Washington are entirely
different, and always will be. We can
never agree, and, as the coast has the
| members, eastern Washinton will
always be left | think the time is ripe
to agitate for new state. composed of
eastern Washington and northern Ida
no. This sentiment is growing and
spreading throughout all this inland por-
ton of the great commonwealth of
Washington with wonderful rapidity.
In this connection it may not be
amiss to note that Spokane, by the gal
liant stand her delegates took at the
now memorable convention, when, in
spite of the temptation to side-step and
capture some of the fat offices, her rep
resentatives stood pat for principle,
and were out for plumber.
Hon. Geo. w. r. Peaslee, Asotin
county's able representative in the state
| legislature, voiced this view of the mat
ter, when. in published interview, at
Spokane the other day, he said: There
never was time when we could have
gotten anything in the convention with
out giving up the platform. While the
Spokane committee did all it could for
local candidates, had it ever conceded
this one point it would have alienated
all eastern Washington from Spokane
county. As things now stand, Spokane
has created confidence throughout the
eastern section of the state that will
rebound to her benefit in the future
If the time is ripe for considering
the important move of forming a new
state, let it be done decently and In
order. There is no need of undue haste
but the matter should be carefully con
sidered. Let the pros and cons have
due weight, and if, after weighing the
evidence, it be found eXpedient to with
draw and form new member in the
galaxy of states, we believe the people
of the sections named will readily en-
dorse and act upon the suggestion. Ger
tain it is, that the people hereabouts
are doing some thinking in the light
of recent developments, and they will
be found ready to act for their own
best interests when the opportune time
has arrived