The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-12-31
NEWS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST

control of the Equitable Life Insurance
Society's affairs in Western Washing
ton. In years gone by Mr.. Nadeau
was one Of the best known railroad men
in the Northwest and he is well fitted
for large responsibilities. The Equi-
table plans to establish a fiscal agency
in Seattle soon, for the purpose of in
vesting its surplus funds in the North
west.
Seattle, Wash.-Census Supervisor
Kelley of the Second District, predicts
that the forthcoming enumeration will
show the population Of Washington to
have. doubled since 1900. If the state
can count 100, 900 inhabitants next
year, is will be entitled to at least five
representatives in Congress and maybe
six. This will require redistricting as
at present there are only three mem
bers from Washington in the lower
house of Congress. The densely pop
ulated portion of the state west Of the
Cascades will probably get four of the
six, leaving two for Eastern Washing
ton. At all events, the 1910 census
is sure to break all records for growth
in the Northwest.
The coming convention of the
Washington Good Roads Association
at Aberdeen, January 20 and 81, is Of
importance to the whole state. 1t
will consider the expenditure of ST.
100000, now available in the state
road fund. Progress in road building
in this country has not kept pace with
European standards, largely because of
undesirable political influences in the
administration of highway affairs.
Washington has taken an important
step to get better roads and the State
Association is an earnest body. It has
awakened interest in the matter every
where and should help to solve the
problem of getting the best results for
the state at large.
Gov. M. E. Hay is in favor Of day
light saloon law" patterned after the
one in force in Nebraska. This per
the sale of liquor only during the hours
between sunrise and sunset. He de-
clares himself as strongly opposed to
wide prohibition, but believes
the local option law now in force a
good one. By a substantial majority
Walla Walla has refused to abolish sa-
looms. The business men will advo-
cate reducing the number Of licenses
now in force and the strictest regula-
ton for those operating. Davenport
has gone dry. AS the score now
stands, IS municipalities have gone
dry to 10 wet. The dry section in
cludes two county units, Stevens and
Whitman.
At the request of Richard A. Bal
linger, Secretary of the Department of
the Interior, the charges made against
him in the so-called Ballinger-Pinchot
controversy will be investigated by
joint committee of congress after the
first Of the year. Despite President
Taft's exoneration, the enemies of the
administration have persisted in their
attacks on the Northwest's represen-
tative in the cabinet. Extraneous
matters have been introduced and the
whole issue befuddled, so that in JUS
tee to himself and the President, Mr..
Ballinger has asked for an official re-
view at the hands of the direct repre-
sentatives of the people. President
Taft consented and now the partisans
of Pinchot and the radical conserva-
tionists will have to come to show
down.
In recognition of the important part
played BY voting women in the solution
of the divorce evil, Gov. M. E. Hay
has appointed the president of the
Washington Equal Suffrage Association
Mrs. Emma Smith Devoe, delegate
to the National Divorce Congress, to
meet in Washington, D. c., from jan
uary IA to 18th, in response to a call
issued by President Taft. This Con-
gress is to suggest remedial legislation
for action by the Senate and House,
and in view of the fact that divorces
have decreased n per cent in New
Zealand since the women were given
the ballot some fifteen years ago, and