The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-28
BY s. w. WALL

journeyed down to the de-
partment of commerce that next
morning and asked Secretary
Sloane to let me have "a copy OF
Or. Merriam's paper of facts"
lie would not.
asked him to let me read II
there in his office. lie would
not.
asked him IL might take
copies of the many letters and
kilograms from publicists and
scientists the country over urg-
ing the board to change the name
of the mountain which | knew
had been filed with him. lie said
he would not---I must make
formal application to the board,
and this he would submit at its
next meeting, June &.
wrote out such formal APP
plication. In a letter dated June
li-June Ia, mind you-he wrote
me that he had submitted my let
ter and that the board had form
ally declined to furnish copies OF
the letters.
Draw Your Conclusions.
This history has now run down
to its final chapter-as history.
What speculation may follow
well, why should | not leave that
with you, yourself. since | have
taken such pains to ntrip down
the facts for you?
Have l not taken infinite pains
to strip down the facts, shred by
shred, until they now stand bald
and naked lined up before you?
SO that by no possibility may the
conclusion to which they point
escape.
The secretary Of the geographic
board writing me in June, 1916,
said: IF the people of the state
of Washington Will have an act
passed by the legislature chang
ing the name OF the mountain II
can he accomplished"
All United.
We go out and get such an ex-
preston of united public senti-
ment as was never before assem-
bled on any subject.
The legislature makes the en-
actment called for.
The Indians of their own Volt
ton and without any of us who
were acting in this matter so
much as knowing they were in
session, frame their petition
With all this we go to Washing
ton by invitation of the board to
present ii and present our pro-
posal for a new name.
SO far from its accomplishing
its purpose, the board never in
tended II should. They intended
to make use of al lour endeavors,
our expenditure of time and eff
fort and money eXerted under
the advice of the secretary,
Charles s. Sloane, to confirm and
strengthen their previous action.
Putting on the front of pa
thence and fairness In an open
all-day hearing with
smile our thanks, given in sin
cerity for that apparent patience
and fairness-they acted In secret
upon advices given in secret.
Ignored Evidence.
Stepped In ignorance of the
history and geography of this
matter, these eminent men
professors and doctors did
not so much as glance at the i'm
pregnable and unassailable array
OF evidence we laid before them.
Under a demand for an ex-
PLANTATION OF their action their
answer was, I'VE thought you
would bring us something new. &"
The only thing that would be
new, or at least that ought to be
new to these old men who ought
to know the history and geogra-
ply of O case that has been be-
fore them for Judgment as has no
other case in the whole period of
their office-holding, was lying be-
fore them unopened. 1t was the
evidence of people united from
one end of the state to the other
In asking for a change in the Of
ficial name of the most majestic
uplift on the American continent
because that anne had become
obnoxious and intolerable.
There was the petition of the
Legislature of the state, and to
any body OF American citizens
holding office i'm this republic and
having a proper idea of their re-
lationship and responsibility in
such a case. that would be new"
enough, nor call for any support
ing evidence"
We took that supporting evil
dence with us in such volume out
OF respect for what we deemed q
grave and reverend body-men
who knew how to wear their