The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-12
WALL ACCUSES j. s. BOARD Of INJUSTICE

Continued From Page One.)
conditions by this U. S. geographic
board-by these men wearing
titles of such distinction.
What Marshall Said.
| will state the record in its
simplicity. In August, 1915,
discussed this question of the
change of the name of the noun.
tain with Marshall, chief geogra-
pher of the United States and a
member of the board.
lie said the name Rainier was
a mistake to be regretted: that
the man Rainier was in no wise
entitled to have the most majestic
uplift on the continent named in
his honor; that he believed the
official recognition of that name
by the board of geographic names
had been largely secured through
the influence of brewery interests
manufacturing Rainier beer; that
the present geographic board ia
vored aboriginal names, and that
If the people of the state took
some action to warrant the board
in making the change-such as
the recommendation of a state
geographic board, or, in the alb
sence of such board, an act of the
legislature making such RECON-
mendation-he believed they
would change the name.
Under such advice from the
chief geographer and a member Of
the board the campaign was begun
to have the state take the action
suggested. In little while every
body fell into line, even newsap-
pers of Seattle frankly and earn
estly advocating it.
What Sloane Said.
Good progress having been
made, | wrote to the secretary of
the geographic board, c. S. Sloane,
advising him of what was being
done and asking advice, and re-
ceived a letter from him dated
June 7, 1916, in which this oc-
ours:
Dear Sir: Referring to your
letter of May 26 in regard to
changing the name of Mt. Rainier
to Mount Tacoma In
this connection | will personally
make a suggestion, and that is, il
the state of Washington wishes
the name of the mountain changed
they could accomplish 1t by hav-
ing the legislature pass an act
changing the name from Rainier
to Tacoma.
"This will bring il before
the geographic board in such
manner that ! feel positive
they would accept any name
which has usage by an act of
the state Legislative body"
This is from the secretary of
the U. S. geographic board-geog-
rapher of the census bureau. He
indicates clearly, you see, how the
people of the state of Washing
ton may accomplish the thing they
desire. OF course the secretary
of the board and geographer Of
the census bureau must know
whereof he speaks-he means
what he says. So we go forward
in our campaign--a campaign OF
education in observation-disclosures
and good-fellowship, seeking and
bespeaking the freest discussion
and widest publicity. Finally the
legislature meets and passes by a
vote of 50 to 33 this memorial:
The Memorial.
ITO the Honorable. the Members
of the Geographic Board of the
United States:
"Your memorialists, the senate
and house of representatives of
the state of Washington, In legis-
lative session assembled. respect
fully represent that,
Whereas, the name OF the
great mountain peak of the Cas-
cade range, situate In the state
of Washington, is a matter of un-
ending controversy among the citi-
zens thereof, many Of whom al
ways have refused and still re-
fuse to call It by the official des-
ignation Rainier