The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-02-24
Thursday February "a, 1921
WHY STATE OF IDAHO SHOULD
NOT BE DIVIDED.

We are told by the advocates OF
the new state that north Idaho has
nothing in common with south Ida
no: that the two sections are separ-
ated by an impossible barrier of
mountains that will always prevent
closer relations; that the industries
of the two sections are different; that
the people of the two sections differ
in manner of life, thought and ideals.
In short. owing to these differences
there is an irrepressible conflict be-
tween the two sections of the state
which will forever prevent the peo-
pie Of the north and south from
dwelling together m peace ana unity.
Some of the arguments advanced
are true. some are not true, but true
or false. they utterly fail to make
case favorable to creating a state out
of the ten northern counties of Idaho
either alone, or in combination with
eastern Washington or in c6mbina-
ton with western Montana. or in
combination with both Tt is prob
ably a waste of time to discuss this
subject seriously. for even if the leg
islature of Idaho and of other states
concerned should memorialize con-
gress for the new state there is not
the remotest possibility that the pc
tition would be granted, a fact that
must be patent to any one who con-
siders consequences of establishing
such a precedent Idaho is not the
only state by any means in which
plausible argument may be made for
division and if congress once opens
the door for new states created ont
of old ones there viii be no end to
applications for changing the boun- /
DIARIES of states and creating new |
ones. There is California. measuring |
almost two-thirds of our western |
coast line. Certainly the differences /
between the north half and south /
half are as clearly defined as be
tween the two sections of Idaho but
we hear of no agitation for divi-
sion Of that great state Then there
is Michigan with the great copper
mines of the north completely separ-
ated from the main body Of the state
by Lake Michigan 1t might be ar
gued with great show of reason that
this large and rich mineral section
of Michigan naturally belonged to
Wisconsin. and that the expense and
inconvenience of the people of that
section in reaching the state capital
are intolerable, but in spite of the
disadvantages. congress has never
seen fit to readjust the boundaries by
annexing the northern part Of Nnchi-
gan to Wisconsin, much less has it
even considered making it the nu-
cleus of a new state Look at the
state of Maryland with large sec
ton on the east side of Chesapeake
hay and joining Delaware on the
west and south Could any people he
more inconvenientiy situated with
respect to their state capital and the
more populous part of the state?
Barring Rhode Island. there is no
state i'm the union so badly in need
of additional territory as little Della
ware. but so sacred are state lines re-
garded by congress that this isolated
section of Maryland can not be made
D part Of the state upon which it Dor
iers Texas could be cut mp into
several states of large areas and
population, which would enable the
people to get in closer touch with
heir state capital but congress has
shown no disposition to change the
status of that great state.
Tt is evident from the foregoing
hat there are numerous states so sit
iated that a strong argument can be
made in favor of division and the for
nation Of new states, in many of
which there is no doubt that efforts
would be made in that direction if
here was any reasonable hope for
uccess II congress should create
lew state OF north Idaho. it would
orm a precedent for the people of