The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-04-18
Will Carve Commonwealth
Out of Idaho and
Montana

SPOKANE. Wash, April 1S.-Agita-
ton for the formation of a new state
from counties of northern Idaho and
eastern Washington, to be carried on
during the next two years in the terri
tory affected, by a commission of Idaho
citizens, under authority of the last Idaho
legislature, has existed in one form or
another for more than half a century.
As early as January, 1861, memorial
to congress, asking for the creation of
the territory of Walla Walla" from
parts of the territory east of the Cas-
cade mountains, was brought up in the
Washington territorial legislature, but
was lost Two years later the legisla-
ture in compliance with petitions signed
by the people. considered a bill to submit
to the voters Il constitution for the pro-
posed new state of Idaho. After having
inserted Washington" for Idaho in
the bill, however, the Legislature killed
the measure.
Boise Made Capitol.
This was followed by the creation by
congress of Idaho territory. giving Wash
ington territory the present eastern
boundary of the state. Agitation for sep
aration of the northern counties of Idaho
from the rest of the state was soon pre-
cipitatCd within the new territory. how
ever. when the territorial legislature. in
1854, permanently located the capital,
which had been at Lewiston, in the
northern part, at Boise, in the southern
section. and this has been continued in
termittently to the present time.
Meanwhile. in the Washington terri
torial legislature, the agitation tlared up
on occasion.
In 1868. the legislature adopted a memo
rial to congress which asked that the
panhandle" of Idaho. created bv the
formation of the territory of Montana, be
returned to Washington. This memorial
recited the geographical barriers between
the northern part of Idaho and tho capt.
tai and declared that the commercial,
social and political interests of the peo-
pie of said northern portion of Idaho are
identical with those of the people of
Washington territory
This argument is, in the main, the
same as that advanced at the present
time by advocates of the formation of a
new state.
Similar memorials were adopted by
the Washington legislature in succeeding
years. and in 1870 it submitted to the
people a proposal for statehood This
was approved. and in the constitutional
convention which met three years later
were two representatives of northern
Idaho. Although the constitution was
adopted by the people at the next cleo
ton. congress refused to create the new
state.
Cleveland Blocked Plan.
The nearest that advocates of ''Seccs-
sion of northern Idaho ever came to
realizing their hopes was in 1856. when
only the lack of presidential approval
prevented it. The Idaho territorial leg
islature in 1854 had memorialized con-
grcss for annexation of the northern
counties to Washington, and in the fol
lowing election both political parties in
both Washington and Idaho declared for
such annexation.
A bill providing for the separation
passed both houses of the 10th congress,
but failed to receive the approval of
President Cleveland.
Other bills introduced in the same ses-
sion Of congress. but which failed of pas
sage. provided for division of the Idaho
panhandle" between Washington and
Montana. by annexing that part of it
north of the 47th parallel of latitude, in
Guided in the five present northern-mo
counties of the state, to the latter terri
tory.
The present agitation provides for sep.
aration of the 10 northern counties OF
Idaho and a part Of eastern Washington
and their admission to the Union as the
state of Lincoln. \ memorial to this
effect was introduced in the last session
| of the Washington legislature, but faileC
| of passage.