Evening star., 1924-05-29
Lauds Mount Rainier.
Writer Opposes Proposal Il
Change Name of Peak.

To the Editor of The Star:
AS a native son of the state Of
Washington | cannot but be aroused
when | learn that certain prejudiced
organizations and individuals are at
tempting to influence Congress I"
change the name of Mount Rainier&
so that commercial interest in oneF
lone city. Tocoma, may profit.
Mount Rainier, as it has heen
known for more than 132 years. is
the greatest scenic pride of all loyal
Washingtonians Nature lovers from
all parts of the nation throng its inz
clines each year, to gaze upward witN
awe at its beauteous God-given
treasures. Situated the great
mountain is, within the confines OF
one of the leading national parks OF
the United States amid gigantic red
frs OF a great national forest, Mount
Rainier towers majesticallN more
than $4,000 feet above the level OF
the seaboard; its snowcap oTerlookS
on Puget sound Truly, this scenic
possession of we Americans is no
common grant of nature.
If members of Congress are led
to believe the claim that the pro-
posed change of names is OF on ~
granted without injurine the FEELINGS
of any persons except those of Seattle,
they will commit "A greviouS error.
Commercial clubs. chambers nf
commerce, civic and fraternal orcani-
| cations in practically every city. town
| and hamlet in the State of Wash
ington outside of the small radius
centering about Tacoma and thou
sands of individuals not so affiliated
have announced themselves against
| the proposed attempt to call Mount
| Rainier by the name suggested hN
| the organized business interests Of
al rif Tacoma.
The thousands, yes, tens Of th"u-
sands of men and women Of other
states who have at one time or an
other visited Mount Rainier NationAt
Park and Mount Rainier Natlona1
Forest know the mountain by the
same name and have advertised IT
as such throughout the length ana ,
| breadth of the land. To further aLd
in the minds of the pleasure seekers
| of the world. transcontinentai RAJ x
roads, community organizations Ahv
the great private concern Whlch ol''!
| tional Fairgrounds have expended
thousands of dollars for every con-
ceivabe form of advertising to hrinE
visitors to the mountain resort SnaiI
| this valuable publicity go to nauGht:
President Coolidge only recently
proclaimed the need of encouraging
all the people of the nation TO give
more of their time to enjoyment ol
recreation out OF doors. lHoSt y ~
seek to follow his worthy advice or
who desire to carry out their own
inclination in this respect have only
to consult the countless aliases, o.
| flcial charts, maps, scientific RECORDS
and even literature of civilized ma
tions to discover the established name
| of Mount Rainier. Why change al
| the recognized guides for the tour
| list?
In speaking of the move 10 caA
Mount Rainier, Mount Tacoma. pr
Hart Merriam chairman OF the podIH
of geographic names, who opposes the
Dill resolution has said:
The name Mount Rainier IS one
of the most firmly established geo
graphic names on the face of the
earth To change it would be blow
to the stability of geographic ana
historic nomenclature and reflection
on the intelligence of the American
people"
Representing. as he does, the or
ganization expressly recognized as
the authority on all questions IN
| volving geography, DR.. Merriam's
opinion should carry more weight
than the suggestions of selfish bust
ness men of political demagogues
In conclusion / will say that II
am in no degree prejudiced because
of former residence in portions of
the state particularly adverse to the
change in names. l was born and
future home in the easternmost part
of the state-quite far removed from
the mountain. My faith in the faiG
ness of thinking men and women gen
orally will be shaken il disappoint
ment is carried back to me and to
the majority of those directly inter-
ested in this needless probIem-the|
populace of Washington and of the1
Tar west. Very sincerely,
CAMERON SHERWOOD.