The Great State Division Debate

As an aftermath of the prohibition election, comes the agitation for dividing the state that westsiders may have saloons regardless of the wishes of the eastsiders. By way of giving impetus to this agitation, the editor of the Seattle Times says: 'A leading business man of the city suggests that the State of Washington should be divided... The Cascade range is such a natural division between Eastern Washington and Western Washington that two territories are found—one on either side, absolutely different in every particular.' By the same argument the farmer should divide his 20-acre farm and establish two separate and distinct managements because he raises hogs on one 10-acres and fruit on the other. True, Washington is large in area and the time will undoubtedly come when the growth of the population will render a division of territory advisable. During the 25 years of its existence, Washington has made wonderful progress as a state. Its greatness lies in the rain and the sunshine, the lumber and the fruit, the fish and the grain. Its growth and progress has been due to its having a west side where the rain falls and an east side where the sun shines—due to its varied climate and resources. The present agitation for state division is born of the same spirit which prompts the kid pitcher to quit the game in the vacant lot when the kid batter hits the ball for a home run.