The Political Deal to Split the State School
Legislative delegates from Yakima and Spokane counties are reportedly plotting to divide the State School of Science, aiming to force its relocation to Whitman County to satisfy local interests.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The agricultural college and school of science question was given a change of front through the senatorial election. A combination is known to have been made between the legislative delegations of Yakima and Spokane counties and the King county contingent by which, in consideration of the forces of the two former counties supporting Squire, an effort will be made to divide the institution in opposition to the views held by the commissioners and locate the school of science at one of the towns in Whitman county. King county's delegation will work to this end; but should the delegations from the lower counties combine with Pierce, this bargain can be defeated. Notwithstanding this trade, Yakima is still in the game, with high-hoped success.
“Notwithstanding this trade, Yakima is still in the game, with high-hoped success.”
This account of horse-trading legislative delegates for a public institution captures the gritty, transactional nature of territorial and early state politics. It mirrors ongoing contemporary debates regarding the equitable distribution of state resources and the influence of urban versus rural power centers in Olympia.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.