Ellensburg Convention Pushes Washington Statehood in 1889
Delegates gathered in Ellensburg in 1889 to demand admission into the Union, arguing that the territory had matured into a self-sustaining, prosperous commonwealth.
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.
Ellensburg, Jan. 3 — The statehood convention sat at 11 a.m. in the court house and was called to order by Mayor Jackson of Ellensburg, who stated that its object was to further the interests of Washington as to admission. The following resolution was adopted: That a committee of five on credentials be appointed by the chairman; that the citizens of all the counties be requested to report to the committee, that they be enrolled as delegates, and that the citizens of the five northern counties of Idaho be admitted as delegates.
The convention adopted a memorial to Congress, arguing that Washington’s population had reached over 240,000. The petitioners noted: 'Washington Territory is the home of families, not adventurers; of home-builders, not transients.' The delegates asserted that the territory’s industries—coal, iron, timber, and agriculture—were sufficient to support state government without burdensome taxation. Furthermore, they resolved that the name 'Washington' should be retained upon admission, as it was 'dear to the people of the United States' and had become a part of the political, business, and social life of every inhabitant.
“Washington Territory is the home of families, not adventurers; of home-builders, not transients.”
In 1889, Washingtonians were fighting for the political autonomy of statehood to manage their own resources and growth. Today, that same spirit of civic agency continues to animate Washington’s political life, as residents grapple with the modern-day consequences of the regional prosperity the 1889 delegates envisioned.
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