The Great Statehood Gamble: Why Washington Was Left Behind While South Dakota Joined the Union

The action of the people of North Yakima, in view of the power to establish a constitutional convention to meet in that city in May, appears to proceed more from a wish to 'boom' North Yakima for the state capital than from any real necessity. The proposition is contended to be a voluntary act of the territory itself, and in any event would come with more force from those to whom the interests in this regard have been fully entrusted.

It is well understood that if the dual admission scheme now before Congress fails, as they seem destined to do, the incoming president will be asked to call an extra session of Congress for the special purpose of the separate admission of the territories. It is believed that this will be done. The justice of our demands, the long delay which we have suffered for participation in the councils of the Republican party and of the country, Harrison are constantly urging us to hope that there will be no postponement of this very important matter.

The people of Washington have special reason to complain at the terms of the omnibus bill which was passed by the house of representatives at the command of Mr. Springer. It has apparently become so much a matter of habit with the Democrats to treat Washington unfairly that they must do so whether they desire to or not. The omnibus bill, after the adoption of the Springer amendment, provided that South Dakota should be admitted by executive proclamation after having adopted a constitution republican in form, while Montana, North Dakota and Washington would be admitted only after further legislation by Congress.

According to the terms of the omnibus bill, therefore, South Dakota and Montana can be admitted by executive proclamation as soon as they have adopted their constitutions. But Washington, North Dakota and New Mexico, however, will be compelled to wait until Congress has taken further action in their case. In case the omnibus bill should become a law the effect of this would be that the senators and representatives from South Dakota and Montana could take their seats when assembled in December, while the other territories would have to wait until Congress approved their constitutions.

There is no reason why Montana should be admitted by executive proclamation, which would not apply with equal or greater force to Washington. This territory lies every way better prepared for statehood than Montana, and this utterly unreasonable discrimination cannot be tolerated.