The Foundation of the State: A Warning Against Corporate Capture
In March 1889, just weeks before Washington’s statehood, the Post-Intelligencer warns voters that powerful corporations are maneuvering to control the new government’s constitution.
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.
Seattle, March 18.—It is perhaps doubtful if the great mass of the voters of this territory fully realize the vast importance of the duties devolving upon them as electors during the few months intervening between this and the meeting of the next congress. During that short space of time delegates are to be elected, a state constitution formed and submitted to the people for approval or rejection.
If the constitution so submitted is approved state officers will then be elected, together with a representative to congress, and the state legislature so elected will then meet and appoint two United States senators to represent us in the congress of the United States. All this is to be accomplished within the period of eight months.
The importance of a wise and conservative organic law cannot be overestimated. It is the foundation of the whole state structure, and if seriously defective, will endanger the entire edifice.
It is not proposed to attempt the enumeration in this article of what should or should not be embraced in this organic law, further than to suggest that it should contain no doubtful or capricious limitation upon the power of the state legislature; and that all disputed questions, such as female suffrage and prohibition should be submitted as separate propositions, and thus avoid the danger of a forced rejection of the instrument, and the consequent delay of admission. That in the coming contest there will not only be political parties, but interested factions is beyond a question.
We have vast corporations, or artificial persons, creatures of law, controlling large and rapidly increasing interests, and that these corporations will seek to control the new state government, is as certain as fate.
This editorial captures the precise moment Washington was transitioning from territory to state, highlighting a fear of corporate influence that remains central to Pacific Northwest politics today. The concern about 'artificial persons' (corporations) shaping the legal framework mirrors modern debates over lobbying power and the role of money in constitutional conventions.
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