The Railroad’s Grip on Yakima
A political firestorm erupted in 1885 when the Northern Pacific Railroad allegedly pressured the White House to fire a land official for his loyalty to local settlers.
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.
To the people of Washington Territory: You had the right to assume that the emphasis placed by you on the Northern Pacific Railroad Company at the last election would have taught that company the wisdom of refraining in future from any interference with the politics of this Territory. Instead of bowing to the decision of the people, this arrogant corporation has been looking about for revenge. It has struck a vicious blow at the people in the person of one of their most earnest and unpretentious champions—J. M. Adams, Receiver of the Land Office at Yakima City. The company holds this gentleman in deadly hatred. This company is reported to have made the threat that Mr. Adams should be driven from office simply because he had the honesty, courage, and manliness to stand up for the people against corporate power upon a great question of right and justice.
That Mr. Adams has made an honest, faithful, and efficient officer, his most malignant foes cannot deny. His only offense is that he took his stand upon the side of right and justice. His removal from office, therefore, at the behest of the railroad company, is a plain violation of the civil service rules and the National Republican platform, and is an insult to the people of Washington Territory. Petitions to President Cleveland should be at once circulated throughout the Territory requesting the reappointment of Mr. Adams to the office from which, to gratify the railroad company, he was unjustly removed.
“Instead of bowing to the decision of the people, this arrogant corporation... has been looking about for revenge.”
The struggle over the 'Northern Pacific' exerting political influence through federal appointments mirrors modern debates regarding corporate lobbying in Seattle and the influence of major regional employers on civic governance. Then as now, land and office control became the flashpoint for a battle between corporate power and territorial (or state) autonomy.
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