Newspapers | Washington State Constitution History | University of Washington School of Law

Skip to main content

Newspapers

Newspapers covered the 1889 constitutional convention, often in great detail. Newspapers can also be useful for exploring the arguments for and against amendments.

This collection of selected newspaper articles from 1889 report on activities relating to Washington's Constitutional Convention. Most items are referred to by their headlines. In cases where no headline was provided, the first sentence of the item is provided in brackets.

Because the PDF images are of entire newspaper pages, column and story numbers are provided on each cover sheet to assist the reader in finding the appropriate item.

Anacortes Progress Anacortes Progress

[All of the state officers elect will assume their functions following the proclamation of the President that the Washington constitution complies with the Enabling Act] (Oct. 12, 1889)

[Although the admission of Washington into the Union is complete, the State government, according to the arrangement decided upon at Olympia, does not begin until next Monday] (Nov. 16, 1889)

Convention Notes (Aug. 17, 1889)

Democrats Will Cut a Very Sorry Figure in Legislative Body (Oct. 12, 1889)

Governor Issues Election Proclamation (Sept. 28, 1889)

Hon. W. Lair Hill Says the Legislature Which Met as Olympia Wednesday Does So Without Authority of Law (Nov. 9, 1889)

It Is But Two Days More Till Election (Sept. 28, 1889)

[Matt McElroy, formerly of Samish, but now of Seattle, from which place he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention . . . we are glad to observe, doing effective service in that body] (Aug. 10, 1889)

Members Elected from the New States Will Draw Pay from the Day of the Election (Oct. 19,1889)

Neighborhood News (Oct. 5, 1889)

Olympia, Ellensburg and North Yakima Are the Three Most Prominent Candidates for State Capital Honors (Sept. 7, 1889)

President Will Examine the Organic Law of the New State (Oct. 12, 1889)

Prohibition Has Now an Opportunity to Show What It Can Accomplish When It Has the Special Authority of the State Constitution to Back It (Oct. 19, 1889)

Republican Ticket / Democratic Ticket (Sept. 28, 1889)

Republican Ticket (Sept. 14, 1889)

[The Constitutional Convention has completed its labors and the fundamental law which has been agreed upon by that body will be submitted to the people for their ratification in October] (Aug. 24, 1889)

The Constitution (Aug. 21, 1889

[The Republican ticket was elected in this county by about 335 majority, except Thomas Payne for senator, and he just slipped in] (Oct. 12, 1889)

[The subject of the disposition of school lands has been under discussion by the State Teachers' Convention in session at Olympia] (Aug. 3, 1889)

[The votes against ratifying the constitution will probably approximate 5000] (Oct. 12, 1889)

[Thirty-two votes were cast in Ship Harbor precinct on Tuesday] (Oct. 5, 1889)

Tide Lands (Aug. 17, 1889)

Tide Marsh Lands (Aug. 3, 1889)

[Twenty-eight votes were cast in Guemes precinct Tuesday] (Oct. 5, 18890

Washington's Capitol (Oct. 19, 1889)

Chehalis Bee Chehalis Bee

[A correspondent of the Tacoma Ledger says that in a canvass among farmer during the past few days he failed to find a single one favorable to the constitution thus far made] (Aug. 2, 1889)

Attention, Voters! (Sept. 20, 1889)

Constitution Makers (July 19, 1889)

Constitution Makers [propositions and motions] (July 19, 1889)

Constitution Makers: The Convention Fully Organized and at Work--The Committees (July 12, 1889)

Facts about the Delegates (July 12, 1889)

For Statehood: First County Convention for the Nomination of State Legislators (Aug. 30, 1889)

From Mr. Joy (Aug. 16, 1889)

Have Their Say: A Woman's Rights Man Presents His Reasons (Sept. 27, 1889)

[Hon. R.O. Dunbar, who aspires to the Republican nomination for Representative to Congress, seems to have occupied rather an equivocal position before the Constitutional Convention in advocating the measure to give counties power to issue bonds to subsidize railroads] (Aug. 2, 1889)

More Talk Than Work (Aug. 2, 1889)

Note and Comment (Aug. 2, 1889)

Official Figures: Washington Republican by Nearly 10,000 Majority (Oct. 25, 1889)

Republican Ticket: Why Were They Nominated? (Sept. 6, 1889)

Terms of State Officers (Oct. 11, 1889)

The Democratic Warwhoop (Aug. 30, 1889)

[The oath prescribed by the legislative committee to be administered to legislators is an iron-clad affair, but it is a useless appendix] (July 19, 1889)

The Platform upon Which the Republicans Leaders Will Stand During the Canvass (Sept. 13, 1889)

The Prohibition Question: An Address to the Voters of Lewis County (Sept. 20, 1889)

Washington State Capitol Park at Ellensburgh (Aug. 30, 1889)

Chehalis Nugget Chehalis Nugget

Attention Voters! (Oct. 4, 1889)

Attention Voters! (Sept. 27, 1889)

Be Vigilant and Active (Sept. 27, 1889)

Circular: To the Voters of Washington (Sept. 27, 1889)

Commissioners' Court: Official Proceedings - Roads Ordered - Bills Allowed - Miscellaneous (Nov. 15, 1889)

Commissioners' Proceedings (Aug. 23, 1889)

Democratic County Convention (Aug. 23, 1889)

Democratic Ticket (Sept. 27, 1889)

Excellent Advice (July 26, 1889)

Getting Down to Work (Aug. 2, 1889)

Good Advice (Oct. 18, 1889)

Keeping Well Together (Oct. 18, 1889)

[Klickitat county is the only county yet heard from that have a prohibition majority] (Oct. 25, 1889)

Letters from the People: Washington Pioneers (Nov. 1, 1889)

Massachusetts Leads (Oct. 18, 1889)

No Longer a Republican (Nov. 8, 1889)

Not All Their Own Way (Oct. 18, 1889)

Notice - United States Land Office (Oct. 4, 1889)

Our Legislature (Oct. 25, 1889)

Proclamation (Sept. 27, 1889)

Prosperous Washington (Nov. 15, 1889)

Protection Needed: Words from General Miles (Oct. 25, 1889)

Read This (Sept. 27, 1889)

Respect for Law (July 12, 1889)

Terms of State Officers (Oct. 18, 1889)

[The enabling act for Washington provides that in case the people refuse to adopt the constitution as framed by the convention, that body shall reconvene and reconsider their action] (July 5, 1889)

The Four New States (Aug. 9, 1889)

The Growth of Washington (Oct. 4, 1889)

The Nugget (Nov. 1, 1889)

The Nugget (Nov. 15, 1889)

The Red Man in Politics (Oct. 18, 1889)

[The Seattle Morning Journal has hauled up the Democratic flag] (Aug. 23, 1889)

They Accuse Secretary Windom (Oct. 4, 1889)

Washington Teachers' Association (Oct. 25, 1889)

W.C.T.U. Column: High-License as a Finality (Aug. 23, 1889)

W.C.T.U. Column: Women Suffrage in the Constitution (Sept. 27, 1889)

[We can cheerfully sanction the proposition to abolish fees and emoluments of public officers other than fixed salaries] (July 19, 1889)

Where the Union Crosses (Oct. 18, 1889)

Spokane Falls Review Spokane Falls Review

A Capital Undertaking (Sept. 19, 1889)

Adjourned. Mr. Moore of Spokane Falls Creates Merriment for the Delegates. Many Good Propositions Submitted for the Consideration of the Convention. Mr. Dunbar Offers to Lend Money to His Friends, But Not Too Much (July 18,1889)

A Fatal Error. The Delay in Admitting the State Explained. Governor Moore's Mistake. He Failed to Sign His Name to the Constitution. A Profound Sensation in Olympia. Views of Prominent Men on the Complicated Situation--A Difference of Opinion (Nov. 7, 1889)

Afternoon Session. On the Tide Lands Question Amendments Are Made (Aug. 22, 1889)

Afternoon Session. Privileges of the Floor Extended to Prominent Visitors (Aug. 22, 1889)

Afternoon Session. The Convention Still Talks about the State Lands (Aug. 22, 1889)

Afternoon Session. The Plan of the Great State Seal Agreed upon (Aug. 22, 1889)

Afternoon Session. The Schedule Article Taken up in the Convention (Aug. 22, 1889)

Afternoon Session. Valuable Time Lost in Frivolity on the Start (Aug. 22, 1889)

Amendments. The Convention Was Very Busy Making Motions and Amendments. Members Asking for Leave of Absence Because They Are Getting Sick. Will the Capital Be at Olympia? Provisions Made for Militia (Aug. 1, 1889)

A Pithy Letter. An Observer at the Convention Gives His Opinions (July 18, 1889)

A Plea for the Capital (July 18, 1889)

A Prohibition Town (Sept. 12, 1889)

As to Usury (July 25, 1889)

A Synopsis. The Work of the Convention Epitomized--Scraps (July 18,1889)

At Last. The Constitutional Convention at Washington Has Ended Its Labors, and Passed into History--The People Will Pass upon the Work (Aug. 29, 1889)

At Olympia. The Location of the Capital to be Left to the People (Aug. 15, 1889)

1
2
3