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.

Follow

Anacortes Progress

PDF

[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)

PDF

[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)

PDF

Convention Notes (Aug. 17, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

Governor Issues Election Proclamation (Sept. 28, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

[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)

PDF

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

PDF

Neighborhood News (Oct. 5, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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)

PDF

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

PDF

Republican Ticket (Sept. 14, 1889)

PDF

[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)

PDF

The Constitution (Aug. 21, 1889

PDF

[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)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Tide Lands (Aug. 17, 1889)

PDF

Tide Marsh Lands (Aug. 3, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

Washington's Capitol (Oct. 19, 1889)

Chehalis Bee

PDF

[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)

PDF

Attention, Voters! (Sept. 20, 1889)

PDF

Constitution Makers (July 19, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Facts about the Delegates (July 12, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

From Mr. Joy (Aug. 16, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

[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)

PDF

More Talk Than Work (Aug. 2, 1889)

PDF

Note and Comment (Aug. 2, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Terms of State Officers (Oct. 11, 1889)

PDF

The Democratic Warwhoop (Aug. 30, 1889)

PDF

[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)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

Chehalis Nugget

PDF

Attention Voters! (Oct. 4, 1889)

PDF

Attention Voters! (Sept. 27, 1889)

PDF

Be Vigilant and Active (Sept. 27, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Commissioners' Proceedings (Aug. 23, 1889)

PDF

Democratic County Convention (Aug. 23, 1889)

PDF

Democratic Ticket (Sept. 27, 1889)

PDF

Excellent Advice (July 26, 1889)

PDF

Getting Down to Work (Aug. 2, 1889)

PDF

Good Advice (Oct. 18, 1889)

PDF

Keeping Well Together (Oct. 18, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Massachusetts Leads (Oct. 18, 1889)

PDF

No Longer a Republican (Nov. 8, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Our Legislature (Oct. 25, 1889)

PDF

Proclamation (Sept. 27, 1889)

PDF

Prosperous Washington (Nov. 15, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

Read This (Sept. 27, 1889)

PDF

Respect for Law (July 12, 1889)

PDF

Terms of State Officers (Oct. 18, 1889)

PDF

[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)

PDF

The Four New States (Aug. 9, 1889)

PDF

The Growth of Washington (Oct. 4, 1889)

PDF

The Nugget (Nov. 1, 1889)

PDF

The Nugget (Nov. 15, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

They Accuse Secretary Windom (Oct. 4, 1889)

PDF

Washington Teachers' Association (Oct. 25, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Where the Union Crosses (Oct. 18, 1889)

Spokane Falls Review

PDF

A Capital Undertaking (Sept. 19, 1889)

PDF

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)

PDF

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)

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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)

PDF

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

PDF

A Plea for the Capital (July 18, 1889)

PDF

A Prohibition Town (Sept. 12, 1889)

PDF

As to Usury (July 25, 1889)

PDF

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

PDF

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)

PDF

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