History of the Washington Legislature, 1854-1963
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HISTORY of the History of the Washington LegislatureHistory of the Washington 1854 -1963 History of the Washington LegislatureHistory of the Washington 1854 -1963 WASHINGTONWASHINGTON LEGISLATURELEGISLATURE 18541854 - - 1963 1963 by Don Brazier by Don Brazier by Don Brazier Published by the Washington State Senate Olympia, Washington 98504-0482 © 2000 Don Brazier. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or used in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission of the author. 10987654321 Printed and bound in the United States i Acknowledgments A lot of people offered encouragement and moral support on this project. I cannot name them all, but a few are worthy of mention. Nancy Zussy, Ellen Levesque, Gayle Palmer, and Shirley Lewis at the Washington State Library were extremely helpful. Sid Snyder and Ralph Munro have each been treasured friends for more than 30 years. They probably know more about the history of this legislature than any other two people. I am honored and flattered that they would write brief forwards. There are many who have offered encouragement as I spent day after day seated at the microfilm machine in the Washington Room at the library. It is a laborious task; not easy on the eyes. They include my sons, Bruce and Tom, Scott Gaspard, Representative Shirley Hankins, Shelby Scates, Mike Layton, the late Gerald Sorte, Senator Bob Bailey, Sena- tor Ray Moore and his wife Virginia, Rowland Thompson, and numerous others who I know I’ve forgotten to mention. My special gratitude goes to Deanna Haigh who deciphered my handwriting and typed the manuscript. I also can’t neglect to thank those who have helped me have a part in the his- tory of this great state during the past forty years. They include Yakima County Prosecutor and later Judge Ray Munson. U.S. Attorney and later Judge Dale Green, Governor Dan Evans and Senator Slade Gorton. Finally, I dedicate this manuscript to Lt. Governor Joel Pritchard, a friend since I was 6 years old. He rented my spare bedroom during his second term as Lt. Governor. We spent countless hours talking and reliving our experi- ences. Without his counsel and encouragement this project might never have been done. iii Foreword by Ralph Munro Dear History Buffs: For years I have dreamed of a book like this. But how will we ever find an author, determined and dedicated, to writing a detailed account of our state’s political history? Someone who will look at the legislative, judicial, and executive branch, year by year, session by session, debate by debate, issue by issue. Don Brazier has my admiration and respect for taking up the task. His thorough research, painstaking details and personal legislative experience all add up to an excellent volume. Humorous incidents, floor fights, scan- dals… they are all recorded here. This is a “must read” for true Washington history buffs. Thanks Don and all the others who worked on this fine book. And an ad- ditional salute to all who have served in the Capitol of Washington State. Ralph Munro Secretary of State v Foreword by Senator Syd Snyder Publication of Don Brazier’s History of the Legislature, 1854 - 1963, provides the first comprehensive, integrated historical record of the Washington Leg- islature. He is to be commended for the important work he has undertaken and completed. It will be a resource for every citizen of our state and fulfills a crucial need by closing an historical gap. Don spent hundreds of hours researching, compiling, cross-checking and faithfully reporting source documents. His labors have most certainly paid off - the end result is not only an invaluable historical record, but also a lively, entertaining, and easily readable book. I know from personal experience that Don Brazier is the most qualified person to assemble and present this information. He is committed to state government and is passionate about its institutions. Don’s own career in state government includes election to the House of Representatives, service as Chief Deputy Attorney General, chairing the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, as well as lobbying the legislature on behalf of a number of clients. He has devoted years to the study of the history of the legislature in order to bring this book to us. As it progresses through the years, History of the Legislature, 1854 - 1963 re- lates the stories of those who served in the legislature and actual accounts of what the early legislative sessions were like. It is truly amazing to read about the hardships that our early legislators endured in just getting to Olympia. I am thankful that my trips to our Capitol from Long Beach do not involve the harrowing canoe rides and horseback adventures that my pre- decessors’ did! Legislators faced monumental challenges throughout the years of Terri- torial Government and Statehood. Don has done a great job of putting the reader in Olympia during some of the most difficult sessions ever con- ducted. One of the most gripping passages is about sessions held during the ravages of the Great Depression, as it produced a desperate need for social programs and short state revenues with which to finance them. I want to thank Don Brazier for his dedication and tenacity. His masterful work is a gift to every citizen and to future generations of Washingtonians. Syd Snyder State Senator, 19th Legislative District vii Preface Democratic institutions are remarkable in their continuity and their flexibil- ity. Ever since rising to be sworn in as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives in January of 1967, I have been enthralled by the institution. About four-fifths of our legislative history preceded my arrival on the scene and one-fifth has happened since. From time to time over the years I have immersed myself in the state library in an effort to learn more about our legislative forebears, their antics and their accomplishments. Much of what they did was mundane and barely worthy of note. The same can be said of those who serve today. There are also occasions of real accomplish- ment, of joy, of pathos, of valor, of stupidity, and even of malice. There have been men, and in later years, women of great ability and devotion, who have served the territory and the state well and with great distinction. There have also been a share of scamps. This narrative is not an attempt to create a textbook. It is rather an effort to highlight some of the more notable events of our legislative history. When I started, I read the journals of the early territorial and state legislative ses- sions. They did not provide enough detail and I soon resorted to reading newspaper accounts of each session. Most of what is contained herein is drawn from contemporary newspaper accounts of the legislative proceedings. ix Contents Chapter I: Territorial Annual Sessions 1854-1867. 1 Chapter V: The Progressive Era and World War I . 75 1854 First Session. 3 1911 . 75 1854 Second Session . 6 1913 . 77 1855 . 7 1915 . 80 1856 . 8 1917 . 82 1857 . 9 1919 . 85 1858 . 9 1859 . 10 Chapter VI: Postwar Politics As Usual. 89 1860 . 11 1921 . 89 1861 . 11 1923 . 91 1862 . 12 1925 . 93 1863 . 13 1925 Second Session . 95 1864 . 15 1927 . 97 1865 . 15 1929 . 101 1866 . 16 The One Partisan Gesture . 104 Chapter II: Territorial Annual Sessions 1867-1889 . 19 Chapter VII: Depression 1867 . 19 Politics and a New Majority . 109 1869 . 21 1933 . 109 1871 . 22 1933 Second Session . 114 1873 . 23 1935 . 116 1875 . 25 1937 . 121 1877 . 26 1939 . 124 Personnel of the Legislature . 28 Members of the Council . 29 Chapter VIII: World War II, Members of the House . 29 Public Power Comes of Age . 129 1881 . 31 1943 . 132 1883 . 32 1945 . 136 1885 . 33 1947 . 140 1887 . 34 1949 . 143 Conclusion . 35 1951 . 146 Chapter III: 1889-1901 Statehood Chapter IX: A True Two-Party the Rise & Decline of Populism . 41 Legislature and a Formal Coalition . 149 1891 . 44 1955 . 152 1893 . 46 1957 . 154 1895 . 48 1959 . 156 1897 . 51 1961 . ..