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Story
March 12, 1909
The Seattle Star
Seattle, King County, Washington
What is this article about?
Humorous account of the Washington State Legislature's chaotic, celebratory end on March 12 in Olympia, with members looting items, partying, and forgetting differences before dispersing.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
HIGH JINKS MARK CLOSING SCENES OF LEGISLATURE
FIGHTS FORGOTTEN AND ALL PART FRIENDS.
Senate and House Both Looted of Anything Worth Taking.
BY T. J. DILLON.
OLYMPIA, March 12—The Legislature is a thing of the past. With song and shout the members at 1:20 o'clock this morning, like a lot of school boys, turned loose and finished their 60 days in gay hilarity.
It was a hurrah time, in which none but a few of the more dignified and a couple of the hurt members refused to take part. Some esthetic souls conceived the idea of engaging a piano, and the insane rout of the house chamber rang with rag time and "classics."
While such exuberant legislators as thought they could sing, attempted to do so.
Feeling of Unrest.
All day yesterday there was a feeling of unrest among the members. It was packing and moving day.
Early in the afternoon an astonishingly large number of boxes and crates were dumped into the rotunda area between the house and senate, and from then on until midnight the scene resembled a wholesale shipping room on a busy day.
Everything that was loose and below grand larceny was packed off. Books, ink wells, waste baskets, and when it was all over the senate and house chambers were trimmed as clean as if gone over with a suction cleaning machine.
Loot, Loot, Loot.
It was loot, loot, loot, stuff that really wasn't worth the express home, but it was there for the having and taking and was taken.
Last night it was practical jokes. The pet foibles of the members were caricatured and the hot shots that went back and forth would ordinarily have meant bloodshed.
All political and legislative differences were forgotten, and not a few of them drowned.
Local optionists linked arms with moist and showed no fear of getting wet.
Pierce and King counties fraternized and insisted on telling each other what good fellows they were.
Hiking for Homes.
When the final and official "hour" came around and the speaker and the president of the senate pounded for the last time and put the motion to adjourn sine die a shout of "aye" went up that could be heard all over Olympia.
Today the members are nearly all gone. Olympia has a deserted patient air. A few familiar faces are seen staggering under boxes, but the outgoing trains and boats have taken the majority to the four corners of the state.
There is a great peace about the capitol building, which for two months rang with echoes of the multitude early and late, save in the governor's office.
There the governor is affixing his signature to bills as if his life depended upon it.
Clerks are scurrying back and forth and will continue for 10 days, after which time the eleventh legislature will be but a memory.
FIGHTS FORGOTTEN AND ALL PART FRIENDS.
Senate and House Both Looted of Anything Worth Taking.
BY T. J. DILLON.
OLYMPIA, March 12—The Legislature is a thing of the past. With song and shout the members at 1:20 o'clock this morning, like a lot of school boys, turned loose and finished their 60 days in gay hilarity.
It was a hurrah time, in which none but a few of the more dignified and a couple of the hurt members refused to take part. Some esthetic souls conceived the idea of engaging a piano, and the insane rout of the house chamber rang with rag time and "classics."
While such exuberant legislators as thought they could sing, attempted to do so.
Feeling of Unrest.
All day yesterday there was a feeling of unrest among the members. It was packing and moving day.
Early in the afternoon an astonishingly large number of boxes and crates were dumped into the rotunda area between the house and senate, and from then on until midnight the scene resembled a wholesale shipping room on a busy day.
Everything that was loose and below grand larceny was packed off. Books, ink wells, waste baskets, and when it was all over the senate and house chambers were trimmed as clean as if gone over with a suction cleaning machine.
Loot, Loot, Loot.
It was loot, loot, loot, stuff that really wasn't worth the express home, but it was there for the having and taking and was taken.
Last night it was practical jokes. The pet foibles of the members were caricatured and the hot shots that went back and forth would ordinarily have meant bloodshed.
All political and legislative differences were forgotten, and not a few of them drowned.
Local optionists linked arms with moist and showed no fear of getting wet.
Pierce and King counties fraternized and insisted on telling each other what good fellows they were.
Hiking for Homes.
When the final and official "hour" came around and the speaker and the president of the senate pounded for the last time and put the motion to adjourn sine die a shout of "aye" went up that could be heard all over Olympia.
Today the members are nearly all gone. Olympia has a deserted patient air. A few familiar faces are seen staggering under boxes, but the outgoing trains and boats have taken the majority to the four corners of the state.
There is a great peace about the capitol building, which for two months rang with echoes of the multitude early and late, save in the governor's office.
There the governor is affixing his signature to bills as if his life depended upon it.
Clerks are scurrying back and forth and will continue for 10 days, after which time the eleventh legislature will be but a memory.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Legislature Closing
Looting Chambers
High Jinks
Olympia
Political Fraternization
What entities or persons were involved?
T. J. Dillon
Where did it happen?
Olympia
Story Details
Key Persons
T. J. Dillon
Location
Olympia
Event Date
March 12
Story Details
Members of the Washington State Legislature end their 60-day session with high jinks, looting chambers of minor items, singing, and fraternizing across political lines before departing.