Idaho County Free Press

Voorhees, of Washington Territory, has Ruined the Prospects of Admitting Washington as a State.

By the Congressional Record of December 13, we see that Senator Turpie, of Indiana, has introduced a bill in the senate for the admission of Washington, Montana, Dakota and New Mexico, and for "other purposes." The "other purposes" are for the annexation of northern Idaho to Washington. The bill differs from Hailey's bill in that the south line follows the 45th parallel of latitude, commencing at the east boundary line of Washington county and ending at the west boundary line of Lemhi county, thus taking in Warrens and all north of it. The bill, of course, was prepared by young Voorhees, the accidental delegate of Washington territory, whose father, Dan Voorhees, caused his colleague, Turpie, to father the bill. The people of Idaho county will no doubt be truly grateful for the wonderful liberality and condescension which marks the distinguished nincompoop from the rutabaga country in permitting us to keep Warrens, while he takes away from us the Alton district and other promising territory which has heretofore been included in the boundaries of Idaho county.

On behalf of the people of Idaho county we accept the challenge thus thrown down by Mr. Voorhees, and as he has seen fit to risk the admission of Washington on the destruction of Idaho against the wishes of its people, and as he has essayed to constitute himself the delegate for Idaho as well as Washington without being called upon by the people of Idaho to do so, he and his territory of Washington must shoulder the responsibility of his acts. The people of Idaho and the friends of Idaho, both in and out of congress, will fight the admission of Washington, and Idaho's delegate is forced into the position of doing all he can to frustrate the admission of Washington. There need be no question about the position which Mr. Dubois will take on this issue, for he is loyal to and proud of Idaho, and will fight those who war upon her. Washington territory has now placed herself in the position of risking all on a project which has no fairness, neighborliness, westernness or anything else to recommend it, save the sole object of gratifying and advancing the personal ambition of young Voorhees, who is endeavoring to make capital out of this question and get himself elected to the senate from the proposed state of Washington.

We hereby notify the people of Washington territory that Idaho will defeat the admission of Washington. There can be no other alternative. The fight has been forced on Idaho by the arrogant dictator from Washington, and Washington territory must hold him responsible for the consequences.