The Morning Olympian has origins reaching back to 1891, and its history reflects the rapid growth and changes experienced by a new state and its capital. In his History of the Puget Sound Country, John Prosser wrote, “Like the majority of journals, it the Morning Olympian has passed through various hands and sailed on both rough and smooth waters.” However, throughout its varied history the paper remained devoted to reporting the daily happenings of the growing state capital. Olympia was center stage for all the political happenings of Washington State, and the Morning Olympian dutifully covered the all legislative news of the day. It was published every day except Monday, from 1898 to 1927. Like many papers at the time, the paper was backed by a political party and its Republican leanings led to a healthy rivalry with the Democratic Washington Standard LCCN sn84022770. But, Olympia wasn’t all about politics. In 1898, with a population of about 6,000 the city was a bustling seaport with thriving timber, farming, and mining industries.

In 1898, the Morning Olympian was owned by Edward C. Suiter and George Hopkins and was published by the Olympian-Tribune Publishing Company. Suiter and Hopkins took over the paper from John O’Brien Scobey when Scobey was appointed to the U.S. Land Office in 1897. When Scobey returned in 1898, he regained control of the paper and brought on Samuel A. Madge as business manager. By 1905, the Morning Olympian was owned by Sidney “Sam” A. Perkins and published by the Western Publishing Company. Perkins also owned the Olympia Daily Recorder LCCN sn88085358 and several other area newspapers. By December of 1906 both papers, often referred to as the “Perkins Twins,” were published out of the same building. In 1928, the Olympia Daily Recorder was absorbed by the Morning Olympian.

As a paper in the state capital, the Morning Olympian covered plenty of the political goings-on in the city. The 13th Legislative Session, in March of 1913, got particularly dramatic and led to some fairly juicy news. Governor Lister attempted to avoid acting on a bill by escaping to his mansion before the session ended. When legislators tried to deliver the bill directly to the governor at his mansion they were turned away by his wife. They managed to toss the bill inside the door before she shut it. However, just as quickly, Mrs. Lister kicked it out again in a move that became known as the “slipper veto.” Under the front page headline, “Governor Lister Betongues Good Roads Legislators” the Morning Olympian responded, “…with the now famous $2,000,000 road budget bill which Mrs. Lister kicked off the front stoop of the executive mansion in possession of a photographer, and neither the house officials nor the governor’s office willing to claim it…yesterday might be classed as an interesting legislative day.”

http://wiki.sos.wa.gov/ndnp/Morning-Olympian.ashx