Excerpt from Washington, Vol. 2: West of the Cascades

In politics Mr. Donovan is a stanch republican and has been a recognized leader in political circles in his part of the state. He'would never consent to become an office holder, yet it would have been possible for him to secure almost any position that he might desire, so great is the confidence reposed in his ability and public spirit. He was chairman of the state commission of forest legisla tion under Governor Hay, which commission was characterized as twelve of the strong men of the state. Under appointment of Governor mcgraw in 1894 he was a member of the first state highway commission, for which he has since been a worker, striving earnestly to promote good roads. He was also on the state board of charities and corrections for some years. He has given most lib erally of his time and money to hospital work and he served in an advisory capacity in connection with St. Joseph's Hospital of Bellingham for years. He instituted progressive and humanitarian ideas in connection with his mills and camps which have been generally adopted by other big companies. Small reduc tions in the men's pay guaranteed them medical attention and hospital service when needed and'gave them a choice of hospitals - St. Joseph's or St. Luke's - and any surgeon or physician they might select. For eight years he was a trustee of the State Normal School and he was a member of the charter com mission of fifteen which framed the charter of the city of Bellingham when Fairhaven and Whatcom united. This charter proved so satisfactory that later the people rejected the idea of a commission form of government, deeming the old charter to be more efficient and up - to - date. Mr. Donovan was also a mem ber of the Municipal League for Civic Reforms and he has always been on the side of temperance, serving on the executive committee in the fight for prohibi tion. Bellingham was one of the first cities of the state to go dry by men's votes and it remained consistently dry through all reactions and was dry for six years before the state prohibition law' was passed. Bellingham therefore had no trouble in applying the statewide law.

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