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About The Northman. (Portland, Or.) 1920-192? | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1920)
Entered as Second Class Matter, at Portland, Oregon, October 13, 1904, under the Act of Congress of March, 1879. Volume 1 1 Az> THE COPY 15c in Canada Portland, Oregon, May 6,1920 The New May Day--American Day DAY OF THREATENED OUTRAGE AND DISORDER MADE AMERICA’S OWN AND APPROPRIATELY OBSERVED. STIRRING INTRODUCTION BY MAYOR BAKER AND PATRIOTIC AD DRESS BY DR. E. H. PENCE. May 1, A. D. 1920, was a new and glori fied May Day in Portland and throughout the country. It took on a new character and deeper significance in demonstrations of Americanism. A magnificent basket of the full-blown flowers of patriotic fervor and loyalty to the American ideal was hung upon the front door of our Uncle Samuel in appreciation of what he has given us. The old May Day had its origin away back in the mists of mythology and an cient forms of worship. In Norse mytho logy it was the day on which occurred the great decisive battle between the radiant legions of Summer and the frost giants of Old Winter. Summer was always victori ous and Old Winter was buried in effigy and ashes strewn upon his grave. Huge bon fires were built around which the young people danced, while the older ones drew auguries from the flames and told “fortunes” from the appearance of the em bers. Every housewife contributed some thing for the May Day banquet and it was a day of joy and gladness in the passing of the hardships of the drear winter season and the opening of the pleasures and pos sibilities of fruitful summer. The new May Day—American Day— presents a somewhat similar significance. The forces of American idealism assemble to consecrate themselves anew to the cause of liberty as interpreted by the founders of the nation, and those who have stood forth as its strongest defenders and sup porters; to rouse action against the men ace of hideous seditious disillments of the political laboratory of Hell and fearlessly step into the ranks of the forces which know that they must ceaselessly and eter nally wage a warfare upon private and public wrong and the embattlements of avarice and selfishness to keep the beacon of Liberty burning; to learn the construc tive way and help to build up the unity of the human family; to ameliorate the condition of the distressed and promote human happiness in an effort to realize the hope expressed by Daniel Webster: “Let our object be our country, our whole country and nothing but our country, and by the blessing of God, may that country, itself, become a vast and splendid monu ment, not of oppression and terror, but of wisdom and peace, and of liberty on which the whole world may gaze with admira tion forever.” * * * The May Day demonstration in Portland was held in the public auditorium, under auspices of the Portland Service League, and was largely attended, but there were also many vacant seats which should have been filled. The Hun was there, but he was silent and distressed. If a radical was there it is to be hoped that he was so impressed with the earnestness of the spirit of the meeting as to give careful consideration to the words spoken—words clearly enunciated with the ring of deter mination and without halt or stutter. Judge Jacob Kanzler presided. The object of the meeting was stated by Mayor George W. Baker. He said: This meeting is a challenge of Americanism flung in the face of radicalism. We invited Amer icans and others, and if any of the latter are here I trust that at the conclusion of this meeting they will have been convinced that our govern ment and institutions are worth fighting and dying for. I want to tell any man that seeks to destroy our institutions by vicious propaganda that he is bound to fail—that he can never tear down the American flag. Instead of the red flag which they promised last May would wave over this land of ours we still have the stars and stripes more brilliant and beautiful than ever. The demonstrations of approval which greeted these utterances indicated the heart of the audience beat in unison with that of the city’s chief magistrate. Dr. Edward H. Pence, of Westminster Presbyterian church, was the principal speaker of the evening and the fervor of his eloquence thrilled the great audience. Among other things he said: We can’t appreciate what lies back of the word America. Three great papers have come down to us as never-dying briefs on behalf of mankind —the Declaration of Independence, the Constitu tion of the United States and the matchless speech of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg. And in those documents and in the words of the great Lincoln the hand of God has written laws that will ever protect our American life and ideals. This government is good enough for us and it will only be changed by its friends—not its ene mies. Our great American churches, our Amer ican press, our fraternal orders, guilds and pro fessions, our club life, our schools and, lastly, our great university of home—all find their full est expression in America. The program included an organ recital by Lucien E. Becker, concert by the Mon day Musical club orchestra, led by Mrs. E. L. Knight. Walter Jenkins led in the sing ing of favorite songs and Mrs. A. W. Claxon led in the national airs. The meet ing was a happy contrast to the program announced by radicals for the day. C-? THE YEAR Subscription *P° by Number 2 11U111VC1 CITIZENSHIP CARRIES PROTECTION OF UNCLE SAM. that will be carried forward by A WORK The Northman is that of demonstrat ing that being a citizen of the United States means more than the right to vote and run for office, that the strong arm of Uncle Sam is ever as ready to reach out and protect the most humble of his foreign born subjects as the most axalted of the native element; that the folds of Old Glory means justice for one and all alike. Cases of injustice coming to the atten tion of The Northman will be brought to the notice of the proper authorities, federal, state or municipal, with request for investigation and speedy redress. The first case of this kind comes from Astoria. It is reported that Christian A. Johnson, a young man who served in the United States navy during the war, later serving on a liner making South American ports, had been abandoned by the officers of his ship at Callao, Peru- It is said that John son was mentally deranged before leaving San Francisco on the voyage south and that he was set ashore in the port named with $20, and deliberately left. The young man’s parents live in Astoria. The Northman has brought the case to the attention of the seamen’s organiza tion, the American Legion and the federal authorities, with the request that the facts be ascertained forthwith, and if they are found to coincide with the report, the wheels of justice will immediately be set in motion, and the perpetrators of this, as reported, inhuman outrage will find that Uncle Sam is not unmindful of those who have served him faithfully in time of stress. AMERICANIZING THE LANGUAGE. Hereafter it will be “milk cow” and not “milch cow”—at least so far as the U. S. Department of Agriculture is concerned. This decision marks the termination of a controversy in which etymologists in the department have had not a little in terest. Those defending “milch” • have pointed to scriptural use and certain of the classics as establishing precedents, while the opposition has contended that dairymen, ranchmen, and farmers in gen eral use “milk” instead of “milch” almost universally. The advocates of “milk” also favored that word because, they con tended, it was more strictly an English word, while “milch” was akin to German. Since Americanization of language as well as ideals is an article in every patriot’s creed, it is thought that this last sally of the “milk” defenders helped as much as any to decide the question in their favor.
