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About St. Helens mist. (St. Helens, Or.) 1913-1933 | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1914)
Hon. Geo. C. Brownell Republican Candidate for Govern- lne nfrcemct of th. law. , I never seen that much money in their or, issues statement to the people of Oregon and says ,ivt.i; thlt the cnj,rcn tn,t formerly he will veto any bill compensating saloons and brew- Cm bar. footed had shoes for the flt . ... i i .1 i i . time In their lives; that the ioorer eries, wnicn mignt oe passea Dy me legislature Oregon City, Oregon, February 14, 1914. To the People of Oregon: I have waited with the hope that some of the numerous gentlemen ho are candidate! for governor in the Re publican primaries and otherwise, in announcing tfeir candidacy, would make some declaration as to how they stood upon the National Problem of the sale and manufacture of intoxicat ing liquor in the United States. I have also hoped that there would have been some expression as to how these gentlemen stood, or would stand on the question of an amendment to the Con stitution of the state of Oregon abol ishing the sale and manufactU'e of all intoxicating liquor within this state. None of these gentlemen have seen fit to make any declaration or commit themselves in any way upon this great issue, which I think and believe to be the most important for the welfare of the people generally and to the main tenance of o'ir Christian civilization that now exists. Reluctantly, after due consideration, I have concluded to become a candidate for governor upon this issue as the principal one of my candidacy. I take this position, that the intelligent opin ion of all fair minded men and women is unquestionably that the liquor traffio, as now in use and force, is a menace to civilization, and is the result largely, of crime, poverty, degeneracy and moral decay, to sucn an extent as to become a startling danger to the hu man race. I have no personal fight against the man who is running a ia loon. I really feel mora like condemn ing and censuring society for permit ting this great evil and power to exist and to obtain the firm hold that it has in this state and in this country. If I had my own way, I should feel as if society itself, ought to be punished to the extent of compensating men who have engaged in thia business, sanc tioned by the law, in a reasonable way to recover their investment that they have made, on the same theory that Abraham Lincoln favorede buying the slaves and colonizing them, in order to aettle the slave problem. Of course, I think and know that the people of this state would not favor compensat ing men who have invested their moo ey in the saloon business, neither am I advocating it ss a part of my platform nor program in this fight, I am simply suggesting it to the conscience and fair minds of the people of this state, for them to give such consideration as they see fit, recognizing as I do, that when ever society feels that it is in danger it has a right to abolish and to destroy anything that endangers itself. My object and purpose is to try to arouse the public opinion and the conscience of the people of this sitae, where they will be willing to stand shoulder to shoulder, irrespective of political party or affiliations and unite for the purpose of putting the saloon business out of existence and destroy its influence in our economic, social and political life. I therefore am in favor of destroying the saloons with compensation if the people should upon a direct vote so de clare, but I would veto any bill which the legislaure migl t pass, compensat ing saloons for their investment unless the people by popular vote directed me to do otherwise. I stand openly and above board, unconditionally, in favor of the adoption of a National and State Amendment to tne Constitutions of the United States and the State of Oregon, to prohibit the sale and manufacture of all intoxicating liquor within the Unit ed States and within the Stale of Ore gon. I also favor National Suffrage to the women of the United States. I am opposed to any and all Asiatics, such as Hindus being permitted to come into thims country and into this state and competing in the logging camps and other avenues of work and labor with the laboring men now here. it ia unnecessary for me to add, that I stand with all good citizens in thia state in favor of upholding and main taining our school system in fair and liberal way, and in the construction of roads and highways to meet the de mand and requirements of our farming, producing, commerical and business classes of the people of thia state, with this qualification, that I feel that what ever plans are adopted i n the construc tion of roads in this state and whatever methods are used in the spending of the people's money for auch construc tion, that the interest of the farming class of tbe people of this state, should be very carefully safeguarded and their wishes as indicated through the society I of equity and the Development League and the Farmers' Grange, should be consulted and followed. I desire also to say that I stand irre vocably in favor of free press and free speech, and that if I should be success ful in being nominated and elected gov ernor of this state, I will see, so far as my power will permit, that no man or woman, rich or poor, black or white, shall be deprived of the opportunity of fairly and decently expressing them selves anywhere, in pubic halls, or up on the streets of riities in this state, as long as they conduct themselves in lawful way. The liquor question Las got to be fought out. Men will be compelled to take a stand, for it or against it. The sal ion is either right or wrong. If it ia right it should be maintained and perpetuated; if it ia wrong, it should be destroyed. I feel that it is wrong; I feel that it is foolish for the moral societies of the state of Oregon, to talk about righting vice, preach sermons againts vice, pass resolutions against vice and hold banquets and make speeches and congratulate each other bow they are going to fight vice, and permit the saloon to exist in this state because it is inthe saloon to a great ex tent, that the seed is sown and event ually ripens into crime, and vice of every character, leading in the end to the jail and penitentiary, to the insane asylum and to degeneracy, say nothing about want and poverty to the thous ands and millions of women and chil dren in this land. I know what kind of a battle this will be. I fully realize the power of thj liquor element and the Retail Li quor association of this stale, who are always on guard and ready to battle) for their position. I know how hard it ia to make merchants, bankers snd bus iness men take an active interest in the movement, because they frequent ly fear that it will injure the msrket, the store, and bank, and in other words, all trade. The facts are that if every saloon was driven out of business in Portland, inside of six months or a year, the merchants and business men would be the ones who would be con gratulating each o'her upon the ad vance in every line of business, snd better payments of the bills of their patrons. To illustrate thia, I herewi'h quote an extract from a letter written to me November 17, 1913, by Hon. Silas Por ter, who is one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Kansas, and a man who has lived in Kansas during the life of the amendment to its constitution and a man of great ability and high character. Mr. Porter writes: Our town, Kansas City, Kansas, has over 100,0C0 population. It is a citj of manufacturers. Six or eight jears ago, when they sUrted to enforce the law rigidly, there were something like 250 "joints" running practically wide open. Many of the bars were fixed up in a luxurious manner and encrmous sums were paid over the bars every day. Many eonservative business men. bankers and members of the Commer cial Club were at first opposed to a rig id enforcement of the law because would vacate hundreds of buildings and apparently would demoralize the bus! ness interests of the city. However, the law was rigidly .enforced; not by a trial of cases before juries, but by in junction suits against the property owners and upon affidavits before a judge who granted the injunction show ing a violation. Afttr the court had adopted the plan of enforcing its or dels by putting padlocks on the doors of the buildings, and prohibiting the opening of the building until the owner should giva a bond that it should never again be used for the illegal purpose, and sending the proprietors of the oints to the jail for large aentences. not on convictiona for the sale of li quor, understand, but for violating the order of the court, there could be no jury trials and convictiona were easily obtained. After these things had been done, the owners of th buildings grad ually found other tenants and in the course of a few months or Derhaim a year, the same business men who had protested againat the rigid enforcement of the law, came to the Assistant At torney General and apologized. No dis interested business men in the city would now be willing to have the city return to the old plan. I remember in- tancea where grocery men and other merchants said that since the enforce ment of the law, this waa said with- n a year thereafter, children came to their stores, with five and ten dollar ills to purchase provisions who had. class of people were able to pay six! paid their bills at the stores where for merly it was diiflcult to obtain pay ment. Of course, our city adjoina Kan sas City, Missouri, and the first block over the line is known as "wet block," and it ia said to tontain something like a dozen oi two saloons ready to greet the Ksnaas mun when he comes over. But only those who were so addicted to the use of liquors that it waa almost impossible for them to do without it, would in the evening take the trouble to gc to Missouri for liquor. The Urge majority of them, aid tho average man, turned and went to nil home with out having spent his money for liquor. Prior to the enforcement of the law, the joints always procured from the banks large sums of money on every pay day, because a very large percent age of the pay checks were cashed over the bar, and of course you know, and I know, that the laborer would naturally feel called upon to spend some part of it under those circumstances, and it frequently happened that his wife and children is but a very snail part of the proceeds. All that was done away with when the joints were closed. Kansas City, Kansas, increased in pop ulation the first three or four years af ter the laws were enforced at a won derful rate. There waa marked im provement in the prosperity of the merchants and the business of the city increased, ard instead of decline, there was a great increase in business and in population. Moat of the buildings that were formerly occupied by joints are occupied by 'legitimate' business". In closing I desire to lay that I favor the $ 1.100 exemption from taxation, now before the people of this state. In addition thereo 1 wiah to ssy that I feel that the people of the State of Oregon and in fact society generaly. rarely appreciate the debt and obliga tion that they owe to the school teach eis ami instructors, from colleges down to our district schools, for the efficien cy and the work that they do and if I should be honored with this nomination and election, it would be a sour e of grest pleasure to me, in every legiti mate way, to aid and advance the dif ferent school interests and institutions of this state and the material welfare lot the instructor and teachers thereo. Industrial Review I also scrongly favor giving aid and all assistance that ia possible, towars helping the people of eastern Oregon and other parts of the state needing irrigation, to get water upon their lands. I also favor giving the Governor power to veto separate ittms in appro priation bills passed by the legislature and this I advocated for years when a member of the State Senate 1 1 is r.ow being taken up as a new matter by some of the candidates, although I used it as an argument on the floor of the state senate, for many years en deavoring to induce the legislsture to pass a bill calling for a Constitutional Convention, so that the constitution could be amended giving the Covernor this power, as well aa many other changes which weie then vital to the interests of the people of the state. I am onposed to useless and expen sive kid gloved commissions that are sspping the taxes and resources out of the people of the state. I am alao radically opposed to the attitude of the National administration in its wool schedule and wool tariff which is a direct slap at the great sheep indsutry of the stste of Oregon, and the country at la ge. If nominated and elected Governor, I will veto any bill which may pass the legislature, compensating saloon keep ers and breweries for money invested in their business, in case prohibition carries or is adopted or otherwise, or under any cireumstanccs whatever. I also favor the abolishment of the Fish and Game Commission as now constituted, but favor reasonable lawa protecting game without so much red tape. I will stand for the abolishment of all useless commissions, believing thst the responsibility for the expenditure of the people's money should be flxed in such a way that the public will know juat where, when and whom to hold re sponsible for the heavy taxes and ex penditures. I therefore believe that the responsibility should rest with tbe Goven.or, Secretary of State and State Treasurer, so the people will know who to exercise the recall on, in case it la deaired at any time. I favor separation of church and state In this state and mtion. Sincerely yours, GKORGKC. RROWNKI.L. Salim. Ore., April S. -The Drain Cannery and Growers Assoclstion has eon.pleted arrangements for the erec tion of plant. The Hay City plant of the Smith Lumber Co. on Coos Hay has been started and with connected industries will cut 700,000 feet In 24 hours. The Lane County Manufacturers As, sociatiun will hold a home Industries exposition at Kugene from May 6th to yih with factory congress. The Canadian Flax Mill Co. has de cided to establish a plant at Portland, and will handle about 100 tons of (lax the first year. The Industries committee of the Medfurd Commer ial club is in curie spondence with the Horden Milk Co. which wants to put in a plant. a Two candidates for the State Senate ho are opsHed to any further indus trial laws have been requested to enter the field in Marion county. The Portlund Woolen Milla will erect a two story factory building at St. Johns for the scouring and carbonizing deparments. The Lamb Fruit Company has pur chased lots ami is erecting a large waro house at Milton. The Polk County fair will be -rma ntntly located on a sixteen acre tract at Dallas, and improvement are to be maile at ones. Oregon newapuper men in session at Salem adopted resolutions against any further legislatio.i interfering with business or Industries.. J II Williams of Grants Pass snd A I. Moon of Central Point have plans completed to erect a t'0,000 sawmill, to be in operation May 1st. Albany is considering the purchase of a municipal paving plant to cost from $7000 to $9000. The State Highway Hoard has con tracted for 50,000 barrels of cement from the Hesver Cement Co. now com pleting its plant st Gold Hill. The Lugene Fruit Crjwrre Associa tlon ia establishing a branch at Junc tion to cost about $15,000 J O Richmond islookng over Spring field for the W C Roach canning inter ests of Hart, Mich., ami may put in a plant there. Attorney General Crawford has de cided that munieipalitiel will not come under the operation of the workintf- men's compensation act unless they elect so to do. Rev Ge.i F Thompson and Rev K V O'llara filled lecture dates at Altany on the minimum wage and right hour law for women. All industries will feel relieved at the decision of Judge Cleeton that tax es will not become delinquent until September first A four foot vein of gold quartz has been struck in Sucker Crrek, Josephine county, going 7.1c to $1 to the pan of crushed ore. Hi? orders arc being taken in ad vsnce of the railroad going into Coos Hsy, and lumber milla are all prepar ing to get into operation. The Guthrie VcDougall Co., I ewis Hldg, Portland, were awarded the con struction of municipal doek No. 2, at Portland for I22P.447. The Oregon Hlue Sky law is being attacked by a second suit. and is meet ing with general opposition from those seeking investments. Mrs Kleanor LaFrance will erect a nne oricx ouuuing on her property at Hood River. The taxpayers of McMinnville have authorized the erection of a I'tO.Ooo high school building. Astoria is about to begin work on the construcion of a retaining wall or bulkhead in front of the city and re claiming of tidelands. The Washlnuton Su reduced the jury vrdict of $l7.Cuoaa Jj too high for the loss of man's life, fixing it at $ I o.ooo. Union carpenters waived out on the State house repairs contract because the contractora employed two non un f - m. ion men. ine contractors are do nir the work on tho open shop basis, and finl plenty of workera. John Fitzhugh who will raise broom corn on his large farm near Coburg will establish a broom factory at Ku gene. Carload of machinery t,u. WE AIM TO PLEASE CAM. PIIONK x TOR Rest Fresh, Salt and Cured Meals ami Lard SMOKHD AND CURKD SAUSAGIC, BUTTKR AND PICKLFS. Salt Water Fish a;;,! ci.ll5 CoM'MiuA Kivkk Fish in Ssason CENTRAL MARKET PLUMMER A ELLERSON CORNER WILLAMETTE AND WINTER STREETS Estimates Furnished All Work Guaranteed. R. CONSTANTIN Plumbing and Sheet MeUl Healing Work St Helens Ore got I S41 Columbia County Abstract Company Abstracts, Real Estate, Insurance. Loans, Conveyancing St. Helens. (W WINKS I.UJWOILS CIGARS Vnll .Iht'ilijs (Irt flic Ih si af DUKE'S P L A C E lil.AKr'.SI.KY IH.Ik;. ST. IIKLKNS. ORE. EUROPEAN PLAN AMERICAN ru EVERYTHING MODERN AT THE ST. HELENS HOTEL J. CEORGE, Proprietor All BUSSES CALL AT HOTU RATES $100 AND UP SI'ECIAL RATES TO REGULAR BOARD"RS A C O M P L ! T I- L I N IC O F 1 MBICS ylAD CL71TS SUITS - f CHILDRCMS CL0TI!I(C DRY GOODS BOOTS yllB SHOE I-I. Call ami look over our slock MORQUS cSc SONJ rived, A mine of paint clay sich as is used by tho Heaver Paint fac'ory at Salem has been found near Waterloo, I'laini for a Catholic church, (io by 120, with hall 60 by HO. to coat $76 . ooo. will be erected at Marrhheld. The Telephone Company will spend $:ioo,ooo putting its main lines under ground at Kugene. M KUGS RUGS RUGS & Uring your old ingrain or Hrus- j$ scls carpets and rugs and get them made into clean and scrvi jt cahle nigs. I am agent for tlie Northwest RK Works wheic they weave nigs any size from carpets or col ion and woolen rags. See a sample of llieir work in my window. 12. ii. liOHH Successor Shorwood A Ross UNDERTAKING HOUSEFURNISHING EMBALM J t ,t i i t Si "9 ft 1 t f ill U I, all lilt: M ' (or hn m fur S--U ten lis pin' V. ph hi -11 oil I'll