I, M. J. BROWN, BEING DULY SWORN, SAX THAT I AM EDITOR AND PART OWNER OF THE OREGON CITY COURIER, AND THAT THE AVERAGE WEEKLY CIRCULATION OF THAT PAPER FROM MAY 1,1912 TO MAY 1, 1913, HAS EXCEEDED
2000 COPIES, AND THAT THESE PAPERS HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND CIRCULATED FROM THE COURIER OFFICE M. J. BROWN. Subscribed and sworn to before me. .this 5th day of May, 1913.-Gilbert.L. Hedges, Notary Public.
GITY
The Farmers Society of Equity if
spreading over this county and tht
Courier is spreading with it. Its ad
vertising columns are good as gold
Clackamai County Fair
September 24, 25, 26, 27
Canby, Oregon
30th YEAR.
OREGON CITY, ORE., FRIDAY, MAY 3 0, 1913.
No. 51
OEEGOM
COUMI K
in
COUNTY
IS RUN BY COURT
TRANSACTIONS THAT SHOULD
AWAKEN TAXPAYERS
GIFTS TO CITY CORPORATIONS
Perpetual Franchise of County Made
a Present of
The Enterprise has taken the pub
lie into the county court's confidence
and explains the why and the where
fore of the deals that look so pecul
iar to the people. Here is the timber
cruising "explanation:
In seeking a competent cruis
er to discover how much standing
timber there was in Clackamas
county, so that the taxes could
be levied with greater fairness
to all, the members of the county
court were forced to procure a
gentleman from beyond the coun
ty limits. There may have been
good cruisers living within the
county but they were not avail
able at the time; and as compet
ency was the chief factor to be
taken into consideration, the
county court employed an outside
man. For this they have been
been harshly taken to task in a
certain quarter.
"Forced to procure a gentleman
from beyond the county limits."
Well, that is rich.
"Cruisers within the county were
not available."
It is to smile. ,
How did the court know whether
they were available or not? How did
anybody in the county know there
was to be a cruise? Who ordered it?
Who was consulted? Who knew there
was to be a cruise or who knew one
had been ordered until weeks after
the contract had been signed and the
matter tied up?
There are any number of men in
this county that would have been
mighty glad to have bid on this con
tract, and there is no doubt but the
work could have been done and well
done, for thousands of dollars less,
for at least one-fourth of the pres
ent price, and probably one-eigth.
And no wonder "for this they have
been harshly taken to task in certain
quarters," for the taxpayers of this
county are getting very tired of the
load.
And here's more "explanation"
that makes everything so very clear
and satisfactory to the "dear peepul:"
In making alterations and re
pairs upon . the county court
house, the members of the county
court let the work to residents of
this county, after deciding not
to accept the bids made by firms
and persons who were not resi
dents. For this they were harsh
ly taken to task in a certain quar
ters. Are not White Bros, residents of
this county? Is not Clarence Sim
mons? Are not La Salle & Son? Did
not all these contractors put in bids
for far less money than the court
house cost? Did not Architect White
of this city a man whose judgement,
ability and honesty are never ques
tioned say the estimates of him
self and Architect J. Wilson of Port
land on the court house building as
called for on the adopted plans should
not have exceeded $20,000 at the very
most and that they thought $18,000
should complete the work?
And the work cost $26,211.75.
Do you wonder, as the Enterprise
truly states "they were harshly tak
en to task?"
And here's one more "argument:"
It would be interesting to
know what would please the
the Road Builder from Cuba, who
pays less taxes and makes more
noise than any other member of
the disgruntled trio.
Yes, it would be interesting to the
Enterprise and county court to side
track these matters of county expen
ditures and go into personalities, but
I have an idea the people are more
interested in knowing where the $163
000 went to than whether the Cour
ier editor is a Cuban. But to humor
the "argument" I would state the
Courier pays $80 per year taxes and
its propritors are rsidents of Clack
amas county.
The Enterprise editor can't say as
much. He and his family live in Port
land. Here's another little matter (too
insignificant to let the people know
about) where a county's franchise
was let months ago.
A franchise was let to the Portland
Gas & Coke Co. Go look it up on the
county court records. It APPEARS
that it is a simple little permit to
lay pipes and mains from Portland
out to Golf Park, but there are six
little words there that give away
Clackamas county to this company.
The words are:
AND TO POINTS AND PLACES
BEYOND.
This is a perpetual franchise, there
are no penalties, no revoking clause.
It is a gift, there is no compensation.
It does not obligate the company to
commence its work at any time. It is
an egg in the nest of the future. Some
day when the Willamette valley is a
hive of industry this franchise will
be worth big money, and other com
panies who will get like franchises
will pay big money.
But this company got in early. The
county court was kind to them. Beat
ie, Mattoon and Blair gave them a
free franchise to a county bigger
than some states m the Union.
Did the county court let the owners
of Clackamas county know anything
about this present? Were any of
you taxpayers consulted? Did you
know that rights to your county was
given away forever to this company,
then handed down to their heirs and
assigns?
Did you know there is no provision
in the franchise that compels the com
pany to do anything? They may start
work now or wait 20 years. They may
use this great franchise to gamble
on, or they, may wait until it is val
uable.
What would the voters of Oregon
City have done to the city council had
it given such a franchise to the P.R
L. & P. Co? They would have recall
ed them in less than a week.
And then we look up the franchise
of some little concerns, and see
WHAT a difference in. .the provisions
A franchise was granted for a lit
tle farmers' telephone line between
Scotts Mills and Marquam, and the
right has teeth in it. The ;coUnty re
serves the right to remove the poles
and wires at : any time for neglect.
This isn't a PERPETUAL franchise.
And the franchise to the Willam
ette Valley Telephone Co. It provides
that work must commence within 60
days, and the county court may can
cel it at any time. '
Now these matters are for you vot
ers to think over. They are for you
to determine if it is justice to hold a
club over a little telephone concern,
tie it up with an enacting and revok
ing clause and let . a big public ser
vice corporation have a free gift of
one of Oregon's greaties counties for
all time to come without a cent's com
pensation.
Think it over.
Blue Bells vs. White Socks
Friday afternoon of this week (Me
morial Day) the White Socks ball
team of the Commercial Club will
play the Blue Bells, the Pacific Tele
phone Co's fast bunch of Portland.
This should be an interesting game
and draw a good crowd.
- Some Day
Some day the public will be
able to get needed real estate
without paying from five to ten .
times its assessed valuation.
Portland Journal.
Years ago Mother Shipten prophes
ied some day the world would come
to an end.
Must Take Out License
By the provisions of an act passed
at the last session of the legislature
providing for the licensing and regu
lation of the commission business, all
commission firms must first obtain
licenses from the state railroad com
mission and give bonds for the pro
tection of patrons. The law becomes
operative June 3.
The People, not the Law
There seems to be quite a general
opinion in this county that the re
call fc. w provides for the payment
of the expenses of a recall movement.
This is entirely wrong. The law
does no; provide for a cent of the
expenses further than the election.
This is also true of the initiative and
referendum.
If a recall is desired the "voters
must themselves take up the entire
matter and pay every cent of the ex
penses of the signatures and the cam
paign after the petitions have been
filed.
Spread around this expense is
small, but when a half dozen men,
who are working for the good of the
many, have to go down in their
pockets for the whole, it is a load,
and one the taxpayers of this county
should not put on them.
TIME TO THINK
Under the above head the Portland
Journal puts some warm ones up to
the men who are paying the freight
of excessive expenditures in county,
city and state. Following is the Jour
nal s conclusion, and it should come
home to roose to every taxpayer in
Clackamas county:
Is it not time for the citizens
to wonder what is going on at
city halls, state houses and nat
ional capitals to cause this ap
palling increase in what it costs
us to be governed ? Is it not time
for the business and profession
al man, the banker, the manufac
turer and the other units in the
social body to begin to think as
much about the election of public
officials as they think about hir
ign a man to mow their lawns or
spade their gardens?
NOTICE .
The recall executive committee
wants every solicitor of petitions to
send them in promptly as soon as
they are filled. Be sure they are sworn
to, or bring them in and have them
acknowledged here. June 10 the com
mittee wants each solicitor to make
a report of the number of signatures
he has, whether petitions are fill
ed or not
GET WHEN
CREDIT IS DUE
DON'T CONDEMN . ALL FOR
FAULTS OF FEW
STAND BY LAWFUL DEALERS
They Are Entitled to As Much Credit
As Any Men in the City
The Courier received a letter this
week which has gone to the waste
basket.
It was a signed article, and this is
an open paper, but this letter is
so unfair and unjust to the city coun
cil and to men who are doing a law
ful business in this city, that we have
no room or time fof it.
Once more:
When the voters of this county or
city say they want licenses granted
in this county or city, this paper is
going to give the license holder who
observes the laws just as much cred
it as it does the man who sells us
ice cream.
A dealer has the right given him by
law to sell cigarettes and tobacco,
but that law tells him that he must
not to sell it to kids. So long as he ob
serves the law he is just where the
law-observing saloon man is. When
he violates it, he is where the saloon
man is who violates hisJicense.
. There are saloon men in Oregon
City who stand as high as any and
much higher than many as citizens
and property owners. There are sa
loon men here whose places are con
ducted strictly according to law, who
are never complained of and who are
never before the courts or in any
trouble men who are liberal, pub
lic spirited model citizens. And this
paper holds that when a man attacks
them through the press, and attacks
the city council for gving them li
censes, that man is unjust and unfair.
And this paper will not print the
groundless charges. . . ,
The. liquor license penalties in Ore
gon, and in Oregon City are drastic.
Commencing with 'June 1, under the
new law, they are far -more drastic.
No other, business in the city or
state carries with it the risks and the
penalties.
To Bsure, the man who goes into
the business does it with full know
ledge of these risks and he knows
what he will get for violation of his
contract. But, when a man has been
in business here for years; when he
has so 'conducted a saloon that there
has never been an arrest or even
complaint, why this record of itself
should be a splendidcompliment. Let
one half the provisions and restraint
under which a saloon in this city is
run be put onto the mills or business
places in this city, then literally en
force them and we'd have half our
business men arrested in the next
thirty days.
And we say give full credit to the
man who does credit to the business
you voters have given to the man who
you voters have given him a license
to run.
And we say cut off. the licenses and
close the places of men who will not
obey the provisions under which you
have given them licenses.
Since January 1 five licenses have
been revoked in this city. The most of
them have been second and third vi
olations. Some of them have been
technical, some of them open violat
ions. The same excuse has been of
fered in nearly every case, that the
dealer was innocent of intentional
law violation. Nevertheless the coun
cil Sid just what it should have done
when it revoked their licenses, for on
the other hand are places which have
no trouble to observe the laws; sa
loon men who do not take any chanc
es with boys, drunkards and over
hours men who never give the city
any trouble or keep the council con
tinually busy with their troubles.
The Courier wants to give this
class of men full credit nad they are
entitled to it They are not undesir
able citizens. Considering the risks
under which they do business they
are a mighty sight more law abiding
than the most of us. Legally they are
just as much entitled to respect as the
man who sells Bibles.
If you are going to have saloons,
then stand by the men who conduct
the right kind' of saloons, and give
the axe to them that don't.
If you want saloons, have fewer of
them and respectable places.
If you have got to have the money,
then raise the license on the law-observing
places every time you revoke
a law breaker.
This means , will close thb Isour
holes and put the business in the
hands of men who will observe the
regulations and run clean places.
The city council when it grants a
license does just what the voters di
rected, and it is rank nonsense for a
writer to charge they are moral cow
ards because, having the power, do
not revoke all licenses.
They are weeding out violators.
That is their duty, and it is equally
their duty and every citizen's duty to
stand by the saloon man who stands
right
And this paper will.
ROSE FESTIVAL TO
DC GREATEST EVER
PORTLAND MOTOR BOAT CLUB
COMING, 300 STRONG
WITH FLEET AND BIG DISPLAY
Human Rosebud Float, Big Parades,
and Rose Show
The Oregon City Rose Society is
rounding out the finishing touches for
the annual rose show of June 7. All
committees are at work and the rose
show will be one of the biggest days
Oregon City has ever witnessed.
The Portland Motor Boat Club will
be here 275 to 300 strong with their
full fleet of boats, Admirals and
Captains in gaudy array. Races will
take place on the river. The fastest
motor boat in the world will show
you just how fast she can go.
Some good races will be pulled off.
This feature is in charge of F. A.
Olnistead, Chas. Spencer and B Roake
committee. A dance will be given un
der the management of Milton Price
in the armory in the eyening for the
public and the motor boat people.
One of the grand features of the
parade will be a float .representing
human rose buds, by 24 little girls,
drawn by the big black horses of Mof
fatt & Parker. Mrs. Don E. Mel
drum is in charge of this work with
many co-workers.
The prospect was never more prom
ising for an excellent crop of roses
for June 7th,' than now appears. The
public is responding well with finan
ces and the whole thing will be a gala
day for Oregon City.
Rules and regulations for the gov
ernment and management of the Rose
Show will be ready for the public
not later than Friday May 30th.
Given fair weather,' this festival
will certainly be a splendid show this
year, will far excell former years,
and will draw hundreds of. people to
the cyit
Every worker: is on the move and
every detail is being given close at
tention that only women give, and the
rose show will no doubt be a pleasing
surprise and a splendid' entertain
ment. Don't miss it. Pass up Fourth of
July or anything else and come to
Oregon City next Saturday July 7.
COMMERCIAL CLUB OUTING
Free Steamer Trips to Portland Rose
Show Monday June 9.
Members of the Commercial club
and their families will enjoy a spec
ial treat Monday, June 9, when the
steamer Ruth and Lang will carry
200 people to see the marine pageant
when Rex Oregonus will arrive and
open the annual rose festival in Port
land. The tickets will be free to the Com
mercial Club members. The boats
leave at 8 o'clock and return at 2.
Lunch will be served on the boats.
Why Not Aid Direct?
Editor Courier:
Last evening I received a sample
copy of Gen. Coxey's "Highway" pub
lished at Massillion, Ohio, and to say
its a hummer is mild. I will surely be
come a subscriber and all who wish to
get their money's worth in good
reading, call on me, and leave the
price of subscription. I will do the
rest.
Among the good things I see is a
resolution by the Ohio Socialists for
a government loan to the flood suf
ferers and in the same paper I see
that Secretary McAdoo has ordered
$400000 deposited in banks to be loan
ed exclusively to sufferers. But why
the intervention of banks? Why not
direct at 2 or 3 per cent and save the
profit made by the banks? But the
fact remains that the resolution had
some effect.
Mr. McAdoo could not cut loose
entirely from the graft or profit sys
tem. Equity members will please take
notice. I have failed as yet to see
where the Live Wires, Commercial
Clubs, Democrats, Republicans or
Prohi's have passed any resolutions
to take graft off of the poor sufferers.
W. W. MYERS
Miss Lenore Ginther, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Ginther, who
has been teaching in the government
schools in Juneau, Alaska, since
August last has finished with her
work and is home for the summer.
Miss Ginther is a booster disciple for
Alaska, and says the people of Ore
gon but little appreciate what won
derful and beautiful country Alaska
really is.
WANTED!
Girls and Women
To operate Sewing Machines
in garment factory.
Oregon City Woolen Mills
ILL TRIS KIND
OF GAME WIN DUT
WILL FALSE STATEMENTS PASS
FOR RECALL DEFENSE
PLAYING THE SAME OLD GAME
Of Abuse and Ridicule to Detract
From the Real Issues.
"The executive committee of the
recall movement should extend a vote
of thanks to the Enterprise for its
effective work in aiding the recall. It
is helping to beat Judge Beatie all it
can."
This was the suggestion of a citi
zen to "the Courier Wednesday, after
reading the utterly false statements
regarding the meeting at Needy,
where O. D. Olds addressed a meet
ing of farmers on the recall.
The meeting was held Wednesday
night, May 23. The Enterprise's re
port was just one week later, Wednes
day May 28.
You see it took some time for the
doctors of The Exaggerator to hold
a council and frame up the right
kind of a diagnosis.
Here are the statements of the En
terprise or rather "it is alleged," "it
was stated and- it is reported. ,We
condense them.
Olds became rattled at the ques
tions fired at him; after the meeting
men who had signed the recall petit
ions fr wlsd frw lyu 1 frf dwlyl ylyl y
audience asked him if he did not go
back to Canby bridge six weeks af
ter he had built it and tighten up
bolts and charge county $70 and Olds
refused to answer; Olds lost his head
and broke into a torrent of words
and said people were not trying him
but the county court; that agitators
for recall had promised to use their
efforts to get political jobs for all
who circulate recall petitions; that J.
W. Smith, who was industriously cir
culating recall petitions, was going
to be the next road supervisor; "fol
lowing the meeting the sentiment was
strong against the recall and many
wanted their names taken from the
recall;" "If- you've once singed you
can't get your names off," screamed
Olds;" that ranehers of - Needy say
"if Olds holds out a few more meet
ings he .will kill the recall," etc., etc.
Oak Grove, May 28.
Courier:
Replying to the Enterprise report
of the Needy meeting May 23, would
state that it is absolutely untrue in
every detail concerning mje. There
was never an interruption, never a
question asked me during my Needy
talk of one hour and forty minutes at
Needy; never a person asked me to
have their names taken from the re
call petition; the Canby bridge was
never mentioned; there was no con
fusion and quiet attention was given
during the entire talk; J. W. Smith's
name was never mentioned in the
meeting.
It should not be necessary for me
to make this denial the Enterprise's
false report of the recent mass meet
ing in Oregon City should brand that
paper as untruthful and kill what lit
tle influence it ever had.
It seems to me the Enterprise
might better be defending the charges
that have been made against the
County Court by the taxpayers of
this county, and the charges I have
made in public and in the newspap
ers. Those are the things the tax
payers want to know about. But as
to proof of my denial of the Enter
prize report, I simply ask the peop
le to talk with the farmers at that
meeting and find out whether Olds
or the Enterprise is the liar.
E. D. OLDS
And here is another letter, another
denial of the Enterprise's deliberate
mistatements, and from a man who
stands ace high in his community. It
was written direct to the Enter
prise: Macksburg, May 28
Editor Enterprise:
I read in Thursday's Enterprise an
article on the recall meeting at Needy
in which my name is connected, that
I wish to state is unqualifidely false
in every particular so far as I am
concerned or connected, and I ask you
to publish this denial.
1 would state that I do not live in
Needy precinct, have not been there
in many months, had not singed or
circulated a recall petition, and could
not be a road supervisor in that pre
cinct if appointed; would not take the
appointment in my own district if it
was handed to me in a frame, and I
was not even present at the meeting.
I would further ask that the En
terprise confine itself to the truth so
far as I am personally concerned here
after, and not drag me in with a str
ing of utterly false, and absurd state
ments. The people are more intereseted in
the recall charges than in false state
ments about me. Let the Enterprise
defend the charges made by Mr. Olds
and others, and if it cannot then I
would suggest that it would confine
itself to a few truths, so that the
statements might be given a litle
credit .
If the Enerprise knows anything
about me that is deserving of
criticism, then it may put me on the
roaster.
If I have ever done anything in
political or business affairs to be a
shamed of, I have forgotten it, and
would like the public to do likewise.
J. W. SMITH
This report of the Enterprise fol
lowing its utterly false statements
and report of the recall meeting held
in this city, will hurt rather than help
the county court.
The Courier editor knows that 80
percent of the taxpayers of the Max-
berg and Needy country have signed
the recall on Judge Beatie and Com
missioner Blair.
These SIGNATURES tell the story
of the sentiment of this locality bet
ter than the Enterprise untruthful
reports. You can't get way from them
Lies don't go against signatures.
All this business is petty and shows
the defense is hard pressed. As Mr.
Olds says, WHY don't they defend
the charges on which the recall is
being revoked and why do they ignore
the county court exposures that are
being made in the Courier week after
week.
THESE are the things the taxpay
ers want to know about Twhere the
money goes and why it goes.
Held for Grand Jury
Justice Sievers has held W. S Smith
under $500 bail, for the grand jury
which will convene next week. The
warrant was sworn out by Constable
Jack Frost, and the charge was that
of committing an unnatural crime. A
17-year-old boy was also arrested at
the same time and was sent to the
reform school by Judge Beatie. Smith
is an employee of the O. C. T. Co's
dock.
' Help to Put County at Head
Manager O. E. Freytag is getting
ready to prepare the fruit exhibit for
the state fair this year, and he wants
your help.
He wants the finest, biggest and
most perfect specimens of fruit and
berries of all kinds. He wants them
brought in on the stem and branches,
and he will can them.
Clackamas county got second prize
last year and only needed four points
of first prize. Let everyone help to
get those four points this year. Bring
in your choice specimens.
Want Mattoon, Too
There are many protests from vot
ers in different parts of the county
because Commissioner Mattoon is not
included in the recall petition. They
argue that if there Is mismanage
ment of county funds and extrava
gance on the part of the county court
Mr. Mattoon should be included in the
recall.
This point has been many times
explained, but if the voters want
him also, there is a way.
The state law provides that an of
ficial must have held office six mon
ths before he can be recalled or recall
petitions circulated. Mr. Matoon' was
re-elected at the last election and
commenced his term January 1. He is
not subject to a recall until July 1.
If the taxpayers want Mr. Mat
toon recalled bad enough to hold off
the present petitions, and will organ
ize and do quick work for the neces
sary signatures after July 1, then it
is up to them. The whole matter is
up to the taxpayers the executive
committee is only doing their bidding.
But if this matter Is to be taken up,
the committee wants to know it and
know it will be vigorously attended
to.
Rose Show.
June Seventh, .
At Oregon City.
Remember
Graduation
Day
Look back to the day when you
were stirred with the pleasure
and enthusiasm of Graduation
Day. Think of what it meant
to you. Remember how you
treasured and cherished Moth
er's Graduation Gift Then
think what it meuns or might
mean to your son or daughter.
The graduation gift should" be
something distinctly "person
al." It may be serviceable, if
you like. But above everything
else it should be of really last
ing quality. We shall be glad
to help you in the selection of
a worthy and appropriate gift
for Graduation Day.
Burmeister &
Andresen
Oregon City Jewelers
SusperuionlBrldge Comer
LIKE WASTE
OF
FUNDS
LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY
PROVIDED FOR WORK
THEN WHY EXPEND $50,000
H. W. Hagemann Gives Taxpayers
Something to Think About
Editor Courier:
In the Enterprise of May 23 Mr.
J. E. Jack, our county Assessor, takes
great pleasure to publish a letter
from the Assessor of Tillamook Coun
ty wherein it says that the cruising
of timber in that county is a success.
In the same issue Mr. G. J. Taylor,
who edits a paper at Molalla, has
found that there is one section of
timber owned by Mr. Collins that
would pay more taxes under the new
cruise' than the whole Molalla coun
try combined and that this cruise is
the correct thing.
Now gentlemen, in the way you
bring this matter before the people,
you are making a fine showing but
there are always two sides to a ques
tion and I am very sorry that I have
to differ with you. Let us get at the
facts:
The timber cruise costs the county
to Mr. Nease $51.20 per section; Mr.
Boyles for cruising this same section
again $5.00 per diem and expenses of
$2.00, $7.00 making the total cost per
section $58.20, or in round figures
9c per acre. Taking for granted that
Mr. Boyles will cruise a section per
day. (That this is all left to his dis
cretion.) I have a statement at hand that
was used durjng the campaign of 19
12, evidently coming from our As
sessor's office, wherein it shows that
unimproved lands (timbered I sup
pose) were owned in Clackamas coun
ty as folllows:
Collins T. D. & S. E. 29249 acres. ,
Molalla Land Co. 4265 acres. y
Ore. and Cal, Land , grant 8? i.-.
acres, ' " ....
Ore. Iron and Steel Co. 5119 acres.
Weyerhause Land Co. 19852 acres.
Now we all know or at least should
know, that our Federal Government
has been for years after the Oregon
and California Land Grant of 89,383
acres and have it revert to the pub
lic domain. Lately the Hon. Judge
Wolverton has decided in the Govern
ment's favor.
The cruise of this tract wlil cost
Clackamas county about $8,044.47,
which sum will be a total loss, then .
the land will be exempt from all tax
ation. Now are you going to get this mon
ey back Mr. Jack and Mr. Taylor?
From the farmers I suppose.
In regard to the 58486 acres own
ed by other parties I will say that
our worthy state tax commission in
tends to take a hand, at least it so
stated in an article in fi Porland pa
pers recently, that there had been
enough money appropriated by our
last legislature, so all the former
transfers during the past year could
be checked and compared in order to
get at the real (selling) value of all
farms; and then make the apportion
ment of taxes accordingly. The reas
on given for this was that corporat
ions had complained that they were
compelled to pay more than their just
share of the taxes.
How does this strike you, Mr. Far
mer? Here your legislature provides
the money to investigate yourself.
Mr. O. D. Eby, and Mr. Loder in
their report to the Live Wires in an
0. C. paper, recently stated that I had
referred to a certain bridge across
Matlock Creek, and in reply I will say
that I never knew that Mr. Chas. F.
Clark had been favored Kvith the
chance on the public teat, in fact I
did not know that the taxpayers'
money had been used to satisfy per
sonal friends. My reference was to a
similar bridge in Section 17 Tnp 2 S.
R. 3 E. W. M. near Damascus and
about 4 miles from the Matlock
Creek bridge. I stated to Mr. Eby the
location distinctly.
As far as the letter of Chas. F,
Clark is concerned, I may state that
the people of Clackamas County have
heard some bragging and seen some
kicking over the traces before this.
The facts are they cannot be denied,
that a contract was let by our coun
ty court to a certain gentleman with
out asking for bids to build a bridge
across Matlock Creek for the sum of
$800 and that the specifications were
to be furnished afterwards by some
body. Really a fine way to do busi
ness. Therefore I have refrained to do
anything to get Mr. Matoon, one of
our commissioners, mixed up in our .
recall and because I always believed
and do so today, that Mr. Matoon in
tended to do right, and that he was
led into some of the shady transact
ions of the county court by his assoc
iates. But last Saturday at the Har
ding Grange picnic I was credibly in
formed that Mr. Mattoon intends to
resign as soon as Beatie and Blair
are recalled. Would it not be a good
scheme to save him the trouble and
include him also too?
What do you think of it, Farmers ?
Let ut hear from you.
N. W. HAGGSMANN
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