OREGON CITY COU
33d Year
OREGON CITY, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1916
Number 42
ALCOHOL
DRUGS
I L
INTRICACIES OF NEW STATE
STATUTE ARE MANY AND
SADLY BEWILDERING
BEVERAGES ALONE ARE KIT
Almost Any Amount of Forbidden Al
coholic Stuff May Be Sold if not
Designed for Straight Drink
While the prohibition law, in force
m Oregon since the first of the year,
provides that no "beverage contain-
ing more than half of one percent of
alcohol may be sold; there is nothing
in the law that will stop the purchas
er of a mixture of one part carbolic
acid and 1000 parts alcohol. And if
the purchaser of this latter mixture
wants to drink it, nobody will be
thrown into jail and prosecuted for
the selling of it though the drinker
may go to the hospital or the morgue.
On the other hand, if a druggist
sells a pint of ethyl alcohol for a
"rub," and the purchaser goes out
around the corner and drinks it, the
druggist making the sale may be ar
rested and fined for violating the pro
visions of the law.
There are eighteen mixtures of al
cohol and other things which may be
put up by any druggist and sold with
out making it nacessary for the drug
gist to take out a federal retail li
quor license, and the sale of which will
not violate the Oregon prohibition
law; but in order to get the alcohol
to be so used, the druggist will have
to go personally to the wholesale
house in Portland and sign an affidavit
swearing that he desires the stuff
solely for medicinal or mechanical
purposes.
And, furthermore, each druggist
may buy twenty-four quarts of beer
and two quarts of hard booze every
month, and may use this amount of
forbidden luxury in compounding pre
scriptions to his customers. But the
druggist cannot get mor,e than the
24 and two quarts in any one month.
In other words, with the exception
of ministers of the gospel, nobody in
Oregon may now legally buy more
than 24 quarts of beer and two quarts
of bard booze a month. And after
buying this booze, nobody but drug
gists can sell it again and the drug
gist who sells it must sell it as medi
cine, to be taken in small doses, and
not to be imbibed as a beverage.
And it is on the word "beverage"
that almost the entire prohibition law
hinges. The intent of the law is to
curtail very considerably the consump
tion of alcoholic beverages in the
state. Anybody who attempts to
sell, give away or otherwise dispose of
alcoholic beverages is liable to get
into trouble. But medicines contain
ing alcohol are a different matter if
they are not taken as beverages. At
least such is the ruling of district at
torneys and lawyers who have studied
the law.
Thes ame general idea applies to
the sale of ethyl alcohol, only the pro
visions of the law are more strict in
regard to it. The person who sells
alcoholic medicine isn't blamed if the
buyer takes the medicine as a drink;
but the person who sells ethyl alcohol
is blamed if the buyer drinks it. Why
the distinction was made is one of the
prohibition mysteries but it is there.
No bond is required of the druggist
who sells standard medicines that con
tain a high percentage of alcohol, and
no penalty is attached if the purchas
ers abuse the intentions of the drug
gist by drinking them. But a bond
is required for the sale of ethyl al
cohol, and a penalty hangs over the
druggist if customers buying ethyl
alcohol drink it.
The United States Treasury De
partment, which has charge of the col
lection of internal revenue, has issu
ed instructions to druggists regard
ing the sale of alcoholic compounds.
Copies of these instructions may be
obtained from Internal Revenue Col
lector Milton Miller, at Portland, and
they contain aside from a review of
the federal statutes a list of 18 com
pounds are household remedies, and
others are mere mixtures that make
the alcohol unsuited to drinking pur
poses. The aim of the federal govern
ment is similar to the aim of the
Oregon law only it is more simply
expressed. It is not the intention of
Uncle Sam to permit anybody to sell
alcohol for beverage purposes with
out taking out a federal license. But
alcohol for use as a "rub," or for other
medicinal purposes, may be sold in
practically unlimited quantities with
out a federal license.
However, strict compliance with
tjie federal law will not protect the
seller or the buyer from the work
ings of the Oregon law; and there is
no chance to make Uncle Sam defend
one for violating the Oregon law.
While the purpose of the two sets of
statutes is very similar, the chief
point of difference between them
comes in the strict prohibition of the
Oregon law to the purchase of more
than certain amounts of alcohol or
alcohlic cmpounds.
The only way to be safe under the
Oregon law is to become a real pro-
PRIJH
THE REASON WHY
Correspondent Want8 to Know Some
thing; Here's the Answer
Editor, Courier: I would be much
obliged if you would tell me why dif
ferent papers, in printing articles
about the same person, so often spell
the names of the principal characters
concerned differently. I do not mean
this inquiry as a criticism; I am simp
ly seeking information.
SUBSCRIBER.
To the above letter the Courier
would give two answers. First, in re
gard to the Courier. This paper
makes every effort to get names right
the first time, and believes that it
usually succeeds. And believing a
name to be right as published, the
Courier sticks to that spelling of the
name every time afterwards when
it has occasion to use it
In regard to other papers, the
Courier supposes that the same sys
tem is followed. Papers usually try
to get things right the first time, and
then "stay with them." Which re
minds us of a certain eastern paper
that once printed the announcement
of a certain man's death. The man
came in a couple of days later and
said he thought the report was a mis
take, and asked the editor to correct
it.
"No sir," said the editor, looking
at the man who didn't die. "No sir.
This paper said you were dead, and
dead you shall stay as far as this
paper is concerned. We will not say
that we made a mistake, but out of
deference to your feelings we'll simp
ly refuse to mention you again in our
columns."
Newspapers try to get things right
and when they don't they dislike to
say anything more about the sub
ject.
MANY ATTEND FUNERAL
Last Honors Paid Memory of Mrs.
E. G. Starkweather on Tuesday
Many friends and admirers of the
late Mrs. Eliza Gordon Starkweather
attended the funeral services held over
the remains at the First Baptist
church Tuesday afternoon, and paid a
final tribute to the woman they all
knew and loved. Mrs. Starkweather
has been a resident of Oregon
since 1846, and' died at Concord on
Sunday,, at the age of 85. . ..
As one of the earliest pioneers of
the state, she journeyed across the
plains in the summer of 1846, arriv
ing in Oregon in October of that year.
She was born in 1831 at Vernon, Jen
nings county, Indiana, and with her
father moved to Missouri in 1845.
She was married to William A. Stark
weather in September, 1853, at Mo
lalla. The first home of the couple was in
Linn county, where they took up a
donation land claid. Later they re
turned to Molalla and in 1861 moved
to Oregon City where they lived four
years while Mr. Starkweather served
as register of the United States land
office. Since 1865 her home has been
at Concord station.
She is survived by two sons, W. L.
Starkweather and H. G. Starkweather,
both of Concord, and two daughters,
Mrs. Ella Whipple, of Canby, and Mrs
Ida Derry, of Concord, as well as 12
grandchildren.
Oregon's Sunday "blue law" having
been held valid by United States
judges, we can now go to the movies
on the Sabbath and know that we are
breaking no moral statutes. It is
nice to have it settled.
WAR'S END FORETOLD
Trouble on West Coast also Seen by
Marine Corps Prophet
"The war will end on July 26, 1916.
On October 12, 1916, San Francisco
will be bombarded and destroyed by
a hostile fleet."
Gunnery Sergeant Thomas G. Ster-
rett, United States Marine Corps,
makes this dire prophecy, not from
any advance military knowledge, but
from the fact that he is a sevenht son
of a seventh son with no girls between,
and his comrades in the Marine Corps
think him something of a forecaster.
Sterrett first gained fame when,
in 1892, he predicted a new railway
station for Kansas City. In 1912,
1913, 1914 and 1915, he foretold with
unerring accuracy the overflow of the
Allegheny's banks and the flooding of
Pittsburgh's downtown section.
hibitionist, and to hum constantly
"Lips that touch liquor shall never
touch mine." Because even the pur
chaser of the permitted 24 and 2 may
get into difficulty if he gives a friend
a "wee nip." The only persons who
may beak the drought are regular li
censed physicians and pastors and
physicians can only prescribe liquor
in medicinal doses or compounds, and
to the extent of their individual 24
and 2 quarts, or to the extent of the
24 and 2 quarts that some nice drug
gist may have bought Ministers have
no limit, as long as they dispense
wine for sacramental purposes.
Druggists, about whom will wage
the heat of any warfare that breaks
out as a result of the new law, will do
well to consult the district attorney
about the fine points of the prohibition
statutes. They will receive other aid
from their wholesale supply houses,
and from federal officiate. All other
people had better leave the tempting
glass alone, and then there wont be
any chance for a mix-up.
CITY TO BATTLE
FOR ITS POWER
MAYOR HACK ETT CALLS UPON
COUNCIL TO DEVELOP OLD
RIGHTS TO THE FALLS
ELECTRIC PLANT IS SOUGHT
Head of Administration Springs Sur
prise in Message to Co-Workers
for Community's Welfare
Mayor E. C. Hackett, new head of
the county seat's affairs, set off an
unexpected pile of dynamite Monday
night when he read his message to the
council of Oregon City. The city dads
were lying back lazily in their chairs,
listening to perfunctory remarks by
the new executive on his plans for an
administration, Councilma Templeton
was reading the charter, and Council
man Van Auken was ulinkig his eyes
sleepily, when it happened. But as
soon as the councilmen realized the
purport of the new mayor's words
they sat up straight and paid strict
attention to business.
Mr. Hackett advocated an immed
iate clearing away of the tangle over
the city's water rights at the falls,
and suggested tnat it would be well,
as soon as the municipality could af
ford it, to construct and operate a
municipal power and lighting plant.
That was all. But it started some
thing.
Oregon City has not been accustom
ed to having its city fathers or its
mayor allude with more than usual
emphasis to the possibilities that are
slumbering at the south end of the
city. It is true that some faint vista
of the future was given the last coun
cil during the fight over the sale of
the old filtration plant to the Hawley
Pulp & Paper company; but until Mr.
Hackett sprang the municipal power
and lighting plant, nobody has ever
very violently' suggested that Oregon
City might make use of its heritage
and make money from it.
Recorder Livy Stipp, of a bygone
administration, once delved into the
subject of Oregon City's water rights
and told the council that there was
something worth while going ' after.
But Mr. Stipp's dream was put to
sleep in committee pigeon-holes time
after time, and no effort was ever
made to find out if Oregon City really
had power rights, and if it could de
velop them and utilize them. The
Honorable Christian Schuebel, self
styled "city attorney," made some ef
fort to revive the matter a month or
so ago, and following that it was re
marked in the papers and in the coun
cil that a "friendly suit" had been
started in the courts to determine the
city's water rights but nobody took
the "friendly suit" very seriously.
And then came Mayor Hackett, and
first crack out of the box, told the
council that he had evnry reason to
believe that the city had valuable
water rights, and that he hoped to
see these rights determind at once.
Mr. Hackett said in his speech that
he had heard, or had been told, that
some sort of a suit to clear the tangle
was on the legal ways, but the way
he referred to it showed that he
didn't think a whole lot of the action
in which the Honorable Christian
Schuebel took a belated interest just
before his term of office might be ex
pected to expire. Mr. Hackett urged
the council to do something and then
he threw out that portentious remark
about a municipal hydro-electric plant,
which might be utilized to light the
city's streets and homes.
No wonder the council sat up and
stopped its doze and its blinking.
This quiet man Hackett, hardly having
warmed the mayor's chair beneath him
was calling upon the council to see to
it that SOMETHING BE DONE to
determine . if Oregon City had any
water rights, and was also telling the
council that if it was found that the
city had rights, it might be well to
utilize them for the public good.
Mayor Hackett spoke of Detroit as
a city that had a municipal lighting
plant, and his words were of the kind
that showed he MEANT BUSINESS.
No wonder the council paused.
Those who had heretofore "stalled"
all efforts towards developing the
city's water power looked from one to
the other, as much as to say "Can this
thing be true?" New councilmen, not
yet intimately familiar with the
blighting influence that has blocked
all former efforts at developing the
water power which the city undoubted
ly has, hung on the mayor's words
with profound interest and respect.
Old councilmen who have thought that
the people ought to have the benefit
of the city's rights let a new hope
shine in their faces.
It appeared that this man Hackett
meant to be mayor and do something.
The Courier trusts so. And so do
hundreds of people in Oregon City,
who annually see a good share of
their taxes poured into the coffers of
a power company that sits entrenched
and grins at the city while it uses
the water that the city ought to be
using itself, and for the power thug
used charges the city a-plenty for arc
and incandescent lights on the streets.
The water power is there there is
ALBRIGHT IN RACE
Man Well Known Throughout County
Seeks Sheriff's Place
1
John F. Albright
John F. Albright, well known as a
fisherman throughout the county, and
now serving his third term on the
Oregon City council, has announced
himself a candidate for the republi
can nomination for sheriff. Mr. Al
bright was a candidate at the last
election, but lost the nomination by a
narrow margin. He believes that he
will have better luck this time.
Mr. Albright has always been in
tensely interested in public affairs,
and as chairman of the special elevat
or committee of the council had much
to do with the successful construction
and operation of Oregon City's munic
ipal free elevatr. He has always been
opposed to special interests, and in
the county seat coun -il has cham
pioned the working people. He has a
strong following, and v-tll rally many
votes to his banner at.the forthcom
ing primaries. He has radical ideas
about the manner in which the sher
iff's office should be run, and believes
that much economizing might be
practiced without impairing the ef
ficiency of the office in any way.
JOHN SHEPHERD DIES
Pioneer Who Crossed Plains in Youth
Recalls Adventures of Trip
John Shepherd died Monday noon,
December 27th, at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Grace Hinton, near
Tualatin, and was' laid by the side of
his wife in the Mountain View ceme
tery at Oregon City on the following
Wednesday.
Ha was born in Ripley county, In
diana, January 15th, 1842, thus being
nearly 74 years of age at th time of
his death. He Nearly rlollected
crossing the plains in 1851 with his
parents in a small company on their
way to the Oregon country.
The one time boy immigrant chose
for his life companion Miss Mary Lee,
born where Lents now is, the day after
her parents arrived from the East.
For years after his marriage John
Shepherd owned and steadily improved
a good farm in Washington county,
but a sudden hemorrhage of the lungs
sent him, finally, to the east of the
mountains, where he partially regain
ed his health, often serving as court
interpreter between the Indians and
the White Man. He also engaged in
sawmilling.
Though always pronounced in his
religious views as he saw the right,
he nevertheless made a- great many
friends, and was well known through
out a large part of both Oregon and
Washington. He was but once mar
ried. He left one son, Ross Shepherd,
of Willamette; and two daughters,
Mrs. Iva Cantrill, living near Oregon
City; and Mrs. Hinton.
PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS
0. W. R. & N. Terminates Lease on
Hot Lake Sanitarium
Hot Lake, Ore., Jan. 6: The popu
lar health resort was today taken
possession of by F. L. Myers, of the
La Grande national bank on behalf
of the $250,000 bond issue. The
management of the sanitarium will
continue in the hands of Dr. G. W.
Tape.
The usual influx of guests after
the holiday season is already making
itself felt, the attendance being
greater than a year ago. With im
provements continually being made,
Hot Lake anticipates a very prosper
ous future.
no question of that. In former years
a foolish ( ?) council agreed that may
be some of it wasn't there, and leased
a part of what was left for the city
but able attorneys say that the power
is there. The city has a right-of-way
to water in the basin, and it may
appropriate all of the water that it
needs aside from that to which it al
ready has rights. This much develop
ed during the struggle the city had to
retain its flume and pumps at the fil
tration plant site. And now Mayor
Hackett urges immediate action in
discovering the total extent of the
city's rights', and then talks of a
municipal power and lighting plant.
Good for Hackett he seems to be
a real man.
Mayor Hackett now is asking for
a city prosecutor who can and who
will look after the city's legal inter
ests in this matter, as well as in other
matters. He is looking for a man who
understands the question, who is fa
miliar with the legal intricacies of the
past, and who can and will FIGHT
for the city's rights. Here's hoping
he gets that man, for it will mean
much to the future of Oregon City.
And in connection with all that,
why do you suppose it is that the Hon
orable Christian Schuebel, "friend of
the people," wants to hang onto his
job, even though he be an unweclome
guest at the councilmanic feast?
;
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WOW! ZIP! 70WIE!
COUNCIL IN RIOT
"LOAFER" SHOUTS TEMPLETON
"LIAR" REPLIES BURKE,
AND OTHERS JOIN
POLITICAL DEBTS NOT PAID
Harmony Sought by Hackett Dissolves
into Thin and Heated Air at
First Regular Gathering
The war in Europe might as well
stop right now. It has nothing on
Oregon City's council after the first
regular meeting of the year, held
Wednesday night in the city hall.
And all former councils are dimmed
as vaudeville performances. What
they had to offer was "small town
stuff," slapstick comedy of the' coun
try circuit variety. What the new
council offered to a room crowded with
spectators Wednesday night was al
together different it was high class
buffoonery, a performance that kept
the witnesses in an uproar all the
time in fact it was as shocking a
display as any body of city fathers
ever put up.
The fireworks began soon after the
opening of the session. Mayor Hack
ett appointed Councilman Andrews a
member of the committee on fire and
water the only committee appoint
ment that Andrews gets. Mr. Metz
ner then rose and called his honor's
attention to the fact that he had not
re-appointed the elevator committee.
Councilman Roake rose to remark
that the elevator was certainly public
property, and that he saw no reason
for cluttering up the council with use
less committees. Maybe he would
have said more; certainly Mr. Metzner
would have said more, only Recorder
Loder then choked off trouble by read
ing the Live Wires' harmony message.
Bit harmony wasn't there. The fi
nance' committee reported that it had
held tfp two bills, one ,from the fire
chief jjr flushing hosi anil hydrants,
and one from the elevator committee
for an electric heater in the elevator.
Mr. Roake opined that it was the reg
ular duty of the fire chief to flush hy
drants, that that was what he was
paid ten dollars a month for. As to
the heater in the elevator, Mr. Roake
professed ignorance of its ever having
been authorized.
Councilman Albright, who hadn't
come in when the elevator committee
was abolished, and who thought that
there was such a thing, recalled to the
council that last year the elevator
committee had been given power to
act in regard to the heater, and that
it had bought the cheapest one in the
market
Nobody explained the flushing of
the hydrants which was dono to clear
the old water from the pumping sta
tion from the mains when South Fork
water was turned in. The council al
lowed the bill for the heater in the
elevator, but passed the buck for fif
teen dollars worth to the fire chief
for flushing the hydrants.
Routine business then calmed the
troubled currents of the meeting for
a few minutes, and gave the council
a chance to accept the bond of the new
chief of police and to approve the as
sessment for sewer district No. 10.
Then the Honorable Christian Schue
bel renewed his plea for the codifi
cation of the city ordinances.
Mayor Hackett thought maybe the
ordinances could be indexed by the re
corder. Councilman Cox moved that
the ordinances be codified according
to the Schuebel plan. Councilman
Roake wanted to know if there was
any allowance in the budget for pay
ing for the codification, which some
body guessed would cost $500. Bring
ing up the budget reminded Mayor
Hackett that the council ought to
meet in a "business session" soon to
discuss the budget. Mr. Schuebel
guessed that codifying the ordinance
would cost a dollar a page. Mr. Roake
remarked that probably it would cost
more to publish them this time than
it did before, and thought estimates
ought to be obtained. Mr. Schuebel
said it wouldn t cost as much this
time, because the city would only need
about 25 copies. Mr. Templeton sug
gested that codifying the ordinances
be included with the regular city
printing, and suggested that bids for
the whole job be sought. At the sug
gestion of the mayor Mr. Cox with
drew his motion, and substituted one
to the effect that the finance commit
tee get bids on the city printing and
on codifying the ordinances, and re
port at the next meeting. The motion
carried.
Mayor Hackett then announced that
the next meeting would be next Wed
nesday, and would be a "business ses
sion to talk things over."
And then the real riot started.
"We have come now to the appoint
ment of officers for the ensuing year,"
said the mayor. "I am of the opin
ion that under the new amendment,
adopted at the last election, I have no
power to appoint ejther a city prose
cutor or a city recorder, so I will ap
point neither. For street superin
tendent I desire to appoint one of our
leading citizens, a large property
owner, and a man well equipped for
the place. I desire to appoint Mr,
F. C. Burke."
Absolute silence reigned for a few
seconds, and then Mr. Templeton un
curled himself from his chair, cleared
his throat, and spoke:
"I wish to say that I am in oppo
sition to the appointment of Mr.
Burke," he said. "I am opposed to
the appointment of Mr. Burke because
he is an impractical man, more fond
of talking when at work than of work
ing.' He would be expensive to the
city. I have been familiar with the
street work in this city for the last
two years, and I have seen a great
deal of work done and a great deal of
talking and loafing done; but this man
Burke can do more talking and more
loafing than all the rest of the men
put together. ; We have in Mr. Bab
cock a good man, a taxpayer, an ex
perienced man, an obliging man and a
good worker, so why should we
change?"
F. C. Burke, who had flushed to the
roots of his hair during Mr. Temple
ton 8 expression of opinion, was on his
feet in an instant
"Mr. Mayor," he shouted, "every
word that man has just uttered is a
falsehood. He told me only recently
that there wasn't a man who did more
work than I did on the street. He
told me that when I was putting the
crown on Fifth street. What that
man has said is one of the basest
falsehoods ever uttered in this council
chamber, it is a dirty lie. Street Su
perintendent Babcock will bear me
out, he told me I was a hard working
man."
Councilman Metzner then unlimber-
ed his 42-centimeter gun. "I am of
the same opinion as Mr. Templeton in
this matter,"- he said. "When this
man Burke was supposed to be in
specting a certain street he was away
off somewhere else, talking and loaf
ing. He was always jumping on
what Harry Jones did, but any work
that other contractors did was al
ways all right, even if they just threw
gravel into a ditch with their fingers.
George Randall, one of the specta
tors to the interchange of compli
ments, then butted into the battle with
the remark that: "I am a taxpayer and
a property owner, and I for one think
Mr. Burke would make a good street
superintendent. I think it would be
better to have him, than to put bums
on the street who would maybe earn
one dollar but get two and a quarter
from the city."
Councilman Cox tried to spring a
compromise candidate,, by suggesting
City Engineer" Miller for a ;Sombina-.
tion engineer and street superintend
ent "You may say that the charter
doesn't permit us to combine the jobs,"
said Cox. "But this council has done
lots of things against the charter that
have not been to the city's interests,
so why not do something that would
be a benefit to the city?"
City Engineer Miller said that
Councilman Van Auken had asked him
if he would take the street job at $75
a month, with five dollars a day ad
ditional for any engineering work that
might be necessary. "I would be will
ing to do that," said Mr. Miller, "but
I am not anxious to do it; and I would
only do it on the agreement that I
get no less than $100 a'month from
January to May, and not less thun
$125 a month from May to January.
"I can get a man who will be engi
neer and street superintendent for
$100 a month all the year round, and
he's a good man, too none better in
this city or this county," shouted Mr.
Templeton.
"Thee barter reads that the mayor
is to appoint a street superintendent,
and I have appointed one. It is up to
you to act on the appointment," sala
Mr. Hackett.
"You talk about economy," inter
jected Albrigha. "Where's the econo
my in firing a man who gets $75 a
month and appointing one who wants
$100 or $125?"
"Gentlemen, I wish it understood
that I am not seeking this job," said
City Engineer Miller. "Mr. Van Auk
en asked me if I would take it, and
I gave him my answer. But I also
said that I wouldn't take the job if it
was going to take the bread and butter
out of any other man's mouth.
Then, turning to the mayor, Mr,
Templeton fired the crowning shot of
the evening.
"You .say you want economy," he
shouted. "You don't want economy 1
You want to pay your dirty, miserable
political debts!"
"I move the appointment of Mr.
Burke be confirmed," said Mr. Al
bright."
"Huh?" The word came from Mr.
Templeton in a snort
Somebody seconded the motion, but
before the vote was put Street Com
missioner Babcock got the floor.
"Gentlemen," he said, I don't want
the job. I've got enough to live on,
and you're not going to take the bread
and butter from my mouth. When
you vote, don't think of me."
"All those in favor of confirming
the appointment will please rise," said
his honor.
Councilman Roake, whom Mr.
Hackett elected by deciding a tie vote,
rose.
"Gentlemen," he said, "I want to
explain my vote. When I was elected
to the council I promised Mr. Hackett
that I would support his nominations,
for I believe that he would name good
men. So I vote in favor of confirming
his appointment."
"Those opposed will rise," said the
chair.
Mr. Hackett glared at the council
and at his supporters who hadn't vot
ed. "Well," he said, "if the council
(Continued on Page 8)
T IS
LATE IN COUNTY
PROHIBITION LAW HITS SNAG
AS IT CROSSES LINE BE- .
YOND MILWAUKIE
SHERIFF "DOESN'T KNOW" IT
Five of Seveh Saloons Close on Time,
but Two of Clackamas Thirst
. Parlors Put Clocks Back
Last year Clackamas county had
seven saloons, and this year it had
two for awhile. Even the Enter
prise saw the humor of the situation,
and joshed Sheriff William J. Wilson '
about it on its front page. And when
the Enterprise will "kid" its pet sher
WATER
iff, it is a safe bet that there is a -.
lurking cause for the joke somewhere. '
According to the Enterprise -the .
prohibition law went into effect
promptly at midnight, and at half
past eleven on the last night of the .
old year one of the Milwaukie saloons
went out of business. The Enter
prise added that the other two were
"crowded" at midnight, but remarked
that the patrons Boon dispersed, and
that when the new year dawned there
wasn't even an illegal brewery sign
in evidence.
Which is awfully funny. .
Down at. Milwaukie eighty-four
hours after the prohibition law went
into effect there were no less than five
"illegal" signs looming over the land-.
scape, four of them advertising the
products of one brewery, and one of
them lauding the virtues of the beer
put out by another. Also there were
three signs with the forbidden word
"Bar" emblazoned upon them.
Having read the Enterprise and its
funny stuff about the sheriff, a Cour
ier reporter asked William J. Wilson
on Monday evening what time he left
Milwaukie New Year s Eve.
"I don't know," answered the sher
iff.
"What time did the Milwaukie
dumps close up," tviW the next cues-; ,
tion.' -'' " ' " " '- 'l - - "-
"I don't know," answered the
sheriff. '
"What about the brewery signs at
Milwaukie," was the next interroga
"I don't know," said the sheriff
and then as an afterthought he added:
"I told 'em to take the signs down.
If they don't do that it is up to the
owner of the building,- it isn't up to
me."
"I don't know" is hardly the answer
for a prohibition sheriff to give on
these dry days. The law says that a
peace officer who doesn't do his duty
is guilty of something-or-other, and
stands liable to pay a handsome fine.
But Billy Wilson should worry as he
has before now expressed it: "I have
a lot of friends in the northern part
of the county and the people in Mil
waukie think I'm all right."
They probably do and they prob
ably did New Year's morning in the
wee sma' hours, when as the Enter
prise says, the Milwaukie resorts were
crowded, but the crowds soon dispers
ed. "Soon dispersed" is one of those
cute phrases that is open to consider
able interpretation. In one Instance it
was two o'clock two hours after mid
night, when the crowd dispersed. In
another instance it was just as late as
that, if not later. One of the Mil
waukie saloons, however, did close on
time but it left its signs up; and
eighty-four hours after the prohibition
law had gone into effect they were
still proclaiming in vivid blue, white
and yellow, that the building they dec- ,
orated was the Milwaukie Bar, "Jim's
Place," and that Weinhard and other
beer and refreshment was to be had
within.
But the sheriff "don't know."
Fritz Boysen painted out his signs
after the crowd "dispersed" New
Year's morning, and he also scratched
the word "liquor" off one of the plate
glass windows of the front of his
establishment. The sign, instead of
reading "Family Liquor Store" read
"Family Store" for awhile. And then
Fritz got another hunch, and all the
gold paint came off. Fritz evidently
tried to comply with the law which
is saying something.
The water wagon reached Clacka
mas county all right, but it arrived
late. At midnight crowds came out
from Portland and fought to get into
the Belle and the Friars' Club. Quite
a number got in, but it is said they
drank "near beer" unless they brought
better Btuff with them. And some of
them had better stuff. Approximate
ly two dozen automobiles were park
ed in between the trees at th Friar s
Club, but they all got out safely be- -fore
dawn.
And at dawn the sheriff was sleep
ing peacefully. He says somebody
brought him home from Milwaukie in
an automobile, but that it got so cold
in the auto that he climbed out at
Gladstone and walked the rest of the
way up the track to keep warm.
Maybe that was why the Enterprise .
got so funny about the way the water
wagon came to Clackamas county, and
maybe that is why the sheriff answer
ed "don't know" to the query as to
when he left Milwaukie, and what he
left there.
'J
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