University
OREGON- CITY COURIER
33d Y
ear
OREGON CITY, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 1916
Number 52
HALLOWED GROUND
III HOLD REMAINS
JAMES HAYCK BURIED WITH
CHRISTIAN RITES IN MOUN
TAIN VIEW CEMETERY
REV. MiLLIKEN VOLUNTEERS
Victim of January Fire in Highland
District at Last Finds Friends
Who Pay Final Respects
James Hayek, who was burned to
death in a hre that destroyed his
home at Highland on ' the night of
January 12, this year, was given
Christian burial in Mountain View
cemetery Thursday afternoon. The
Rev. W. T. Milliken, pastor of the
First Baptist church, of Oregon City,
officiated at his funeral, and later
said a final prayer at the graveside
as the coffin that held all that was
left of Mr. Hayek was lowered into
the earth.
Behind this announcement is a
story. . The story is not exactly a
pleasant one, but it has a happy end
ing. To, some stories a funeral isa
happy ending and you will see
shortly why it is in this case. Hayek
lived alone in the Highland district,
working on a small patch of ground
when he could spare the time, and the
rest of the while laboring on the
farms of his neighbors. He was sev
enty years old, alone an practically
friendless, and his life was drab and
drear. Back in Iowa he had relatives,
but only brief and, occasional letters
kept them in touch with him. For
the rest of his life he was lonely
and it is a terrible thing to be lonely
at seventy years of age.
Last January Hayek was not only
lonely he was cold. Blizzard con
ditions held the county in their grasp
for nearly the entire month, and in
the lonely cabin where James Hayek
lived there was nothing but a cheap
Bheet-iron stove to temper the icy
winds that swept in under the door
and through the chinks in the win
Hows. One nieht the nieht of Jan
uary 12, James HayckJlled his little
stove to the brim with pitchy wood,
lighted his fire at the end of his day
of barren toil, and crawling under
the covers of his springless bed, went
to sleep.
It was a last and long sleep for
James Hayek. . Sometime in the night
the firo heated the little stove red
not, and the tawdry mass of iron fell
apart Live coals dropped to the floor
of the little cabin, flames sprang .up
instantly in a dozen places and it
was all over with James Hayek, 70
years old and lonely. Neighbors saw
the fire when it broke through the
roof of the shack, and grudgingly
they turned out in the bitter cold.
When they reached the blazing home
of the old man he was nowhere to be
seen, and there, was nothing the neigh
bors could do but stand around, awed
by the gentle whisper of the wings
of Death, and shivering in the wind
that swept the snow in drifts against
the burning rafters of the-roof .
The next day they called. Coroner'
Hempstead. After much diligent
searching he found some calcined
bones on one corner of the ruins of
the old man's home. He asked the
people what they wanted to do. No
body wanted to do anything. Taxes
were high, they said, and there didn't
seem to be enough left of James
Hayek to do anything with. Finally
they suggested that the coroner leave
the ruins as he found them, and leave
the few calcined bones to be covered
over with the brush and bracken that
soon would cover the burned wooden
frame of Hayek's humble home. The
Coroner did so, and made a report on
the matter to the county court. That
was on January 13. - j
Last week a thought that had been
growing in the minds of some Of the
women-folk in the Highland district
became too important to be any long
er idly dismissed. Women have a
habit of being square, you know.
And so, two months after James
Hayek died, some of the Highland wo
men persuaded some of the men to
go to the ruined shack and gather up
all that was left of its former owner
and occupant, and take the remains
to Oregon City.
In the county seat the Courier
heard of the fact that Mr. Hayek's
remains had not yet received Chris
tian burial. This didn't seem just
right, and the Courier called the at
tention of the Rev. W. T. Milliken to
tho condition of affairs. Dr. Milli
ken didn't -wait to talk about it, he
took action at once. First off he
volunteered his services for the f uner
al, and then with a representative of
the Courier he took the matter up
with County Judge Anderson and with
some of the leading members of his
church. Very shortly a funeral for
James Hayek was assured.
The Courier then asked Mr. Brady,
of the Myers & Brady undertaking
establishment, if they would assist in
the work of giving James Hayek a
, real funeral. Mr. Brady, who is a
whole-souled man with a big heart,
said that his firm would be more than
glad to do anything that it could.
- - (Continued on Page 8)
LOOK OUT FOR THIS
"Polish Wheat" Being Boomed in the
Northwest at Fabulous Prices
The Department of Agriculture has
issued a warning to farmers, urging
them to be on their guard against
salesmen who are boosting "Polish
wheat," and which has already been
sold in some western states at a dol
lar a pound. It is claimed that this
wheat grows well in dry sections and
that it yields from 85 to 150 bushels
to the acre. It is also said to make
excellent flour and to be a fine hog
feed. .
These' statements are directly con
trary to the experience of the De
partment of Agriculture and several
State experiment stations. They are
also contrary to the experience of
many farmers who have written to
the Department at one time or an
other. The accumulated evidence regard
ing this wheat does not indicate that
it has any value that will in any way
justify the charge of $1.00 a potlnd
for the seed, and farmers are advised
not to be misled by the glowing state-
continued on Page 8)
T
OF
WEALTH SHOULD ROLL INTO
FARMERS' POCKETS AS
SALES ARE MADE
CROP DOUBLES LAST YEAR'S
Government Report Shows that Ore
gon Shares with Rest of Nation
' Remarkable Yield of Fields
Talk about prosperity well, it
surely ought to be here with enough
force to convince even a republican
high-tariff enthusiast. With Ameri
can grain crops hitting the highest
mark ever made, and with the Old
World yelling for breadstuffs in a
loud and persistent tone, there is no
reason apparent why we should be
anything but wealthy. And the best
part of it is that Oregon has a more
than usual share in the good things.
According to the government crop
report, issued late last week, there are
3,000,000 bushels of harvested wheat
on the state's farms this year. Last
year at this time there was only
1,826,000 bushels. Wheat on March
8 was quoted at 93 cents a bushel, so
Oregon farmers have at least $29,900,
000 worth of prime wheat on hand.
That isn't bad for "democratic depres
sion," is it?
The story regarding corn on Ore
gon farm3 is also interesting. On
March 8 the federal government re
ports showed- that there were 116,000
bushels of corn awaiting disposal at
92 cents a bushel. Last year at the
same time, Oregon could only boast
59,000 bushels or just about half as
much.' Eighty percent of this corn
was of merchantable quality that is,
80 percent of it was high grade stuff,
far too good to feed to cattle or even
to think of canning.
On the first of March, Uncle Sam
also tells us, there were in Oregon
farmers' hands 4,340,000 bushels of
oats. The price offered producers
was half a dollar a bushel. Last year
Oregon had but 2,930,000 bushels.
The barley crop 'shows the same
sort of a tendency. Oregon has at
present in hand 936,000 bushels of
barley, and the price is 68 cents a
bushel. Last year the state boasted
only 882,000 bushels.
Oregon also isn't doing so bad on
tho prices she is getting for her pro
ducts. Oregon barley is quoted at 68
cents, while the average price for
barley in the United States is 59.6
cents. Oregon oats are . worth half
a dollar a bushel, but the average
price for the nation is only 42.7 cents.
Oregon corn, quoted at 92 cents, is
far above the average price for the
entire United States, which is only
68.2 cents. Only in wheat is the Ore
gon price lower: state wheat is quot
ed at 93 cents a bushel, while the
average national price is $1.03, or
ten cents higher.
WILBUR IS HELD
Friars' Club Boss Accused of Lack of
Federal License to Face Jury
Julius Wilbur, who was arrested a
couple of weeks or so ago in a raid by
federal agents upon the Friars' club,
has been held to the federal grand
jury by United States Commissioner
Drake. Wilbur is charged with hav
ing conducted a retail liquor business
without obtaining a federal liquor li
cense.
Wilbur was held to the federal jury
after he had admitted, at preliminary
hearing, that he had served drinks to
patrons of the Friars' club; which is
a resort in the northern end of Clack
amas county that has much political
history attached to it. Wilbur said
that while he had served drinks he
had made no profit therefrom, hav
ing gone elsewhere to purchase the
liquor, and paying for it with the
money his patrons gave him.
RECORD
I
PURCHASE
FAIR
SITE: SAVE CASH
COUNTY COURT FIGURES OUT
WAY TO PREVENT LOSS
OF OLD INVESTMENT
WILL GAIN RENTAL BESIDES
First Step Planned, Also, in Acquiring
Either Place for Poor Farm or '
Funds for This Purpose
When the county court purchases
the present site of the county fair,
at Canby, for $7,950, it will not be
heaving the taxpayers' money over
board. There has been a good deal
of misapprehension on this matter,
and the proposed purchase of the fair
grounds has been confused with the
idea that the county would then oper
ate the fair at the same place. The
plan of the purchase, as now outlined,
is as, follows; and the Courier gives it
prominence so that there may be no
further misunderstanding.
The proposal is that the county buy
the present fair site for $7950; which
is the-total of all outstanding claims,
with the' exception of $2,000 which
the county has already sunken in the
enterprise. For this sum the county
gets everything, and clear title. There
are no strings on the purchase, the
county may turn around the next day
and sell the fair site in open market.
However, if the county holds the
property and the fair association de
sires to hold this year's fair there,
the association will pay the county
$480 rental six percent on the value
of the site. As long as the fair is
held there, this sum must be paid
annually into the county treasury.
The fair" site is worth considerably
more than this purchase price. It
could be sold this year for enough
more to bring the county back the
sum that will be expended and the
old $2,000 additional. But the pres
ent intention of the court is not to
make a sale of the property until
next year at the earliest. A bid for
its purchase next year has already
been made.
The county court believes it would
be better to utilize the fair grounds,
afte -this year's fair for which $480
will be paid in rental as a site for
a county poor farm; which is much
needed. The fair grounds are admir
ably suited for such a purpose; the
site is convenient to transportation, it
consists of fertile soil and consider
able wooded area, and it has on it
buildings that could easily be con
verted into dormitories. With a coun
ty poor farm, where paupers could be
sent , and worked, the county would
save annually a very considerable por
tion of the more than $12,000 now
spent on the indigent poor, and on
some that aren't so "indigent."
Persons sent to the poor farm
could be employed on the site, tilling
the ground and raising sufficient
crops to provide the greater part of
their keep, bo that the county would
receive a return for their support a
far greater return than is now re
ceived. Also the fact that paupers
would have to go to the poor farm
to receive county bounty would keep
many of those now receiving county
aid from taking advantage of public
liberality. '
When the movement of settlers to
the lower Willamette valley becomes
greater which it will very soon, the
county could sell either all or a part
of the present fair grounds for much
more than will be paid for it, and with
the proceeds either establish the poor
farm in some other location, or use a
part of the profits from the sale to
develop other public plans. .
The county court has no intention
of going into the fair business. In
fact it is doubtful if the county court
will permit the holding of the Clacka
mas county fair at Canby after this
year. Public sentiment is so pro
nounced against the location that the
exhibit cannot be successfully staged
at the old stand many times more.
And the conversion of the present
fair grounds into a county poor farm
would, of itself, stop the fair from
being held there.
If sufficient sums are realized from
the property, it is reported to be the
plan of the county court to retain a
small portion of the present fair
grounds in a more central location
at Gladstone or thereabouts. This
ground, once purchased, would be
leased to the fair association at a
profitable price; and when not in use
for the count- fair could be made a
revenue-earning proposition for the
county by leasing it for public gather
ings and picnics. Such at least is
the idea of the court.
District Attorney Hedges will pass
upon the plan before it is carried out.
Just at present the county court does
not feel that the question ought to be
furher submitted to the people, as the
taxpayers meeting last December en.
dorsed it. But the court desires it
to be distinctly understood that the
county is not going into the fair
business, and that the chief reasons
for purchasing the site are: to secure
the $2,900 that the county already has
invested; to provide an economical
way of establishing a county poor
COURIER'S CIRCULATION
CONTINUES REMARKABLE
AND STEADFAST GROWTH
jt
J The Oregon City Courier is J
. the best advertising medium in
J Clackamas county for two
Jt reasons: '
J First, its readers go over J
! every page carefully, because J
J they know there is something J
i interesting and unbiased on J
J each page.
Second, becasue the Courier !
S has a larger circulation than !
J all the other papers of the J
J county combined, AND THIS M
CIRCULATION IS STILL J
J STEADILY AND CONSIST- J
J ENTLY GROWING. The Cour- J
ier has now close to 3,000
5 regular readers each week; and J
it is a poor week indeed when
9 ten new subscribers do not
J come into the office and plunk ?
J down a dollar for a year's J
J chance to read the Courier
i every week. Jt
J And that reminds us, YOU
J can get the Courier for a year !
iJ any time you come in and give J
us a dollar. . J
J : - 1 J
t?t j8 8 fcjt rfC tt
MERCHANTS TOO HONEST
Sealer of Weights and Measures Finds
Local Scales Benefit Buyers
J. F. Jones, of Salem, district seal
er of weights and measures, is stop
ping at Mass's hotel while investigat
ing scales and cordwood problems in
Oregon City. And two things in the
county seat have surprised him; first
the remarkable honesty of the local
merchants; and second, the size of
Oregon City. Mr. Jones came into
town Wednesday and expected to get
through before night, but he discover
ed shortly that it would take him two
days, and possibly more, to inspect all
the scales in the county seat's com
mercial houses.
"I found Oregon City merchants
more than anxious to comply with the
law," he said to a representative of
the Courier, Wednesday night. "And
not only that, but I was surprised to
find that in the cases where scales had
not been right, the discrepancy in al
most every case was against the
dealer and in favor of the customer.
I have had no complaints locally about
cordwood dealers, and this is another
and astonishing thing to me, and it
speaks well for your community."
- Mr. Jones also reported that
throughout the state merchants and
dealers of all sorts are making every
effort to comply with the new laws
regarding computing scales. Not
only are they having the indicators
changed so that prices are computed
for each dunce instead of for each
three ounces as formerly but they
are keeping the adjustment screws so
protected that they cannot be tamper
ed with. Few violations of the cord
wood requirements are being report
ed. Mr. Jones also found that the city
scales on Fourth street were absolute
ly correct.
SCHUEBEL MAKES OFFER
Chest Weights for Soldiers to Develop
Muscle Offered Armory
This week when the Live Wires
were discussing plans to get an ap
propriation from the state for a real
armory in the county seat, and when
various citizens were suggesting ways
and means to help, the Honorable
Christian Schuebel showed that his
heart was in the right place, too.
'"I have a chest machine up
at the house," said Mr. Schuebel, "and
it is in fine condition. It cost
me a lot of money, too. I used to use
it to keep myself in trim, but late
ly I've been getting too lazy to exer
cise. It is a fine thing, however,
and I will gladly give it towards
the equipment of the new armory, so
that future soldiers can use it in
gymnastic exercises to build up their
bodies."
The mental picture of the local
company of guardsmen lining up one
at a time before the Honorable Chris
tian Schuebel's chest machine was too
much for the Live Wires, and some of
them were unkind enough to laugh.
BILL CARES FOR BILL
Sick Feline Moves Mr. Folger to Open
Temporary Sanitarium
Bill Folger, who dispenses pills,
paints, powder and other things at
the Jones Drug company, in the
county seat, is a kind and merciful
man. If you don't believe it, just ask
Bill about Bill.
Bill is a stray feline that wander
ed into the back door of Jones Wed'
nesday of this week and mewed pit
eously. Somebody heaved a bottle at
it, whereupon Bill Folger said that
was no way to treat a cat, even when
it was sick; and he promptly appro.
priated the forlorn mouser and felt
its pulse, looked at its tongue and
listened to its heart. Then Bill pre
scribed for the cat, disguised its med
icine in some sugar of milk and some
milk with sugar in it, and made it a
comfortable bed in a Peruna box in
the rear of the store.
At last account Mr. Folger report
ed that the cat was doing as well as
might be expected, and that he had
named it Bill, in honor of its physic,
ian.
farm; and to assist in transferring
the annual county fair to a more cen
tral location.
L
UTILIZATION OF WASTE 'AT
CANNERIES WOULD OPEN
PROFITABLE FIELD
UNCLE SAM GIVES WEST HINT
Economy and Sanitation would Both
Be Increased if Scheme Offered
Was Generally Adopted Here
Uncle Sam, in spite of the things
we say and think about him, is al
ways working for the betterment of
his nephews and nieces in these Unit
ed States, and perhaps no better il
lustration of this can be had than the
recently suggested plan , of the De
partment of Agriculture for the utili
zation of salmon scraps and waste
from fish canneries. The report em
bodying this suggestion says in part:
The general situation in the fer
tilizer industry of the country " has
again drawn attention to the waste
in possible fertilizer material in con
nection with the fish-canning opera
tions on the Pacific Coast. Fish
scrap has long been used as a source
of both nitrogen and bone phosphate
and on the Atlantic Coast an industry
of considerable proportions has de
veloped in the production of fish scrap
for fertilizer purposes.
In the salmon canning industry in
vestigation has shown that at least
30 per cent, on the average, of the
material as it comes to the factory is
discarded as unsuited for canning.
This includes heads, tails, fins, roe,
viscera. .This raw canning waste con
tains about the following percentages
of fertilizer ingredients: Ammonia,
3.67; bone phosphate, 3.46; and, in ad
dition, about 10.43 "per cent of fish
oil. ,
In 1913 approximately 6,700 cases
of salmon were packed in American
canneries. The waste products from
thin industry could have been made to
yield about 11,400 tons of fish scrap
and about 2,500,000 gallons of oil.
From the average cannery which pro
duces, say, 50,000 cases of canned sal
mon in a season, the output of dry
fish scrap might be at least 115 tons
and of oil about 19,000 gallon's. To a
great extent this material is now
wasted. In addition, there are other
sources of waste. Large quantities
of fish of other species are caught
along with the salmon and these are
frequently thrown away as worth
less, Occasionally, too, more salmon
are taken than can be handled by the
cannery and scowloads are sometimes
discarded.
The methods of handling the ma
terial that is now thrown away are
simple and ' well understood. In
other industries similar waste is first
cooked, then pressed, and finally dried,
preferably in a modern rotary drier.
If a reduction plant were operated as
a by-product plant of the cannery
proper, it might be practicable to use
the waste heat from the fires under
the factory boilers to operate the
drier.
Fish scrap, so prepared, is worth
about $40 a ton for fertilizer pur
poses. It may, however, be used as a
hog and poultry feed and as such will
bring a higher price. In recent years
a considerable market for the mater
ial for feeding purposes has been
built up on the Pacific Coast by can
neries which handle their waste in a
sanitary manner that prevents decom
position. This scrap is competing
successfully with meat scrap as a hog
and poultry feed. A lighter colored
salmon oil has also been obtained.
Salmon oil is classed as high-grade
fish oil, which brings ordinarily about
30 cents a gallon wholesale, but at
present is quoted at 47 cents, About
27 gallons, worth $8 to $12, can be
extracted from each ton of raw waste.
Despite these possbilities of profit,
under the present practice in most
canneries the waste material is allow
ed to pass through openings in the
floor directly into the water beneath
the cannery. As it is heavier than
water it sinks to the bottom or is
devoured by dog-fish which swarm
around some establishments. In
certain instances this practice pollutes
both the air and the water in the
neighborhood and frequently is as in
sanitary as it is wasteful.
Old Filters Stored
Filters and settling tanks, weigh
ing upwards of eighty tons apiece,
part of the equipment of the old water
works on lower Main street, were
moved on Wednesday to their new
quarters at Sixteenth and Main, where
they will be stored until the city is
able to dispose of them. The big
tanks were hauled over the streets on
special trucks with wide wheels; and
many citizens watched the process, re
marking that the great weight made
no effect on the Worswick" specifi
cations paving recently laid on the
city's chief business street. This is
the most severe test the new paving
has yet had. -
Did you know that the Courier is
$1.00 per year if paid in advance?
NEW INCIUSTFIIA
SUGGESTED
HARDING GRANGE MEETS
Many Matters of Interest Discussed
and Helpful Hints Given
The meeting of Harding Grange on
the 4th came near being one of the
old fashioned sort. There was a fair
attendance and something in the air
that made things go. The first de
grees were conferred on one and the
last on one and one visitor was pres
ent. Mrs. Freida Kirchem had pre
pared a good, short program and the
discussions were spirited. There was
a song by Lillian Anderson, accom
panied by Mrs. Neita Anderson;
trombone-piano selections by Mr. and
Mrs. A. L. Funk, and several read
ings. The case of the trombone used
by Mr. Funk bore the legend "O. A. C.
Cadet Band" and it is the instrument
that paid his way to the Panama-Pacific
fair.
H. W. Hagemann said that a drop
or two of carbon bisulphide injected
into the hole occupied by a tree borer
and then sealed up with soap will
stop damage from that source and
Mr. Bateson said that a sure prevent
ative is to tie paper around the trees
(Continued on Page 8)
LOCAL VETERANS
MEMBERS OF OLD F COMPANY
WILL WORK FOR PRESENT
ORGANIZATION HERE
SMOKER TO BE ONE FEATURE
Speeches by Old Boys, Drill and Dis
play of Tactics, and General Gay
Time for All is Promised
' Saturday night is going to be mili-
tafy night in the county seat. Things
are going to center about Armory
Hall, formerly known as Busch s
hall, and everybody is going' to be on
hand. The proceeds of the entertain
ment are going to be given to G.
Company, Oregon National Guard,'
and there is going to be a lot of en
thusiasm aroused for the local militia
men. !
The big feature of the evening is
going to be a reunion of the original
members of the old F Company, of the
Second Oregon. This company later
became a part of the Third Oregon,
and many of its members saw valiant
service in the Philippines. Part of
the reunion formalities will be taken
up with a roll call and drill, and the
former fighters expect to show that
they are just as clever and nimble at
the manual of arms as they were
when the company was known as the
second best in the entire state.
There will also be some speechify
ing not long winded affairs, but
crisp remarks, direct and to the point.
Preparedness will come in for its
share of discussion; and the men who
one time bore arms in the national
service will tell what they think of
the present local situation, and how
best to benefit conditions. Through
out the evening the keynote will be
one of strong boosting and endorse
ment of the Oregon City militia com
pany, and every penny that is taken
in will be turned over to G. Com
pany's fund.
Later in the evening, beginning at
half past nine, there will be boxing
and wrestling that will be of the high
est and most interesting order. Extra
large pipes and plenty of fine quali
ty tobacco will be furnished for mem
bers of the old Oregon City company
and their friend, and a perfectly good
time is pledged for all. It is hoped
that every member of all former nat
ional guard organizations in the city
will be present; and that everybody
.who comes will bring a friend or two,
so that the affair can be a rousing
one.
Charter members of the old F.
Company are as follows: Chas. E.
Athey, Chas. C. Babcock, Benj. F,
Burch, Jr., Frank Cross, Wm. F. Da
vidson, John W. Draper, Geo. C.
Fields, Michael H. Flanagan, J. Geo.
Fuchs, Jos. W. Ganong, 2nd Lieut.,
Alden B. Graham, Arthur Wm. Gra
ham, Jos. J. Green, John L. Green, S.
R. Green, Saml. R. Harrison, John C.
Hickman, Wm. Howell, Fielding S.
Kelly, M. F. McCowan, Lafayette
Myers, Fred C. Miller, John A. Moore,
John K. Morris, C. E. Murray, Jas.
W. O'Connell, Austin T. Olson, Fla
vius J. Painter, Chas. O. Peterson,
Clarence W. Porter, Thos. P. Randall,
Edward N. Rands, Ernest P. Rands,
Jerome E. Rhoades, Henry C. Salis
bury, Wm. H. Samson, Alex H.
Schram, Jas. P. Shaw, Captain, Dilus
E. Shepard, Wm. H. Stackpole, Henry
E. Stevens, John W. Stuart, John D.
Thomas, John J. Trembath, Edwin S.
Warren, 1st Lieut., George Warner,
Wm. P. Whitlock, Horace Williams,
Those who saw service as cap
tains of the Oregon City company
since and including the organization
of F Company, are as follows: James
P. Shaw, June, 1889; R. K. Warren,
April 1891; J. W. Ganong, 1892; F. L.
Kelly, April, 1895; F. A. Metzner,
Nov. 1898; Geo. W. Martin, 'eD,
1901; H. L. Kelly, May, 1902; F. A,
Loomis, Charles Hidy and L. E. Blan-
chard.
WAR TALK HEARD
IN OREGON CITY
THREATS TO DISBAND MILITIA
COMPANY CAUSE BIG
FLURRY ..
BIG MEETINGS FOR RECRUITS
Local Business Men Get Behind local
Company in an Effort to Pre
vent Federal Disband ment
War talk has been heard about the
streets of Oregon City this week.
War talk and lots of it, too. Not
altogether because the government
has actually invaded Mexico and sent
troops in pursuit of Villa, but also
because a loc&I situation has arisen
during the past few months which
came to a head early this week, and
demanded immediate intervention on
the part of Oregon City citizens. To
put the matter plainly, the local mi
litia company is about to be done
away with by Uncle Sam. '
Intervention came in the form of
several interesting bombardments of
oratory, by well known military men
of the community, and numerous
moves of strategy, diplomacy, flank
movements, or what you might call
it, by B. T. McBain and his commit
tee of ten members of the Live Wires
appointed a week ago, to devise ways
and means of securing greater effic
iency and more enlistments in the
local militia company, in a final effort
to keep the company from being mus
tered out of service by the federal
government. '
In spite of the efforts of local busi
ness men to arouse interest in the
organization, in its expiring moments,
results to date are not encouraging.
New blood must be obtained before
April 1st, for on that date the govern
ment will play a nice little April fool
joke on Oregon City, and disband our
local company. And with the muster
ing out of service will also go all fu
ture dreams of a new company to
say nothing of an armory. So much
for the situation.
Just why Uncle Samuel should so
threaten a struggling unit of his mili
tary scheme, has created much specu
lation. There are those of the wise
ones who whisper that the federal
officials have recently learned the dove
of peace is now roosting on the flag
pole above the council chambers.
This might explain their attitude in
the matter. If the municipal peace .
is permanent, the company should be
disbanded, say the wise ones, but if
only a temporary cessation,- their
judgment might be questioned, in
seeking to disband the militia. This
is one solution. Another is that in
terest in the company, due to lack of
proper drilling facilities, and a very
miserly financial support, has start
ed the toboggan, and the organiza
tion has been sliding down fast, and
gathering momentum on the journey.
This is the more popular view of the
situation, and the view which is read
ily accepted by all other than a few
evil-disposed persons who would
create the impression that the present
era of peace and good fellowship
among the local councilmen has been
responsible for the government's or
der to relieve the militiamen from fur
ther duty.
Monday evening a big rally was
held in the Commercial Club parlors.
The Moose band donated music, and
most willingly, too. Mr. B. T. Mc
Bain donated his time and character
istic energy, as chairman of the com
mittee of ten, and with several of his
fellow members, prepared a program
which should have been heard by
every man, woman and child in Ore
gon City. Hundreds of written invi
tations were sent out and persoal in
vites were given out by the score,
and while a large crowd assembled
at the foot of the stairs to hear the
open air concert, and the appeal of
the committee to pass on and enjoy
the evening, only a handful could De
persuaded to ascend. It seemed to
be the general impression that some
where in the dark recesses of the
Commercial Club parlors behind the
piano, perhaps or maybe down be
neath a billiard table -"conscription"
was lurking. Anyhow everything else
was present but the crowd.
Hon. J. U. Campbell fired the first
gun of the evening, and delivered one
of the finest impromptu speeches ever
heard in Oregon City. The judge
talked on the benefits derived from
military training physical and men
tal not as a visionary, but as a man
who has seen active military service
himself, and he quickly convinced his
hearers that he knew whereof he
spoke. He pleaded most fervently for
an awakened interest in the local or
ganization and closed his talk with a
patriotic entreaty which stirred his
audience to a depth of feeling rarely
evinced. ....... i ,
Following Judge Campbell were ad
dresses by Captain Tibbets, organizer
and commander of the machine gun
squad in one of the Portland High
schools, and Major McAlexander,
commander of the cadets at Corvallfs.
Both, in the course of their remarks,
pointed out the lack of defense on
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