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About Oregon City enterprise. (Oregon City, Or.) 1891-194? | View Entire Issue (June 10, 1921)
Page 5 Friends Pay Loving Tribute to Memory of George Clayton Brownell By W. W. Woodbeck OREGON CITY ENTERPRISE, FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1921. george Clayton brownell Born August 10, 1859. Rested from Earth's Labor May 29, 1921 "He is gone but his memory liveth. He is gone but his example is here. And the sweetness and fragrance it giveth Will linger through many a year." Those who have known. Mr. Brown ell, without a dissenting voice, join in paying . tributes to his ability as a lawyer, his sterling integrity and to those attributes that made him loved by. those with whom he came in daily contact . Judge J. U. Campbell. "I knew Mr. Brownell well. Have been closely associated with him since 1S93. Mr. Brownell possessed more lov able traits of character than any man I ever saw. As a public man h.:3 sympathies were always with the u.i iortunate. His heart was in constant rebellion against the inequality of the rules of society. He despised the con ventional and nearly always acted rn Impulse. His knowledge or intuition of the psychology of everts was al most vncanny. He loved children with the heart of a child- He ased to say that, "I love them clean or dirty iai pudent or well-behaved, well clothe.l or ragged ,in all their moods aid fancies, because they are the natur:J expression and true index to human ity." He never harbored hatred, had no desire for revenge. In his political' life no matter ho-v strenuous the fight might be it was never conducted ' with bitterness ou his part. He had a master mind be cause he never allowed t to be oc cupied my mean and small things. He was human and of course had his faults but it truly may be said of hii'i that, "Even his failings leaned to vi. tue's side." Gilbert L. Hedges. "I first made the acquaintance of Mr. George C- Brownell in 1S9P Sini'i that time. I have known mm o.uite in timately, and have probably tried more cases with him in court than h-.is any other attorney here. "During the eight years in which 1 served as prosecuting officer of the Fifth Judicial District, I was irequeci- Iv brought in contact with Mr. Brown ell in the court room. He defended most of the crimnal cases and during that length of time we were together in court on opposing sides in as many as one hundred and fifty cases. "Mr. Brownell was an eloquent sneaker and, when appealing to a jury fr.r ovmnathv. he was almost irresist ible. During the past two years, I have noted his failing healvTi and in the last few cases we tried to gether in court, he aid nor ai&iJiajr that same vigor and alertness, which was his at former trials. "He was always courteous and fair in matters in court and I always en joyed trying a case with him, for I knew fairness was. one of his chier characteristics. He always gave his clients in these trials the full benefit of his knowledge and eloquence, ana on several occasions, while listening to him plead before a jury, I have found some difficulty in rising to re ply, so masterful had been his presen tation of his side of the case" stant command. He not infrequently appealed to patriotism and was able to offer illustrations by his wide knowl edge of the development and history of America, and the lives tf great Americans. "His thoughs were not always clothed in perfect, or might I say classical, English, but he was able to make them to appear to emanate from a warm heart and sympathetic cr appreciative souL He reminded one in this respect of r- Dwight L. Moody, whom in this way, he ap proached but did not equal. "Each of us knows something of h's generosity, but none has more than a Fhadow of knowledge of his great ag gregate gifts which were almost limit, less within his ability to give. "Some will criticise him, but why ehould I? How can I properly judge him since I cannot look out from the center of his soul and perceive as he saw? Very possibly many things that I have done did not seem ri?ht as he viewed them. Lpt us number his virtues on enduring tablets, but write any criticisms on the sands, that to morrow they may be forgotten." E. J. Noble. "It is with regret that I did not know George C. Brownell more inti mately, but as my membership in the Clackamas County Bar Associtation has been brief, my professional inter caurge wih him was limited although in that short time I always found him courteous, considerate and obliging, and nt knowing him so well except as one knows any man in public life, I do not think that anything I might say will express the esteem in -which he was held by his felow men so well as was expressed by the abundance ol floral tributes and the 'great gathering of people who stopped their daily vo cation for a brief period to pay their last respects to the memory of their friend on Tuesday last, and these acts of sincerity speak better than words and best express the true feeling, al though coming too late to be appreci ated by the one upon whom they are bestowed." Gordon E. Hayes. "He sprang from the body of the common people and he was truly a representative American. During the term of eighteen years' service in the senate of this state in legislative mat ters he consulted the people's rights and much of the reform legislation that has been passed In this state was put into effect through his influence "As a lawyer he was learned, skill ful, tactful and fearless. "As an orator, he had equals in the state an no superiors "As a man he was possessed of a noble character and as a friend he was true and loyal." . ! ST x.- - J tV 1 s K 1 ' ' if K-f - . ' uons than is accorded most men. During the thirty years of his res idence in Clackamas county he has played a leading role in the life of the community. Serving three terms as state sena tor from Clackamas county he has awarded him, during shrd hrdlurdiu been the center of many a stormy po litical fray. Signal honor was awar ded him during his last term in the senate, when he was chosen presi dent of that body. He served one term as a member of the lower house having been elected to that office in 1916. A political honor that came to him in 1910. when he was chosen mayor of Oregon City in a contest that wiil be long remembered. He prized this as his greatest victory. His political career began in Kansas, when 25 years cf age, he was mayor of his home city. Later he was county at torney of the county in which he liv ed. When active in Kansas he made a stirring campaign for the prohibition ticket when St. John was the nominee of that party for president. He had Irttle patience with the dal lying tactics of his party in dealing with the liquor traffic and in 1914 planned to make a campaign for the office of governor with a prohibition plank in the platform. The condition of his health, the ne cessity of making a stade-wide ex pensive campaign and not wishing to call upon his friends or to involve him self in debt, led him to a decision to abandon the campaign. His home at Concord Station was his greatest pride. Several years ago he set out a tract .of 1 acres to holly. The severe winter of 1919 severely damaged the trees just at the time they were beginning to bring in a substantial revenue. This was one cf the little tragedies that caus ed him regret. He was a pioneer breeder of milk goats and was among the first to bring these animals to the county. ing tribute to the character of their associate. In part he said: "In his business dealings he was scrupulously honet. He seemed to delight in do ing generous deeds. Charles D; La tourette in .teulogizing' his memory, said: "I believe he used to lay awaks night, devising means to bring hap piness to some unfortunate." Other speakers were Grant B. Dini ick, Joseph E. Hedges, Livy Stipp, William M- Stone, Chris iSchuebel, William Hammond and Arthur G-Beattie. Friend of Roosevelt During the year of 1917 after we had entered into the World War. he corresponded regularly with Theo dore Koosevelt and exchanged letters at frequent intervals. He deeply re gretted that Roosevelt was not al lowed to go overseas. When Am brose Brownell enlisted and was ent to Prance, Mr. Roosevelt wrote him a letter of congratulation from Oyster Bay, in which he said: ''Good for your noble son. I am delighted to hear of his action. When you write him convey to him my best wishes." The letter is signed, "Faithfully your friend, Theodore Roosevelt." Touching Scenes ' There were several touching scenes at the funeral services at the Elks Temple, but none more pathetic than' an aged man from a remote part of the county, who paused when passing the casket and reaching out grasped the iifeless hands while tears stream ed down his furrowed cheeks. "As E. G Caufield. an orator with power to in- Arthur G. Beattie. "In my short two years acquaintan.-e with George C- Brownell I have found many things in him an inspiration to the younger members of the bar of Clackamas County. I have learned to admire him as a master orator, respect him as an able attorney, and cherish him as a worthy friend. Oscar D. Eby. "Some men use public position to exalt themselves among their fellow men, but not with Mr. Brownell, he only used as a tower of strength with which to - accomplish the things he had set out to do, and no man how ever poor, or low his station in life ever nassed his attention in friendship or business: this was the chief ele ment of his strength and greai popu lariti . "B7 his every day life he has builded a monument that will last long as the memory of man.' Upper George Clayton Brownell. Lower Left The Brownell home at Concord Station. Lower Right His fluence an audience and gain their (two pet dogs, the upper one Dr. Benjamin Franklin, (Doc), the lower one, Lord Roberts (Bob). These dogs met sympathy fbr his cause he has prob- Poisoning and died within an hour of each other. ably never had his equal in Oregon. His patriotism, his fidelity to his friends and his neverfailing supply of kindness and generoity to the poor and needy will cause his name to be long remembered and honored. I am glad to have been numbered among those whom he called his friends. Alberta L. Dunn. (County Treasurtr) His loyalty and keen personal in terest in his friends make hig loss to them a doubly severe one. William M- Stone. "In looking back over the years of my a-ssoqiation with Mr. Brownell, five years of which were in partner ship, my pleasantest recollections of the m&n were his unfailing good humor, his kindly nature, his hatred of sham and hypocrisy, and his won derful love for his fellow man." J. E. Hedges. "His power and much o' hig success were due to application of a keen per ception of the forces that impel men generally and his audience particular ly, and a boundless ambition to win. "He exercised his knowledge that people like to be flattered, and that a communication given in confidence Is a species of happy hidden flattery. Hence in nearly all conversation, spoke in confidential tone. And his attitude toward the listener while he spoke was one evidencing confidence. He recognized the power of prejudice, and used it to convince all of his hear- e-rs when all were influenced or im pelled alike; and did at times inject into an argument more than ou thought for the purpose of. convinc ing, when one hearer might be con vinced by one such thought, ana an other or others by a different thought - "He had read omnlvorously, and had much of the history of the world and Was Master Orator. As an orator George C- Brownell had few equals It was one of thK pleasures cf his life to speak, at pa triotic gatherings, and he pave freely of his time and talent. He was always in demand as an or ator at celebrations n honor of our Independence day. .fudges of the art or oratory believe that the supreme efforts cf his life m this line was made when he placed in nomination for the United States Sen ate, Joseph Simon, c. W. Pulton and John H. Mitchell. The address that will always be a part of the historical records of thu state was made when as president of the Oregon State Senate Ma7 22, 1903, be was chosen to deliver the address welcoming President Theodora Roose velt to Oregon. Senator Brownell was at his best and in the following well chosen words welcomed the President to the state: "Mr. President: In behalf of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon, we welcome you t;, this state. I know that I express the welcome of both houses of our Legislative Assem bly irrespective of political creed. We welcome you as President pnd Chief Executive of the greatest people anil greatest country jn the civilized world. We welcome you also because we be lieve you stand for the highest ideals or American citizenship. "We welcome you because we be lieve that in your personality you represent more sirongly than any other public character in America th.' pnergy, the pushing aDd progressive spirit of all Americans. "We welcome you became we be lieve that you repersent and stand for the high and legitimate claims of labor and capital to unite without repres sion from either in the upbuilding and development of the material resources of this Republic We weicome yon because we feel. Mr. President, that we can see in you that same spirit tbxi his been illus trated so m'J.ny time, by ur fathers in this, that whereever we go as a peop!e, whereever we stand we stand for the right and a higher civilization it shall stay put." "We welr.omp you because we be lieve that you stand for the idea that a Nation or a people can never stand still, that they must go forward anJ upward o relse the race will retro grade. "We welcome you because we be lieve that whatever pr.liJuins we as a people have to meet, whether they be in the coal fields of Pennsylvania, ir on the Pacific sea or in the Orient, that you will meet them as the Chi3f Magistrate of this country in a ppint of high liberal statesmanship, all th time-governoj with the idea that what is right for us to hr ve that we shall have- "And again, I assume the responsi bility here of welcoming you in be half of the Second Oregon Regiment of Volunteers vhe served M00 milos across the sea ir. the Philippine Is lands to uphold the same flag that was fo upheld by you and those unritv you on that Jjly day on San Juan hill." Cured of Using Notes In his earlier days Mr. Brownell. wrote his speeches in full, and depend ed on his notes, referring to them fre quently. An experience when deliver ing a Fourth of July oration shortly after his arrival in Oregon, completely cured him of the habit. He had gone to one of the country districts, and had placed his notes on tho table bo fore him. A sudden .gust of win I when the reader of the declaration of independence had nearly completed his part of the program. : arried hs notes to the four corners of the count 7. Spurred by the necessity of the occi sion, he rose when introduced with a feeling of goneness. He looked across to where the flags were flying and, ic spire(J by the faces of his audience, de livered an extemporaneous oration that wil rank as among his Dest ef forts. In speaking cf the experience he paid, "I have never since that time made use of notes. I took no more chances. There are hermit souls that live with drawn In the place of their self-content; There are souls like stars, that dweil apart, In a fellowless firmament; There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths Where highways never ran But let me live by the side of .the road k And be a friend to man. Let me live in a house by the side cf the road Where the race of men go by The men who are. good an the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I. I would not sit In the scorner's seat Or hurl the cynic's ban Let me live in a house by the Side of the road And be a friend to man. I see from my house by the side of the road, By the side of the highway of life The men who press with the ardor of hope, The men who are faint with the strife; But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears, Both parts of an infinite plan Of Deeply Religious Nature George C. Brownell was of a deeply religious nature. For creeds and conventionalities he cared little, but was moved by the deeper things that moved men's souls. Mr. Brownell would have made a great evangelist. His power to move men was such that he would have ranked with Moody had he given his great talent to this line of endeavor. Two days before his death when l-.e realized the end was approaching, he was visited by his son Ambrose, auu in voice faint from the exertions of the day, he said : "I have fought so hard, but I know the end is near. I shall breathe my last prayer and when you come again I will not be here." Loved His Dogs Mr. Browueu was a great lover cf dogs. Since the death of Bob and Doc, the two dogs in the pictdre, his pet has been Peter, a fox terrior. Two days before Mn Brownell passed away Peter was taken to the hospital to vis it his master. He recognized Peter and petted him for a few minutes. Asked afterward if he knew Peter had been to see him, he answered, "Of course I knew Peter was here, shall never forget him." Funeral Services i!.very business house in this city closed Tuesday afternoon during the nour of the funeral. Judge J. V Campbell dsinissed the circuit court jury at noon. The courthouse flag floated at half mast. Elks temple, where the service was held, was filled to overflowing. Men and women from every walk of life an,j from all parts of the county gath ered to say a last farewell to a loy al friend. The services were simple but Im pressive, conforming to the wishees of the deceased. The floral tributes were profuse, being from the different organizations with which ho had bee connected, as well as .from friends. Judge Henry McGinn close person al friend since the arrival of Brown ell in Oregon, paid eloquent tribute to the memory of his friend, to tho generous qualities and the deeds that had bound his friends so close dur ing his active life. The Rev. Melville T. Wire read the ninetieth Psalm and the fifteenth chapter of the First Corinthians; Mrs. E. E. Brodie sang, "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." The concluding services were held for the family at the Portland crema torium ,the Rev. E. H. Penee, of Port land, officiating. v The pall bearers were, with one ex ception, of the Clackamas county bar, being Grant B Dimick, Chri.o Schue- bel, William M Stone- Oscar D. Eby? Livy Stipp and B. Thompson. Mem bers of the Clackamas County Bar as sociation attended in a body. Bsr Association Holds Meeting The members of the Clackamas County Bar association met at the court house Friday morning at 9 o'clock to take official recognition of his death. Judge J. U. Campbell was called to preside. O. D. Eby, Gilbert L. Hedges and Charles D. Latourette were appointed a committee on reso lutions. Charles D. Latourette pro nounced the eulogy and paid a glow- His Family Mr. Brownell is survived by his wi dow and two adopted sons, Ambroso. residing at the home at Concord Sta tion, and Howard M., an attorney of Eugene, Oregon; a sister Miss Flor ence Brownell resides in Portland. Mr. Brownell's generosity made it impossible to accumulate a fortune but he has left that larger heritage, a richness not measured in' dollars. Elks Eulogize At the regular meeting of the Elks lodge Tuesday evening, Judge J. U. Campbell paid an eloquent tribute to his departed friend, to whom he feels he owe3 much of the success to which he has attained. Held Progressive Ideas Judge Campbell states that Mr. Brownell was responsible for the ad option of the initiative and referen dum and through his action in the sen ate made it possible for its adoption at a time, when had he taken other action it would have been delayed for years. Valued Friends It has been the privi'ege of the writer to meet and - know Mr Brown ell during the past five yeais. In that time I have learned to prize those traits of character emphasized by Ui3 friends. Many times, we have drop ped into his office for a brief chat aad never left without having a hap- .pier feeling than when I entered. Ha gave o? his great hearc to his friend3 and no one spent five minutes in his company that he did nt receive something worth while A kindly, courteous gentleman one who loved his brother man, has gone. We shall miss the hearty hand-clasp. We ..-ill delight in remembering him as when here If it be true that the spirits of those whom we love and who leved us are ever near in time of .stress and tiouiJe. then I know tha' the s; m V.-..OC of George C. B.vwnoll will sometimes speak to those he loves oTiiug, as a bene j'otion as Ti breath es the words, "Be brave! Be brave.' . Was Friend of Soldiers Mr. Brownell wanted to heln the boys, who saw service in the World Let nie live in a house by the side cf .War, in securing the passage of the the road (soldier's bonus bill. He had planned Ana oe a mena io man. to make several speeches In the coun ty favoring the bill. He had made a I know there are brooic-gladdened . draft of a portion of the address he meadows ahead, jhad nlanned to make. In the address And mountains of wearisome height ihe proposed to show that the soldiers That the road passes on through the) of th American Revolution had fat long afternoon the close of the war receive back One of Mr. Brownell's favorite poems often heard in his public addresses. In thinking of Washington's love for his fellow men, of the sprit of brother hood that dominated his life end left It's impression upon the hearts and lives of those with whom he came it. And stretches away to the night, And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,' And weep with strangers that moan Nor live In my house by the side of the road Like a man who dwells alone. Let me live in my house by the side of the -road, It's here the race of men go by They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong, Wise, foolish so am I. Then why should I sit hi the sconer s : seat. Or hurl the cynic's' ban? l.iet me live In my house by the sldo of the road, r n - - 11 11 rn 1 ' ----- pay and a bonus of one-half pay for the following seven years. One note reads "Speak of the fortunes that nearly all business men have made through the war." Another notation, "Di'av.- a picture of the Republic as it stood when it was founded and its present status. A i.iure ni the boys leavng Oregon City. to go to the Spanlsn American War. and the ?"orld War. When the words came, announcing the passing of George Clayton Brown ell, a feeling of deep sorrow touch ed every heart, and a silent prayer was wafted heavenward for the re pose of the soul of the statesman, law yer and loving friend, who had laid New Price Set By Ford Motor Co. DETROIT, Mich.. June 7. The Ford Motor compan3' today announced an other reduction in the list price of all types of Ford cars' and the . Ford trucks to take effect immediately. The list prices, f. o. b. Detroit, now are as follows: Touring car, $415; runabout. $370; coupe, $69o; sedan. $760; chassis, $345- and truck chassis $195. A statement accompanying the re ductions says: "The big reductions last fall werc mado in anticipation of . low material costs which we are now getting the benefit of, and this fact, together with increased manufacturing efficiency, and the unprecedented ' demand tor Ford -cars, probably during the last three months permitting maximum production, have made possible an other reduction immediately." Wages of Ford workmen will not be reduced the statement says. PORTLAND MAN IS ROBBED SPOKAXE. Wash., June 4. W. A. Boyle, 22, who started frm Portland recently for Chicago in his touring car, arrived here today minus his car, camp equipment, provisions, money and part of his clothing', as the result he told the police, of two encounters with men whom he Invited to ride with him A man to whom he gave a 'lift" shortly after leaving Portland, Boyle said, held him up with a gun and took part of his clothing, his money. extra tires, part of his camping out fit and his provisions. When he reach ed Washtucna, Wash., he picked P three other men. he said, and when nearly to Spokane he allowed them to take his car for a short side trip. Woolworth Store Says It Pays to Advertise The Woolworth 5, 10 and 15 cent store of this city, has found that It pays to advertise in the Morning En terprise. This was proven by ad vertisements appearing announceing a recent sale, which was In charge of Miss Ella Cross, head clerk, who was given the privilege of conducting the sale under the local managers. B. Landis, made a record tor the store, when it was awarded the first prize in the contest with other stores of the company competing in the fifth class. As a prize Miss Cross was given a week's salary. The business had increased 100 per cent of that cf last year. "I can .truthfully say that our bus iness came largely through the ad vertising we carried in the Morning Enterprise" said Miss Cross when telling of her luck. She selected her goods to be placed on sale and well arranged them to attract much attention to the many patrons during the sale. Miss Cross has been with the com pany for over four years and is one of the most obliging and competent young women iriSts-emplbj . THOMAS JONES Thomas Jones, well known resident of Beaver Creek, died at his home, Fri day night, at the age of 79 years. Mr. Jones, who was a widower, has been making his home with his son, Charlie Jones, a "bachelor of Beaver Creek, and had been 111 for some time before his death. He was a native of Wales and had resided m the Beav er Creek country for many years. The remains are at the Holman Pace undertaking parlcrs and funeral services will be held from the Beaver Creek Welsh church Sunday morning at 2 o'clock, with Rev. Griffith, of fl" " f i. . r " in" r Lit-mm i .1.