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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1944)
PAGS TWELVE ,.'.". - r . - 5 ?1 . . - - "", v. V .4 :.S 6n. Charles L. McNary cultivated more than friend for his party, state and nation. The summer re turn to his Orecon home meant for him inspection of his gardens as well as of his constituency. Short of help at his country residence, he described himself as Mrardenern there upon one of - his wartime fl mfln r hie mkm Life of Oregon S.enator Is Modern History of National Legislation " . Charles L. McNary so thor oughly enjoyed the senate, where as republican minority leader he cften held a check reign on "the New Deal," that he accepted in reluctance his party's, nomination . for the vice presidency in 1940. If his subsequent defeat for that office brought him personal re gret, he did not voice it. And there were many who believed that the tall, polished Oregonian was happy to stay in the senate as a member rather than as its presiding officer. His key position on the floor gave him an influ ence not .always wielded by a vice-president. On .the humid June day that Wendell L. Willkie, newly chosen republican presidential nominee, cent word to Washington that Mc Nary was his personal choice for his running mate, McNary de murred. Friends and republican . leaders, however, .finally prevail ed upon him to accept. As he j 'n:. 1 uuuuta wujuigness, ne saia, 1 u ' b a good soldier." MEETS ' RUNNING MATE - "Charley Mac" did ' hot; meet . Willkie until two weeks later, when the Dresidential candidate flew to Washington ' for a cam- paign conference. - The two men r complemented each other on the ticket-Willkie a product of the midwest and east, McNary a na- - tiv of the far west: Willkie a lawyer and businessman. McNanr . lawyer and farmer; Willkie -a former public utilities executive, McNary a supporter of such vast public power projects as Bonne ville dam; Willkie an advocate of the reciprocal trade principle, Mc Nary a foeAf the New Deal's trade , pacts. In joining the 1940 republican national ticket, he made it clear that he would let .Willkie "carry the ball and set the pace'!, of. the campaign. , The senator,- held Jn Washington by continuance of congress after the fall of France, made only a half dozens-campaign speeches. Most of them related to farm aid, the subject nearest his heart in legislation. : r - 'He came home to Salem for fflcial notification or his nom ination, and thousands of fellow : OregonJans . gathered , here for the occasion. - -.. The" Roosevelt : administration. ' found agriculture "ill of a .func tional disorder and made the dis order chronic." A republican "gov ernment, he promised,' would not use farmers as ' "Guinea pigs for experiments, toward .the perfect re sim en ted state." The republican ticket carried only ; : 10 states ; against '33 . for Franklin D. Roosevelt and Henry A. Wallace but it left McNary'a eenate service uninterrupted.' His term in that body did not happen to expire at that timer " ' f - - r At the time of his death he was terving still another term, which V'culd have ended in 1943. Ce cf his greatest victories was f 3 Euccr Jul strategy he map ' : i lor tl.e rcirablicana i UUing N J! y ; v ' w i , 4 j the democrats mobilize the oppo sition that defeated the supreme court reorganization plan of President Roosevelt. As assistant republican leader under Herbert Hoover, he laid the groundwork that brought him into eommandership of his party in the senate and ulti mately achieved a popularity . that : ranked him high among prospects for the presidential nomination in 1936, which went to All Landon. Launched in the senate in the waryear of 1917 by appointment from Oregon, McNary won na tional attention in 1927 as co author of the McNary-Haugen farm relief bill. Later he played a major part in the successful en actment of legislation which pro vided for the $70,000,000 Bonne ville dam power, navigation and flood control project. ' More liberal than conservative but highly' respected by both fac tions in his party, he was regard ed as one of the senate's most able parliamentarians, a great concil iator, a political diagnostician of ability, a well-groomed and well Uked member who chalked up re sults more by cloakroom negotia tion than by floor oratory. NOT SPEECH-MAKER Rarely , did this tall son of pio neer 'Oregon parents make a speech except to unravel a parlia mentary tangle or help out some colleague in distress -with the op position." But he gained fame for his knack of extricating the . sen ate' from jams. Others were given credit for many things which "Charley' 1 McNary, ; as friends called him, accomplished unher alded. ; r - ... - Born on a farm near Salem June 12, 1874, McNary attended Salem public schools, studied law under the" guidance of his elder broth er, John, attended Stanford ' uni versity and Willamette university college of law. He became deputy county recorder, became deputy district attorney when his brother John filled the office in 1906 and in ' 1908 became in ; addition the dean of Willamette university law school, where he served until he was . appointed : to he state su preme court in 1913. . Lacking one needed vote, for reelection hi 1914, he was ae--eustemed to saying that the de feat put htm into politics. He . thus : became : eligible for ap pointment to the US senate in 1J17, and the voters of the state never again failed '' to support him. When he first went to the sen ate he filled the vacancy filled by the death of Harry Lane. Both he and F. W. Mulkey were "elected" according to the record when bal lots were cast for the position at the November, 1918, elections,' but Mulkey did not attempt to qualify. Coming into national promi nence in 1S27 with co-authorship of the McNary-Hausen bill, the uregon , senator snowed an un- Casing interest in agricultural ( Tha Sit . fV'w -A ' t' .fc yF-V I i! 1 i. legislation despite President Cool idge's veto of the first plan. He inherited the' senate repub lican leadership in March, 1933, from James E. Watson of Indiana, who skidded into defeat with President Hoover in 1932. Watson left him a sharply-reduced mi nority. Two years later the new deal forces cut republican mem bership to 25, the smallest in his tory. ADVISES LIBERALITY i Convinced then that the repub licans were paralyzed politically unless they assumed more liberal attitudes McNary counseled the party to "quit its abstractions and alarms and get down to the level of human sympathy and under standing. i He worked on this theory in the senate in the first and, second Roosevelt congresses, voting for nearly all of the president's emer gency measures and long-range social programs, Including NRA, TV A, AAA and social security acts.' .". ; But the supreme court-reorgan ization issue of 1937 saw : him break cleanly with Roosevetl and he also opposed the "wage and hours bill and the senate's version of the farm program, asserting the farm measure . promoted scarcity rather than abundance and dealt with too few crops. He voted for the soldier's bonus. ... -" McNary-married Jessie: Brey man of Salem in 1902, the daugh ter of a pioneer Salem family. She was a sister of Mrs. R. P. Boise and Mrs. Frank: Snedecor of Sa lem. She was. killed in an auto mobile - accident near Salem - in 1918. ;-r.i y In December, 1923,' he married Cornelia W. Morton, Chicago and Washington, DC. She survives, as does . an adopted daughter, Char lotte, two sisters, Mrs. Ella Mc Nary Stolz of Salem, and Mrs. Mary E. . Bruce, Portland. - Mrs. Willard Marshall ' and Richard Stolz of Salem are niece and nephew. " The McNary home Is Fircone, situated six miles from Salem on land which ho once tilled as a boy, Oa It magnificent firs are . reflected la deep pools interlac ed with a stream fed by an ice cold spring. FCbert and prune orchards surround a tennis court and a golf putting course. Possessed of an engaging smile, quiet wit and calm judgment. Sen. McNary was i well fitted for the legal career he sought after a boyhood of hard work. ' r He was born . on the donation land claim of his grandfather, William Oaggett. which, he later repurchased Fircone, the re treat to which he planned to re tire. ; y-'Z ' ;j : ' Upon leaving high school he thought of law and studied a few years at Stanford. Although he never was graduated, he applied himself so diligently that in 18S3 he passed the Oregon bar exami nation with Eying colors. , , OniGGN CTATECMAXL Sedan, J ... jf'Vj. , - Uvrt.- . 1 r 1 ySfjLv To the United States he was senate bring- order out of argument. - man, one accompanied oa his Journeys by his wife and their adopted -daughter, Charlotte. Here, the left, shaking binds with, the senator's sister,' Mrs. Walter T. Stols. Worried by her brother's illness, Mrs. Stols visited him la Florida for two weeks this month, returning to Salem only Thursday. " r Li! j , tL' e .-: .lUHbi Talking- agriculture," problems of employment, hope for the future. Sen. Charles L. McNary was in a characteristic, pose when a States man reporter-photographer interviewed him at Fircone. So typical of the senate1 leader was the picture that by Statesman editorial staff and readers, alike It had. become the -favorite in a collection of many nhotorranhs of the yesterday when announcement was reported from Washington, figure,' the gentleman farmer who trees, the friend of many a i Willamette valley resident. AIDED LAW STUDENTS Years later those ' memories of a poor boyhood surged back upon him as he watched struggling young men at Willamette univer sity, and it was not infrequent that some bewildered youth awoke to find himself blessed with a sum of money and a note: "Pay me back if you can after you set to practicing and can spare it." One of his early political ex ploits which stand out in Oregon history was his management of the Oregon campaign for Charles Evans Hughes for president in 1916. Oregon was the only west coast state which did not go into the Wilson column. Yet in 1919 he favored ; the general idea of the League of Nations and was reckoned one of the "mile reser vationgsts" among the postwar senators.",:, -'-i'-J In his Hirst , year in the senate he started championing the. cause of the - farmer. He was credited later with, establishing the pri mary wheat market, whieh" saved $7,000,000 for northwest farmers, and he played an important part In legislation permitting the war finance ; corporation to advance funds to agriculture. Another agricultural aid In which he figured was the estab lishment of a system of weather, market and crops broadcasts for farmers. He figured in-passage of the intermediate credit, act, -the establishment of protective tar iffs for farm products and strong ly opposed the Roosevelt admin istration's inclusion of lumber in a reciprocal trade agreement with Canada. - , - . - Fishermen remembered him as the author of a resolution which led to a treaty with Canada for the protection of the west, coast salmon Industry.- ;i S-''vr'? 7 In the latter days of Oie iHoo ver 'administration, - when the president was having rough sled ding because of recalcitrant inde pendents , manipulating a . balance of jpower, : harmony . was sought with the suggestion that McNary become senate leader and Watson president -f pror tempore. McNary was highly popular with both regulars and independents and by the ; switch . the strategists hoped to eliminate George Moses of New Hampshire as president pro tempore and : reduce the feeling generated by Moses characteriza tion of the. western independents as "sons of the wild packass."' Hoover was understood to have thought McNary a shade too liber al and while the Oregonian. failed then to win the post, it was, not Ions before the Roosevelt land. slide of " 1S32 cleared the way fr his ascendancy. ' - , ..." , . Or 90a. Zttim&aj Morning. February 3. 1214 -4 V V V,,:; J minority leader, a man who could Salem, -knew him, too,, as a family photographer caught Mrs. McNary, state's favorite son. Last used onlv if his reelection as minority leader - the picture b that of the national liked to prune his own' orchard's Oregorians o e o GEORGE NEUNER, Attorney General It was with profound regret and deep sorrow that I Just learned of the death of Senator Charles L. McNary. I have - lost one of nty best friends, my former ; Instructor and adviser. The, state of Oregon has suffered an irreparable loss and the nation one of its best, ablest and - most influential statesman.' NEIL ALLEN, Grants Pass, . chairman of the state republi can central committee It is a tremendous shock to the people' of Oregon. , Even though the people were partly prepared for It, they had hoped and sprayed It wouldn't happen. Senator McNary performed ? magnificent service to the state and nation during, his service fat the sen ate, which began In 4 J 17. He brought prestige - to his native state through Jus. service as sea ate republican leader. His honesty- of purpose -and sagacity, were outstanding. .- . . ' . ' WALTER M. PIERCE, former governor:-and representative in epngress from the -eastern Ore gon, district The passing of -. Senator 'McNary Is sad Indeed.: It fa a loss not only to the state of Oregon but also to the nations and democracies of the world. Ho was fundamentally " libera and a -believer fat oar form of government. IDs long and con tinuoas service gave him a po sition of power and inflaepce. . Hia personal characteristlea' woa - Jaim the affection and coopcra- tion of his associates. ' ; " -: . , i- . hxyy f, ,-; - ' V.-.' '' - CIRCUIT : JUDGE E. M. PAGE,: who had ,his first pro fessional experience in the , of-? f ices of Charles L. McNary .and m who became an associate with McNary in the practice of law rm shocked and deeply grieved by the senator's death. For near ly 35 years I - have been ; Inti mately associated with him aad feel a great personal loss. The nation has lost a most wise and competent leadsf while the pee-' pie of Oregon have lost thler most outstanding legislator and a sincere and helpful friend. In times like these the country can . CI afford to lose men with the breadth of vision, foresight and integrity of Sen. KcNary. o o - -PAUL Ji. WALLACE, Salert M: y I When' they tSrrole up" Oregon's - Alsop and Robert Klntner told c - ue whic (nci . iua Ken DCHcr wan mvuuoc era in ui wvno. udc m uk area cunn vi rir--'Cone, the country . home on Salem's North River Road. Is 'the abundance of fine, old trees. Here, too, ' is the stone fireplace where the country-born and country -bred senator was accustomed to keeping a kettle of molasses-browned beans bubbling for callers In the hospitable households .. .. -. .' - ';- ..-if -v-::: ; . ' ft-, i. .St. . 'I , ! . ' " '.- - - -. :,; r 'yyzuyx ' - ' t ...;l,'-r- . ' ' - v. ...... :.-V. ..4; . . ilrtrt-'ii The republican presidential candidate la. 1949 and his running mate met first la Washington two weeks after they had been nominated, and this picture was taken then. But Salem saw Wendell Willkie and McNary together one hot day late la the summer of thai year when the man who sought the presi dency flew west. ; f business, and civic leader and member of Willamette university board of trustees Fve been a warm personal friend of Sen. McNary for 40 years and feel a -keen personal loos. - - -.- . SEN. ANGUS GIBSON, who represents district No. 4 (Lane Linn counties) In the state leg islature It's a great loss to the party, and to the state of Oregon. . WALTER E. KEYES, Salem attorney who entered the" offices established by the McNary brothers after the younger had entered the -US senate This Is -a -very severe shock and a re grettable matter, and, of coarse, a tremeadoas loss to the state. Sen McNary Was 'Fried' Farmers Say ' ---"Agriculture's , best in me. sen ate" was the expression most oft en .used by Farmers Union mem bers -at the -stale convention which was in its closing hours as the an nouncement of the death of Sena tor Charles L. McNary was made by Harley Libby, -vice president. Members stood in silent tribute following the announcement made during, a break in the debate over resolutions. '. .5 - Ammon Grice, reelected presi- dent of the state organization, told a -reporter, Agricultural -interests have lost one of the -best leaders Oregon or the nation -ever. had."?.. - Dean H. -Walker,- Oregon state senator for the ninth district rep resenting Benton and Polk coun ties, said "I am one of. a host of persons who will feel a great per sonal loss and in addition I be lieve it is a tremendous loss to the state and the nation, for In my opinion the United States sen ate is now the most important legislative body In the world and Senator .McNary was one of the most important members of that body." Ronald Jones, former state sen ator from Marion county, "Oregon and agriculture has lost, a real friend and competent member of the United States senate, hope that in replacing him, these facts will be taken into'consideration." Peter Zimmerman, "Senator McNary's death was a rreat shock to me, he wss the- preatest legis lative leader sricuiture has had ArV;. r...t-V -CJharies -iJnxa' BleNary for the Saturday Evening Post in 1949, Joseph 'the world hat lohgtlnje resldents.of Salem ' already knew that "on t' :'yyf Z. -- f U' - - ' y yM&s Capital City Mourns Death Of Famous Native Son Flags at the capitol of the state he . had served for many . years went 1 to half mast Friday when word , was received in Salem of the death of Sen. Charles L. Mc Nary. . . Residents of ; the' city and the vicinity, lifelong home of the na tional leader, expressed shock, and grief at the message from Florida, where McNary had been believed recuperating- satisfactorily follow ing an operation for. removal of a brain tumor. Although 4 a - member , of - the United : States senate - for many years which necessitated that he spend most of his time in Wash ington, McNary . was an occasional visitor at his country home, north of Salem on the River road. Dur ing, these vacations in Oregon he found time to participate in- local affairs as well-as handle, much of his -official business. ; -kt-- ' -.: - On his visit here -last summer McNary i appeared in -.good health but it was-m' secret among his close friends and relatives .that he curtailed materially his official conferences, and declined many in vitations to speak in various sec tions of the state. Considerable of his time was spent 'inspecting war plants both in Oregon and at some bother points on he PatKic .coast Urjon aU of hts-visits to Jregon, McNary rnamtained offices here, sharing - those of his - former law associates, Keyes and Page. ' ! McNary particularly was .inter ested in the problems of the Ore gon farmer and was a ' member of the -community , grange where his country horn e was located. Twice during: his last visit to Sa lem he was- honored 4 by 1 this grange. lie also was active in Sa lem fraternal - affairs . and ' once served as exalted ruler of the Sa lem Elks lodse. - ' " ' - , Relatives of McNary were too and I know of no one who can fill hii-shoes. I hope his successor will be truly conscious of our nation's needs ; t . - Wendell E. Earnett, president cf the I.Tarion county Fanners Un ion, "Ore-on citizens will feel the Icrs cf C-nator X.TcITary. As a c on er:! n;? hs bached our rrccran cf puhllc cv-r.ers.h:p." "4 stunned to make any statement Friday night."' --y T. Stolz, his sister here, had returned only Thursday J liCiu iorida. where she . had spent two weeks with the senator. Willard Marshall Mrs. Stolz's son-in-law, told friends upon his return nere that 'during the first week of their visit McNary had seemed improving rapidly, that he naa appeared weaxer aunng me latter part of the fortnight's stay. It had ejeen generally under stood by them and by friends here that he probably would re sume his-duties In the senate with in a few weeks and that his re election as minority leader only Thursday -was not merely a tri bute but was in expectation of his return. . ; f-' .r- , Although nothing definite had been heard from Florida concern ing funeral services, relatives In dicated the body probably would be brought 'to Salem. Oregon SIustEIect Two Senators, Now . Naming a successor to Senator Charles lZ McNary. who died In Earl Snell. He Would serve only until the general election in' No-v yember of this year. ; ' At the the next election, a sena tor wouia serve iour years, or for the unexpired term. . ' - As a result of this Oregon win elect two senators at the Novem ber election. -The term of Rufus C;IIoIman expires this year Boy.Rearcd in ! Large Family Tenth; child in the family of Hugh Linza McNary and I.Iarga ret Clar-ett McNarv. Charles McNary was an orphan st the as cf nine. Allhcv h hia Gr?-J'i'hiF Cla ctt tecarr.3 his T-ardlan, he was rearel by i. 3 five r.'.itrs, who had the cdvice - sr. I I -' a cf hia f;ur trcllirs.
