f Thm Statesman, Scdem, Oro
"No Favor Sways Vs. No Fear Shall Awe
From First . Statesman, March 28, 1151
THE STATESMAN PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHARLES A. SPRAGUE, Editor and Publisher
Member of the Associated Press
The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled U the ns for oabll cation
f all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
news paper.
"Sage of Salem"
One whom we used to call with mingled praise and affec
tion "Sage of Salem" David H. Talmadge came to the end
of life's journey Wednesday. About seven years ago cataracts
drew curtains over his eyes, but not over his mind, and forced
him to suspend his writing. He will be recalled though as a
regular contributor of a column to The Statesman and prior to
that to the Oregonian. Many will remember his delightful style,
" his gentle whimsy, his homely philosophy.
Here indeed was one of the "old school" of newspaper
workers. He was born at West Union, Iowa, and learned the
printer's trade in a country shop. Like many printers he was a
"traveler'' and made his way to the east coast, working in.
Providence. R. I. and other cities. Also like many other printers,
Benj. Fianklin for instance, he took to writing at which he
developed much skill, selling fiction pieces to many papers,
and doing other literary work.
Salem became hi home and he became a familiar figure
on our streets. Tall and thin, indifferent as to his clothes, wear
ing a battered hat and a long muffler, he was everywhere
greeted affectionately. For through luminous eyes and ex
pressive, well-wrinkled features a real soul shone. Gentle, self
effacing, with a rare sense of humor he watched the passing
show with detachment but gleaned from it fresh material for
his writings.
As the lights grew dimmer and weariness of the flesh in
creased he sat out the evening watch patiently; and a call
would always bring a spark of his old spirit. The writer visited
him Tuesday afternoon and found him very ill. He could not
talk to be understood but the-flash of his old smile illumined
his face. Such a visit could not be long, so we said, "Goodbye,
Dave." His reply was quite distinct: "Goodbye."
So it was "Goodbye" to a writer of talent, a man with
kindly spirit, and a happy companion in the business of living
and working.
On Men's ShirU
How iong will the sports-shirt rash last?
This question is bothering manufacturers and haberdashers.
Before the war the male of the species began to get some
satisfaction in decking himself out in unconventional plumage
sport nhirts and slacks for his moments of relaxation. The
war put even the venerable clubman in a sports shirt of giddy
color and llowing design. When dress shirts became an under-the-contter
item or a "save-one-for-me-Harry" appeal windows
of men's clothing stores blossomed out in sports shirts of varied
makes and materials, priced without benefit of OPA.
The war is over now and dress shirts are coming back,
though slowly. The style committee of the trade (clothing re
tailers fctociation) decrees that the sports shirt craze has gone
far enough; but will they succeed in getting the emancipated
male back in white shirts with stiff collars?
It is recalled that after the first world war. when starched,
detached collars were scarce, men persisted in wearing soft
shirts with attached collars and cuffs. Will they now cling to
the even .looser and sloppier sports garments?
Gone of course, save in -cities like New Yprk and&m. Fran
cisco, are well-dressed gentlemen the ones with boiled shirt
fronts. Miff collars, frock coats, striped pants and stiff hats. The.'
ascot tie ?hews up only on the stage. We are more inclined to
blame the automobile than World War I or II for the decadence,
if one wants to call it that. It just wasn't agreeable to have to
change a tire while wearing a stiff collar and detachable cuffs,
on a hot day on a dusty road.
However we incline to agree with the spokesmen for the
trade: the s-ports shirts should be confined to the country club
or the rumpus room. Give us back our white shirts (at pre-war
prices) and men will be happy. Besides, how otherwise can we
identify "white-collar workers' though long ago they went to
modest color??
. Reader Preference
A whole lot oC money is spent by newspapers to determine
reader preferences. Like other surveys the value is in indicating
trends of reader interests. Perhaps the widest survey in the i
newspaper field is that recently completed by the Advertising
Research foundation, covering a seven years' study of news
paper leading.
The survey shows that men favor front page national and
international news while women prefer local stories. No one
who has watched the reading habits of men and women will
deny this fact. Women still let the men do most of the chore
of running the world while they look after their families and
matters of local housekeeping.
Here is the summary of the study as reported by the Asso
ciated Pi ess:
Of 13.364 general news stories in the newspapers surveyed,
476 had a male reodership of 50 per cent or better and 340 had
a similar rating among women. On the men's list 81 per cent
were national or worlS news; only 27 per cent of the stories
ranked hih by wdftten were of this type.
Picture pages ani outstanding news photos have consistent
ly diawn the highest readership, the report showed, with three
cdtejnries of pictures human interest, crime and national de
fense competing equally for top attention of all readers.
Ranked by the sexes as the most popular continuing editorial
featuie. the summary showed, were: ,
Men editorial cartoons, oddities panels, comics, the weath
er, aori local sports columnists.
Women humor panels with gag-lines, editorial cartoons,
deaths, comics, humor panels with balloons, oddities panels, and
the weather.
In oKtnparison of pre-war, wartime and postwar reading
habit , the study -disclosed that although readership of editorials
had declined from its wartime level, it remained well above the
pre-wat position.
New Chairman of ICC
Clyde B. Aitchison, new chairman of the interstate com
merce commission, is a former Oregonian. In fact he retains his
legal residence in Portland. A native of Iowa, he came to Oregon
in 1903 after having practicad law for a time at Council Bluffs.
He-servt-l as secretary to a commission to revise tax and revenue
laws in the state in 1905-6. (They were working at that job 40
years ago as well as now). He is best remembered here however
as member and twice chairman of the old state railroad com
mission and its successor the public service commission from
1907 to 1916.
Appointed by President Wilson in 1917 to the interstate
commerce commission he has served for nearly 30 years on that
important national body. Mr. Aitchison makes occasional visits
to Oregon and retains membership in the Portland Mazamas.
Oregon e pleased at this new honor which comes to one of its
citizens who has distinguished himself for faithful service on
a very important public body.
Harold Stassen is frank about his ambitions. He is a candi
date for president and not dodging reporters. He does not strike
js jo?e a nd say the nomination must seek him; nor does he deny
his purpolvKue hlsHiutrunners are trying to herd delegations
in his support. Latest polls put him next to Governor Dewey in
public favor for the nomination. It remains true of course that
the convention names the candidates, or thinks it does: so
Stassen has -his job cut out to win over the regulars who
usually dominate the convention.
Thursday, December 19. 1948
Trmrrrni
', (Continued from Page 1)
on the purpose of the one doing
the figuring; but on the whole
the two states seem about on a
parity as far as the burden on
industry is concerned. Certainly
Oregon's industrial' progress has
gone forward very satisfactorily
in recent years.
This dissatisfaction with the
Oregon system has expressed it
self in numerous ways. One was
to impose a property tax limita
tion such as Wasmngton has,
which Oregon voters rejected. An
other was to adopt a sales tax
usually with a portion of it
used for property tax offset; and
the sales tax has been defeated
many times by popular vote.
Two years ago, sensing this
pressure, Governor Snell recom
mended a tax study, using ex
perts. Senator Coe McKenna who
has been a staunch advocate of a
sales tax, introduced a resolu
tion to authorize a study. The
Portland Chamber of Commerce
strongly endorsed it. So the com
mission was created and $25,000
appropriated to finance its work.
While the enabling act sets forth
a whole string of subjects to be
studied the Idea still protruding
was that the Oregon tax system
was screwy, with the accompany
ing hope that an "out" might be
found in a sales tax hope which
was dashed when the voters in
June of 1945 again knocked over
a sales tax.
The commission organized, se
lected its own expert, S. J. Bar
rick, and got down to work. Mean
time the Portland Chamber of
Commerce, eager to assist, hired
experts of its own, Griffenhagen
Sc Associates, a recognized firm
experienced in public research.
The latter organization made its
study and presented it to the
Portland chamber whieh aside
from furnishing copies to the
state commission labeling them
"Top Secret" has kept the report
locked up. I tried to get a copy
a few weeks ago and was told
the chamber committee was not
releasing it. The inference is that
the report did not sustain the
previous opinions of Portland bus
iness leaders. Otherwise surely
the report would -have been
widely publicized.
On the basis of its own studios,
and having the Griffenhagen re
port .before it, the state commis
sion made its report, the first
conclusion of which reads as fol
lows: "(1) In general, the State of
Oregon has an essentially sound
tax ay tern that compares favor
ably with those of other states and
although some changes are recom
mended, such changes should im
prove but not alter the general
character of the present state and
loeai system "
VThere you have it, whether you
like it oty not. White the com
mission goes on to propose some
drastic changes of questionable
merit, it does put Its stamp ofCap
proval on the "Oregon system."
In the two-year period a rising
demand for more revenues for
all public bodies forced the com
mission to see how more money
could be obtained for the state,
schools, counties, cities. But this
conclusion no one should be nailed
to the masthead, namely, that
Oregon has "an essentially sound
tax system." I hope the Port
land editors will note that, and
the Portland Chamber of Com
merce, as well.
In other words, we start with
what we have and should re
tain it.
Hop Trading
Reported Slow
PORTLAND, Dec. 18.-(P)-Lit-tle
hop trading in Oregon was re
ported today by the department
of agriculture in its monthly hop
review covering a period to Dec.
16.
The survey said a few contracts
were reported for the 1947 and
1948 crops, generally at about 50
cents a pound for seeded hops.
Several carloads of hops have
been shipped from Oregon for ex- I
port to Europe, and others will be j
exported from Portland early next
year, the USDA said.
GRIM. AND BEAR
and fnithecsnoro ... who. may I ask. brings
nnensploynaent cheek each week?"
jsr NATIONAL SAFETY COjTJ'
The Beat Present of All
Dave Talmadge, rSage of Salem9
Veteran Newspaperman Dies
David H. Talmadge, veteran newspaper man of Salem, died
Wednesday morning in a local hospital. Funeral arrangements await
the arrival of bis daughter, Mrs. Mary Talmadge Headrick of Los
Angeles, who is expected to arrive by train Friday.
Details of his obituary are not readily available because his
relatives no longer reside here. His age is thought to have been
Over 80. The family home was in
West Union, Iowa, and he came
of a family of printers and news
paper folk,
He learned the printing trade
before the days of composing ma
chines and followed it in different
parts of the country, working for
some time on the Atlantic coast.
His natural talent took him into
the field of writing and he be
came a newspaper contributor.
Before his retirement due to im
paired eyesight in 1938 he con
tributed a column under the head
ing "Sage of Salem" to The
Statesman and previously had
done a similar column of anec
dote, whimsy and philosophy for
the Oregonian.
He was married to Harriet M.
Talmadge who died number of
.years ago. One son, David H. jr.,
was a printer in Salem until his
death in 1929. Another son, Wil
liam Everett, died in his youth.
Besides the daughter Mary he is
survived by four grandchildren
and four great grandchildren.
Notable events in his career
included a trip to New York
where he was a guest on a na
tionwide broadcast and another
trip to Hollywood as a guest of
Warner Brothers.
Public Records
CIECITT COURT
Clover Haynes vs Willar V.
Haynes: Decree of divorce awards
custody of two minor children to
plaintiff.
Mary Backley vs Everett J.
Backley: Decree of divorce awards
custody of two minor children to
plaintiff.
Hazel D. Sims vs Errol J. Simms:
Order approving motions to strike
by defendant, and giving plaintiff
until Jan. 6, 1947 to file amended
complaint.
Donald W. Cooper and Mildred
J. Cooper vs Clarence Lansing: Or
der for publication of summons.
Chester Lambert vs Ethel Lam-
IT
By Lichty
Your Presence
I) isYgjr, V
w
DAVTD TALMADGE
'gas's of Salens' Die
bert: Order overruling demurrer.
Eona Co. vs E. w. Lanham:
Satisfaction of judgment filed.
Edwin H. Foster by Pioneer
Trust co. vi Joyce E. Foster: Suit
asking annulment of marriage;
married March IS, 1846.
Edith M. Andrews vs Southern
Pacific Co.: Answer filed by de
fondant. Clarence E. Calnon vs Jessie
S. Calnon: Demurrer filed by de
fendant. PROBATE COURT
Curtis Hedrick guardianship es
tate: Order appointing J. W. Hed
rick guardian.
Berendina Verhagen vs Archie
McKillop and Helen McKillop:
Answer filed by defendants.
Ralph A. Cowden estate: Order
authorizing partial distribution of
estate.
Santino Fortina guardianship
estate: r Order approving annual
report.
Grace B. Neff estate: Order ap
pointing Melvin D. Shearer ad
ministrator. Edwin H. Foster guardianship
estate: Order authorizing payment
of $100 by guardian for attorney's
fees.
Bessie C. Cole estate: Order set
ting Jan. 18, 1-947, for hearing final
account.
MARRIAGE LICENSE
APPLICATIONS
Bernard D. Bumgarner, 36, pot
terman, and Wilma P. Meyers, 21,
domestic, both of Wood burn.
George E. Dolan, 28. USN. and
Elsie M. Stewart, 24, domestic, both
of Lyons.
MUNICIPAL COURT
James A. Green, '145 Abrams
ave violation of basic rule, posted
$25 bail.
Jessie H. Hogate, Brooks, reck
less driving, liquor involved, fined
$50.
Willie Wood run. Turner, viola
tion of basic rule, posted $7.50
bail. '
Lillian Eucker, route 7, Salem,
violation of basic rule, posted $730.
JUSTICE COURT
Abel Jack Hall. Portland, charg
ed with non-support; case con
tinued for 30 days, released on
own recongnizance.
W. E. Cross, 2590 Cherry ave,
bus speeding, fined $10 and costs.
Gil hart J. Shankey, 1135 6th
si. West Salem, no motor vehicle
license, fined $2.50 and .costs.
Salvation Army
Leader Speaks
To Rotary Club
A new need for unity among
peoples of the earth that there
may be "Peace on Earth" was
voiced by Brig. H. B. Collier, di
visional commander of the Sal
vation Army, at Salem Rotary
club Wednesday.
The occasion was the annual
Christmas party of the Rotary
club in the Salvation Army head
quarters when the army serves
the luncheon and the club makes
its annual gift to the Salem corps.
It was W. H. BaiUie's, Rotary
club president, birthday, and Jus
tice Arthur Hay, member of the
club, presented him with a gift
'rom the club.
Drop in Lumber
Prices Forecast
SPOKANE, Dec. 18. -(A)- Ray
W. Boil, president of the western
lumbermen's association, predict
ed today that northwest lumber
prices would start dropping by
next March.
Bell said leading lumbermen
believe prices eventually will drop
PACKARD
IS'DACK
jwlth a
revolutionary HEW
Mon vtrywhr art)
CrtmofWifig PACKARD
'with'
4
Smooth (Sound HkqV
Easier, Cteeor
$HAVI
TRY PACKARD TODAY
mnd yew will insist that we
eve one for yew front our
next sKlpmenv
in!-i-
Wr
to levels slightly higher than for
mer OPA ceilings because of buy
er resistance, the desire of big
mills to hold prices down to avoid
competition from aluminum and
other materials, and because pro
duction is approaching rapacity,
bringing supply nearer to demand.
CHESTNUTS
For Delicto
Ealing & Dresxing
Limited Sepply
17M 8. High 2-441
I Is
Mfttlll
PRACTICAL GIFTS
4-Qt. Time Saver (T QP
Pressure Cooker o)JLOb77
Portable Electric Heater Ti Q QC
With fan. Ivory enamel p JLOiJJ
Mahogany Finlnh Denk Chair (TJO TTC
Black Needlepoint Chair . ZpnlOaaf 3
Beautiful Dents IOQ50 11 Q50
Walnut. Ma hog.. Maple . .. & HrJ
Platform Rockers 9QS0 QQ5
Spring Construction 0 to 07
$Q50 IQQ50
Floating Rockers 07 to
Cedar Chetrts f 69.S0 & $79.50
Coffee Tablea $6.95 to $29.50
Assorted Hatwocks, from $5.95
Clothes Hampers, from ... $1.95
$11.95 Child's Platform Rocker $5.95
$ 4.95 Child's 3-lc. Table A Itench Set , $ 2.95
$ 9.95 Sturdy Scooters $4.95
$12.95 Iarge Wood Rocking Horn $9.95
$ 8.95 Solid Oak Folding Chair $1.95
$ 8.95 Toy Chenls. White & Pink $5.95
$ 8.95 Flat Top Coaster Wagon $1.9$
We Give S & II Green Stampt
SALEII HOIIE FURII. CO.
137 S. Commercial Street
NOW I
1 MM ELECMBC
Triple Galvanized Coper Bearing Steel Tank
Tested Under 300-Lb. Prennure
Rockwool Insulation
Underwriter Approvetl
33-Galion
5J0 Per Mo.
COURT STREET RADIO &
APPLIANCE CO.
357 Court Street Phono 3028 ,
SALEM, OREGON
W will be open until 8 o'clock beginning the
19th until Christmas fur your shopping con
venienee. j
BROOKS,
I s
Wood row's, week before
special. Juvenile TaMe Chair
seU M.49; Card Tables $$.$: End
(Tables S7-S5: Several differ sat
' finishes. Real Boys, any one e
i timely Xnsss gift. See ear fine
selection of plate mirror, tl tlsee
and styles to choose from. Salem's
meat complete stork of unfinished
fnrnllare - Desks cheats - corn
. er cabinets bookshelves - over 1
i Items to select from.
I WOODROWS
j For leal Valnes
45t Center St, Phones 4ISS If
42-Gallon
7.17 Per Mo.
OREGON
'
Starts Saturday
Warners ELSHfORZ Tneedre
' .- mm tJ - 111