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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1890)
fl. 1 1 1 1 'i 4 THAT MANIFESTO. Slater's Dofense of His Cli ents Demurred to. HIS REMARKABLE ACUMEN. s t The Old Saying Is That "Fleuros Wont Llo," Bat Some Figures Do. Euitoii Okkgon Scoi't: In the issue of the La C! ramie Ga zette of the 10th inst. appears an arti cle from the pen of an Ex-United States Senator, Ex-Congressman, Ex Kailroad Commissioner, Ex-Prosecuting Attorney, in fuot, from one who lives a life of expectancy expecting himself and family to be supported by the people and in this he has not been expecting in vain. Some of the statements made in this communication are shot so wide of the mark that they are deserving of a place in your Youth's Column as fur nishing cheap amusement for the school children. But they were not penned for the Gazette for that pur pose. On the contrary they come with the same view and intention and with the same laborious efibrt that this same party many years auo attempted to hoodwink and deceive his constituents in regard to his support of the back salary grab when the certificate of the clerk of the senate was against him, and he had his ill gotten gains in his pocket. The people of Union county had hoped that "a decent respect for the opinions of mankind" would induce one who has been so long supported and favored at the hands of the pcoplo of every section and locality of Union county, and for which favoritism they havo so little to show, to quietly rest in the selection that has been tho natural result of his lamentable in competency, lack of executive ability and determination to deceive the pub lic in order to screen himself from tho odium engendered by his own acts. But in this they are again deceived, hence it becomes our duty to briefly review tho article that seems to havo convinced its author be ond question that La Grande is the most eligible point for the county seat. Mr. Slater says that lie is a taxpayer and that his property lies to that it is not effected either way the question may be decided. Besides, for years he has deprecated the agitation of this question. It's too bad that Mr. Slater has so completely lost his influence in his home town and that after years of pleading they pay no attention what ever to his counsel, and even resort to stufhm: their own ballot boxes to demonstrate the effects of his counsel. It must have been a gloomy outlook for him when ho took his seat to 'pen tho a: tide under consideration, to think that if it has no more effect on the voters of Union county than his "deprecations for years" have had with his own townsmen, that this last at tempt to influence voters would prove as barren of results jis did his attempt to mislead and deceive the people of this county on a former occasion when trying to cover up and deny his course in regard to the back salary steal, or to influence his townsmen to not engage in this contest. We agree with Mr. Slater as to one statement, and that is that "the relo cation of tho county seat is a matter of public concern rather than of moro local interest," and that 1 think ho will find is tho opinion of the taxpay ers of Union county everywhere. Lo cal interest in La Grande, for La Grande and by the people of La Grande, boing the only motive in this matter from beginning to end. Mr Slater says, "it is a fair and plain proposition that that place should I bo selected which, all things con sidered, is most convenient and ac cessible to the public." If tho county had just been sot aside or cut oil' from Baker and had no county buildings, or county poor farm, and tho oxponses were to bo incurred, this would be ex actly tho thing to carofully consider, and if to considered, is thoro ono voter in Union county who, looking at tho situation through any other than La Grande goggles would choose La Grando as tho point? Under tho cir cumstances La Grando would not bo in tho nice at all, for Island City would command threo votes to her one. J'r. Slater nturta out by preparing a table of vote, made for tho occaaion, that is so erroneous and so twiutcd ami warped to fcuit his purpoe that thoro is not a living toul Unit has road his article who ha not felt humiliated that one who hu held tmch hih positions 'Fine Line "of Watch in our midst would stoop o low in or der to deceivo the public by patching J up a hypothesis in order to give him ! self an opportunity to discuss nn im j portant question in a manner best j calculated to deceive the people, j By tubulating tho voto of Nov., 1S8?, no arrives at the tact mat thero were ( cast 2,o20 votes. He then estimates j that tho voto will stand in Jnna hs I follows: Cast In Xnv. '38 Will ran la Juno. (i rondo Union Island City Sunuiiprvlllo Indian Valley Cove llilgaril Stnrkoy Cnnip Carson North Powder Antulnpo Pig Cn-tk UeH Uoek Sparta KllRlt! Pine Cornucopia Sanger Slit 700 m 400 174 S(J5 'M 40) 'M m 17fi 10.1 120 400 sb no a sr. 170 175 7 60 00 H 12 40 37 7.i 90 KM 14B lNi 81 40 SS 2.520 3,325 Total 2srow just look over this lublo and study it a moment and sou the man ner in which it has been warped to suit bis purpose. In .June, 18SS, La Grande was en joying a boom, and it is very doubtful is she has any more legitimate voters to-day than she had then, and yet ho complacently adds in her favor to his imaginary list 187, while to Union, that has had a steady and constantly increasing vote, ho generously allows to have increased o7, and also allows the Cove to havo gained 2i; but to Ililgard, that on April .'5, 1SU0 had 27(i votes, he allows to cast -100, while at Camp Carson he allows her voto to swell from (5 to 25, and to North Pow der with her vast lumbering interests which seems to havo biich a wonderful effect on tho voto of Ililgard he gra ciously allows an increase of actually five votes, whilo to Cornucopia, with her miners just beginning to go in to work for the summer, he in his mag nanimity deducts '1-1 votes. By carefully investigating this slid ing scale invented to decievo the pub lic by the same sluggish brain that conceived the idea of preparing and placing on record a bond composed largely of such responsible parlies as Prof. Strange of La Grande who pays no tares, but siynx the bond evidently in order to (jive it some Jinuncinl stand iny ono can readily see that Mr. Slater's effort to prove that tlie majority of tho people's interests was really consulted at the time that the county seat sliould remain right where it is as it undoubt-! edly will. I faving arranged his straw man and stuffed him and hung him up just to suit, he proceeds to thrash him in great style. His ligures however partake so much of the flavor of his old "ligurative speech" on tariff tor revenue only that lias so frequently furnished tlie old timers an opportunity to enjoy a good comfortable nap that they are entirely void of interest when tho leader under stands thoroughly that his premises are made wilfully orroneous to begin with, and that tho wilful misrepre sentations in his table of estimate is the only basis and was made on pur- poso to enable him to draw erroneous conclusions and tlien parade tliom be foro the public as "A Few Facts" and that "Figures Wont Lie" much as tho party handling the ligures seem to desire them to. Passing over erroneous conclusions drawn fiom a purposely distorted hy pothesis as entirely unworthy of notico or space in your columns. Mr. Slater proceeds to eriticizo the railroad situation and charges that tho building of tho Hunt road or the "mas querading at building" is "work boing done simply to aid Union to retain the county scat" and yet ho admits that tho building of the Hunt road will certainly greatly bonofit tho whole countv. Its completion means com petition in tho transportation business and means cheaper rates to tho fann ers and that means greater prosperity to the whole peoplo. In this pros perity La Grando will havo hor full sharo without doubt. Mr. Slator also with somothing of tho same low cun ning that proiutod him to file a bond in tho clerks oflico that he, knowing as little of law as even ho is accredited with knowing, will not claim is legally worth as much as was tho blank papor that was spoiled with tho nonsense it contains, sets to work to outline a system of roads for tho Union Pacific to build oven to tho Covo "when Hunt sets eamoitly to work in tho construction of his toad." The more wo read mid ondonvor to decipher the true inwunlnotm of this remarkable essay tho more wo are impreH'd with tho dishonouty of tho that L-ivo it birth and es, Clocks, JewelrvJ the desperate strait to which the author was driven in order to bolster up his case that in tho very beginning was erected on a foundation of siuid. In one paragraph he tells tho people that the Hunt road is only a masquer ade party to catch votes for Uniou. In the next he says the building of the Jluut road will certainly very greatly benefit the whole county mid contem plates the result- "when Hunt sots earnestly to work." In the beginning Mr. Slater very candidly stated his projierty which is situated almost in tho middle of tho valley was not materially affected by tho removal or remaining of tho coun ty scat at its present location. His property however is largely advanced by the building of the Hunt system which will very greatly benefit the whole country and of which LaGinndo will have her full share. Does any one know just how many dollars Mr. Slater subscribed toward an enterprise that he is now throwing cold water at and that has already increased the value of his broad acres at least fifteen dollars per 'acre? If La Grande will have her full share of IhciO benfits can he point to where she has con tributed to a full share of anything but opposition toward tho Hunt system. It is not an exhibition of cheek that should be put on tho road under can vas with reserved seats at high prices for himself and other citizens of La Grande to do all they can do against this great enterprise that "will greatly benefit the whole community" and in which "La Grande will havo her full share" and then come to the front and ask the very men who havo gone deep down in their pockets to bring tlie Hunt system which means "a con test for tho traffic of Grand Rondo valley" and "cheaper rates to the farm ers and greater prosperity to tho whole people" to vote to such a craven, sel fish, illiberal people, the county scat of uns county, i'or enrysianzeu gait in collosal quantities go to Jas. H. Slater. But little less of the above which seems to betheironly stock in trade is the claiming of all votes north and west of La Grande as tributary to that city of magnificent self conceit. Ima gine tho voters and taxpayers of Towa Siimmervillc, and Indian valley pass ing through Island City, a beautiful lo cation with magnifieient water power and all the natural facilities for tho upbuilding of a city, and passing out onto the arid flat on the southwest to do business at the county seat when they themselves were responsible for ! bo unwise a move. If 1 1 is the intoiet of tho people according to Mr, Slaters own table which everybody knows is not coneet or ac cording to tho facts as they exist La Grande does not accomodato ono bun dled taxpayers outside its corporation that would not be hotter accommoda ted at Island City, and tho peoplo ful Iv realize these facts and taxpayers will see to it that no change is made at their expense in June, as they will also see that no additional expenses are accrued in erecting now buildings at Union until they are actually need ed, which m bo far in tho future, and at that time some other point, oven the Covo with its not work of railroads forced in by tho Hunt sys tem may stand a much better show than does La Grando at this time. La Grande, situated in a barron flat, bounded on the south by tho old ceme tery of her former greatness, on tho wost by up tho creek, and with not enough room to tho north to allow her people to cast tho grounds out of their coffee pots without imposing on thoir moro fortunately located neighbors of Island City. Verily sho needs tho county soat, and if tho peoplo had half a dozen to contribute, they all combined would not bo equal to her requirements. PIONEER. ELGIN ECHOES. May, 1.1, 1890. Thos. Beam is very sick at pros Mr out. Tho grain crops look well sinco the lato rains. Gibson & Co. will start up their new sawmill in a short time. Elgin can show up sovoral Union men and don't you forgot it. Mr. A. N. Hamilton and Mr. John Eaton wcro in town to-day. Several good buildings aro under way and will be completed soon. J. K. Johnson, proprietor of tho Wes ton house has a fine register on his desk. Ix;ok out for the Elgin Baseball Club. They will bo hoard from in the near future. Tho frosts have injured tho plum and pruuo troos conmdorahly, in thin part of tho country. .). O. Silverware, Guns SEAT C0KTEST. An Able Editorial on The Subject Ts Snmmcrvllle Aaaotator. From Tho following editorial clipped from the last issue of the Summervillo An no'alor is a elear and concise statement of facts, and should bo carefully road by every taxpayer in the comity : "The time draws near when tho vo- tersof the county will be called upon to decide some very important questions. The county seat contest we must own occupies very largely the attention of most people who havo tho interest of tho county and their own individual interest at heart. In reference to this contest we not only wih to present a few points of argument to taxpayers but we alo desire to call f he at ten? irm of tli la borer and wage earner to facts and conditions which ought to weijh vi ry heavily in favor of leaving the county seat where it now is for the piv-ent. According to our best mfornrUmii, our county is now considerably in debt, reaching n) doubt the sum of $(.0,000, and probably 7O,00O. A largo portion of this debt has been brought about in expenditure upon ; county road bridges, which are a nee- i cossily, and expenditures for which tho taxpayer would not have the least ; causo lor complaint, necessary ex penditures and those calculated to build and improve tho county and better the facilities for getting about i are as a rule, welcomed by the tax payer, so long as their funds aro not squandered and misappropriated. Is Uio expenditure attending tlie renin- , val of tho county seat desired by the taxpayers? Is tho removal of the , county seat and the erection of new county buildings a necessity of the present time? Wo say no to both propositions. Wo think the present court house and jail buildings at Union amply sufficient for the county's needs for tho present, and for nianv rears to come. The incurring of the expense which would no doubt bo a large one, of erecting now county buildings at La Grande or any other point so long as our presont ones are amply commo dious and substantial, would seem to us ono of tho most nonsensical pro ceedings an intelligent people over engaged in. They would certainly lo leaping into the dark with a fair pros pect Df being considerably jammed in lighting. A close leading of the ena bling act submitting the question to a voto will discover to tho mind a verv nea deception with regard to the amount that may be oxpemlod for coun ty buildings. Tho fact is by the terms of the section referring to the amount that may bo expended, an unlimited sum can be levied upon tho taxpayers for the erection of buildings. The indemnity bond wo havo heard about ostensibly to provide in case of removal of tlie county soat, wo will hardly no tico as tlie object of it is very apparent is simply to catcli tho -votes of the una ware, with tho full knowledge on part of its executors that the bond is in fact a nullity and cannot bo enforced. To the worker for wages on tlie farm, in tho woods, on the range or in tho mines, we would say a fow words. You are dependent to a certain extent upon tho prosperity and development of a country for employment and tho moro active tho capitalist in his efforts to develop tho rosourcos of a country, tho hotter for tho wago worker. Tho moro money comes in to develop min ing industries, lumber industries and in fact all tho different industries that a country is capable of maintaining tlio hotter for tho wago worker. When the employer is happy and prospering as a rule his employees are nioderatly so. Whatever tends to embarrass and checkmate tho business of tho employ er litis its effects on tho employed. If a county is heavily in debt and tho property owners and oinplovorn aro compelled to pay increased taxes thoy retrench usually in the amount paid for labor in thoir business and tho laborer usually helps to bear his losses, Do notdoter capital from coming into our country, and help to drive capital out by voting to doublo tho present indebtedness of our county, Cast your voto so that it will assist in building up tho county at largo instead of pulling it down. To-day you aro laboring for daily wages, noxt year you may bo a largo property hold er. Voto for tho interest of the county at largo and you will bo doing a duty, you owe to yourself, your best frionds, and to the county." Durham Bull And Cowa For Sale Ono four-yoar-old rod Durham Dull. A lino animal and will ho bold at a reasonable price. Will nlfco (-.oil u fow oxeellent Durham miloh cowx, Apply to H. J Nowhard, Hot Lako, Union county. -1-21-lm 'and Amunition Just THE COUNTY "AT -. 1 J 1181 III i! lief Summers MM HUB SI Riri MM S m II 111 ML A .i i D!i Til i-A,L KNOWN 11 ti t I 1 hmlk 1 I With Patent Gauze-wire - Is In (Hiargo of a Hr-iila'S Workman, .-.ml all Work Warranted. Call and Examine our Goods and Prices. SUM M Kit H A- LAYNK, Union, Oregon d-17tf M -Dealer In- Bcddim? and Lounges, Parlor and Climber Suif Mirror Plates, Picture Frames, Oil paintings, Windov shades, 1 1 AT HACKS, WALL I'OCKKTS, and BRACKETS of all DESCRIPTIONS, in 1 1 Con-tiintlv ot. Sashj Doors and P mm T3 f C V i il u.u rrames mi SPA11 kinds of .Job Work Dune to Order. Shop and Ware Itoom on Main Street, Union, Oregon. Illo 1 1 LOAN We Guarantee the Lowest Rates. No Commissions. No Delays, where Title and Security is Satisfactory. CORPJ)KNE -:- SOLICITED. Wilson & nucleoli. Union, Or. lUltl Union, 4 Jtricognlzcd Leading Motel of Eastern Oregon! ri.Vi: I.Al'.IIK HAM I'M: ItOO.MS I'or tho Acuoniiiclii tlou of Commercial Traveler, CHARGES ItKAKONAULK. 1 IMT ui M SIM. (OITOSmC CKNTKNNIAL HOTEL.) J. 8. ELLIOTT, - Proprietor. Kverytbhif Flrfct Class. Tonus Vury JtoKonnlj. 'Bus to and Fiom the Depot Making Connection with all Trains. Received at A. N. m iw races & Lavne. ' K Doors. orp - o 1 1 -V! V band a full lino of to Order. Oregon. (T mm mm m mm 1LJ 0B P W B i W ill Tvi 11 mwd tollmont D on iiomiimuiii i mil Hotel, vL0iPu - rroyrieior. by all an the y Gardner & Co's.