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About Eastern Clackamas news. (Estacada, Or.) 1916-1928 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 31, 1918)
Page Four Warden Murphy's Defense Eastern Clackamas News Entered at the postoffice in Estacada, Oregon, as second-class mail. Published every Thursday at Estacada, Oregon UPTON H. GIBBS Editor and Manager. S ubscription B aths One year Thursday, October 31, 1918 EASTERN CLACKAMAS NEWS 1.50 .75 $ Six months Thursday, Oct. 31, 1918 The Country Newspaper and Politics Before anothei issue o f the News appears the election will be a thing o f the past, and all will be over except the shouting o f the victors. The News is not a partisan paper, altho formerly it ranked as Republican. But the present editor abandoned that policy be cause, first from a sense o f fair ness to his supporters. In a small community, where two papers are not practicable, and the members are divided up into several political camps, with no particular one dominating, it hardly seems just to maintain a paper in theinterestofonly apart o f the community which con tributes to its support. The country paper is preeminently the home paper, to conserve local interests rather than for the political ends o f any party. Secondly, a political paper must be run as an organ o f a certain party and accept and back all that that party stands for or ad vo- cates, irrespective o f the editor’s own opinions. So he has to merge his individuality politically in the party of which his paper is an organ. Or else he can, while backing a particular party yet be independent o f it, and speak out his mind as he likes. In this case the paper is republi can or democratic to the extent the editor is. The former instance while per haps good from a business point of view, does not appeal to the editor o f the News. He wishes to keep and impress his own in dividuality on his paper in every way, as, if it be not too pre sumptuous to make the com parison, in former years Horace Greeley did on the New York Tribune, and more recently Henry Watterson on the Louisville Courier-Journal. As concerns the latter he is not as yet qualified to take a leading political part, so prefers not to attempt what he cannot success fully carry out. However in local affairs of a political nature when he thinks he can speak helpfully, he will not hesitate so to do. Warden Murphy o f the State penitentiary, has sent round to the papers, an explanation which he has addressed to the Governor, about the increased expenditures at that institution. He claims that these increases are in accord ance with those o f private in dividuals and not the result of extravagance. Among o t h e r things he says: “ The increase in the total ex penses o f maintenance is easily accounted for and can be fully realized by every family in the state in calculating its own ex penses for the same period. In the principal commodities repre sented by food and clothing there has been an increase o f 40 to 150 per cent in the purchase price. The demand for labor and the wages which labor commands have advanced to such an extent that we were forced to reduce the hours and increase the pay o f guards and officers in order to hold efficient, reliable men. I inaugurated a three-shift system on the 24-hour service a n d advanced the wages in several cases, yet the increase in the pay roll for the period just closed over the preceding period is only $12,712.59, or about 20 per cent. The increase in all other items o f consumption was $35,630.69, or 29 per cent. I would ask any householder or business man in the state to decide for himself whether he has kept his expenses o f the past two years as close to those o f the previous two years as that.” “ 1 do not claim to be super human. I have not expended one dollar o f the state’s money that 1 did not believe to be necessary and for the best. The times and conditions have been extraordin ary the past two years and it has not been possible to make a re putation as an economist, but 1 am confident there has been no extravagance. And 1 claim that the prison farm, the orchard, the stock and the general surround ings are in better condition than they have ever been in before, while in the gardens and lawns theJe is more of tidiness, taste and beauty than ever appeared at any previous time, so that for the operations o f the future there is the best possible preparation made.” “ I am bidding for no laurels, but I ask the people o f the state to view the conduct o f this in stitution in the light o f their own practical knowledge and exper ience and not by the light o f po litical jealousy and the desire to build up causes for undeserved criticism .” _____________ The R. R. Fishing Bill. In regard to the above Fisning bill which has been referred to the voters, the question is so cloud ed by controversy that it is ex tremely difficult to decide on its merits. The Oregon Voter sug gests tnat the whole matter be left to Fish and Game Commis sion which enjoys the confidence of both the angling and commer cial fishing fraternities. If it re quires more authority let this be given it by the next legislature. Those who think this suggestion wise will vole against the bill. » ? GRO CE R I E S «li THE BEST STOCK THE MARKET AFFORDS. PRICES ARE HIGH AND GOING H IG H E R -B U T OUR PRICES WILL A L W A Y S FOUND REASONABLE. BE The Very Best Service to be Had COURTEOUS ATTENDANCE TO EVERY DETAIL OF THE BUSI NESS. L. A . C hapm an Estacada, Oregon Undertaking and Embalming ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ L. A. Chapman Estacada Licensed Embalmer Phone Store or Residence + + + + + + + + + + + + + + R. G. Marchbank Operating Hearse and Morgue + ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ + * + + Estacada, * r Or. Soda Water • Soft Drinks - Lunches BOB’S PUCE Headquarters For Cigars and Tobacco H o te l O r e g o n - Respectfully solicits the patronage o f the People o f Es tacada and Eastern Clackamas County, when in Port land. The HOTEL OREGON has been for many years one o f Portland’s leading hotels and is located in the heart o f the business and theatre section, at the convenient corner o f Broadway and Stark. You are assured a cordial welcome and your patronage will be appreciated. Stop at the HOTEL OREGON, the next time you are in Portland. Rooms $1.25 and up * i