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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (July 3, 1931)
A BIG JOB, BUT ITS DEAD EASY It would be a big Job to tell one hundred people any thing that would interest them in your goods, but its dead easy if done the right way. This paper will tell several hundred at once at nominal cost. NOT ONE DAY CAN BE FOUND In the week but that you do not need stationery of some sort or other. We furnish neat, clean printing at the very lowest rates. Fast presses, modern types, modern work, prompt delivery. Entered at the Post. Office at Athena, Oregon, as Second-Class Mail Matter VOLUME 44 ATHENA, UMATILLA COUNTY, OREGON, JULY 3, 1931 NUMBER 27 GOVERNOR WILL PARDON AUTOISTS Will Hold License Law At Bay for 30 Days by Halt ing Prosecutions. Salem. An unconditional pardon at the hands of Governor Meier awaits any and every Oregon motorist who might run foul of the state law for failure to get new license plates with in the next 30 days. This offer from the governor followed a letter Tues day to Secretary Hoss urging that en forcement of the law be set aside temporarily for the benefit of motor ists who are not financially able to get their plates at this time and for those who might be away from home on vacations. ,, . "If Hoss doe3 not suspend the op eration of the law as I suggested in my letter, I will grant an uncondi tional pardon to any person who might be arrested and convicted for failure to get his plates during the next 30 days, the governor told newspapermen. Figures in the office of the automo bile registration show that 140,000 sets of license plates had been issued up to Monday night. This figure in cludes plates issued over the counter in both Salem and Portland offices and indicates that a little over one half of Oregon's motoring popula tion has provided itself with the new Who nrA whito tnp-B entitlinc drivers to operate their automobiles over the public highways after midnight. No comparisons are ' available on the total number of license plates is- DiiAl mail annfiAoiinna am mn. ning slightly behind those of a year ago with 51,512 mail applications re ceived this vear comnared to 60.085 last year.- . Expressing hi3 appreciation of the intense interest which the governor has shown in the welfare of the mo toring public, Hoss, in a reply to the governor's letter requesting a mora torium, points out . that he has . no authority to set aside the law cover ing this subject and which requires that new license plates be displayed on and after July 1. "Please be advised that I do not make the laws, that I have no right to set them aside and that I have never set them aside in previous years as intimated in . your letter," Hoss declares. "I can get no authority from the attorney general or any other source to modify an act of the legislature. "From the press I understand that you can handle the situation by granting pardons to those who might be arrested. I already have requests from people who made considerable effort to purchase their licenses, ask ing that I return their money inas much as they wish to take advantage of your mandate. "You have asked me to urge sher iffs and police officers to not enforce this license law. As chief enforce ment officer of the state you should assert that prerogative yourself, and in any event I shall not do so, . "Your action will have the very ma- license plates, throwing my organiza tion into a bad situation and inter fering seriously with the collection of money now badly needed by the high way" commission, according to their statement. "I appreciate your intense interest in the people of Oregon for whom you plead but under the Oregon law I have no authority to postpone the ef fective date for the purchase of mo tor vehicle licenses." The Biggest Trout Velton Read registered the largest trout eligible for entry in the fishing rod prize contest at Rogers & Good man's hardware store , in Athena, Monday, when he measured a 22 inch Dolly Varden (bull trout) which Sunday he took from the waters of the Looking Glass, in the Blue Moun tains, east of Athena. Velton was ac companied on his fishing trip by Granville Cannon and Frank Wil liams. The boy's found the creek rather high and the water cold, but trout plentiful. " Pistol Caps Explode Little Newt Murphy had his face swathed in bandages this week, after toy pistol caps exploded in the pock et of his shirt and severely burned his face. The lad was firing his- pis tol when presumably a spark ignited the paper caps in his pocket. Fortun taely his eyes escaped injury, but the skin on both cheeks, chin and fore head was blistered. Youths Quickly Apprehended Af ter Auto Thefts Officers allege that it took three stolen automobiles to convey two Walla Walla embryonic car thieves from the Garden City to Echo and re turn. The stunt was pulled Sunday evening by the two lads one 11 and the other 13 years of age, and by a dip of fate a nine year old boy tip per the pair off to officers. Officers allege the two stole a Ford touring car: at Walla Walla, drove it to Echo and back to Pendleton, where it was abandoned. -There they took a Chevrolet, drove it to this city and then discarded it for a Ford coupe, owned by J. B. Knight, travel ing man from Yakima. Knight was in the Athena Service Station. The Ford was close by and when the two boys entered it, they were seen by 9 year old Artie Kil gore, who gave the information to Knight. Marshall Miller was called and Knight and the officer speeded off in persuit of the stolen car after notify ing the sheriff's office at Pendleton. Walla Walla officers were called by the Pendleton office and the two lads were met a short distance out on the Oregon-Washington highway. They are being held m the juvenile ward of the Walla Walla county jail, and officers state that they have been in trouble before. ' i. Fort Lewis Defeats Boise The Fort Lewis polo team, of which Lieutenant Wynn, nephew of F. S. LeGrow is member, defeated the crack Boise team in the tournament game at Vancouver. Lieutenant and Mrs. Wynn were guests at the Le Grow home here while en route from Boise to Vancouver. U. of O. Sculptor Models Mythical Hero lilllfc Walla Walla for Cannery Three things necessary for the Wal la Walla valley to obtain a cannery to handle its surplus products have been secured. First, promises of growers of sufficient tonnage to justify estab lishment have been obtained; second, a reduction in freight rates which will permit entrance into competitive markets has been promised by the railroads, and third, promises from canning interests to - investigate thoroughly this territory, the only major one in the Northwest, where there is no cannery. Harvest Will Soon Be Under Way Near Here Harvest operations will soon be under way on the farms in the light soil district north of Atnena. k. d. McFwen exnpcts to commence threshing wheat on the old Beal Pine creek ranch Monday, and other ma chines in that part of the county are ready to begin work next week. In the Pilot Rock country the grain in readv to cut. and the yield is ex pected to exceed estimates made sev eral weeks ago. In the vicinity of Milton grain has been ripe for several days but the straw has been touzh enoueh to hold off cutting, but next week should the weather be neht a number of com bines will begin work. Conservative estimates place the time of beginning the harvest of the crop in the Athena-Adams-Weston section of the Umatilla wheat belt around July 15th. Cool weather has held back ripening process in the straw and the wain heads have filled perceptibly under favorable weather conditions. Mil 1 L 1 "mwmmMwnuiKMinmmHniMi J 2 Autopsy Shows Bidwell Was a Murder Victim This model of the statue of Paul Bunyan, mythical hero of loggers and lumbermen all over the country, ha3 been made by Oliver Laurence Barrett, sculptor at the University of Oregon. It Is shown superimposed on a back ground to give a perspective of its ultimate size, which Mr. Barrett hope will be approximately 35 feet in height. An autopsy revealed that Homer Bidwell, Baker county farmer and stockman who was well known to a number of Athena people, and men tion of whose death appears in an other column of today's Press, was shot in the head with a .25 bullet. Bidwell's body was found Saturday night in a field near his home. It was believed then he had been fatally in jured when his team became fright ened and ran away. The search for Bidwell started when the team ran into the barnyard dragging a broken cart. What at first was taken for a slight abrasion under Bidwell's left eye, thought to have been caused by the breaking of his eye glasses , was found to have been the point where the bullet entered. An autopsy re vealed the bullet, presumably fired from a .25 caliber automatic pistol, had lodged in the rear of the right lobe of the brain. . Deputy sheriffs believe Bidwell's slayer shot from a distance of six feet ' A search was immediately started for Willard Sullivan who was to be questioned in connection with the shooting. Last year, deputies reveal ed, he is alleged to have made threats against the rancher. . Police said they learned, too, that at 5:30 p. m. Sat urday he told a man named Berrick, near Telocaset, that Bidwell was dead. Several hours later the body was found. Neighbors of Bidwell said Sullivan blamed him for trouble be tween Sullivan and his wife. Annual Athena Picnic, Portland Last Saturday SUB-STATION BEING CONSTRUCTED HERE HERO GETS COMMAND Yf jf s' . i lM"'frtvn')f l"J',"v,""1"rt'' ("" r i - iviiiril M Harry Manning, remembered by ull for his heroism under Ciipt. George Fried when lie assisted In rescuing the crews of the Florida and Antinoe, standing on the bridge of the S. S. American Trader as lie took command of the vessel Just before she sailed. Hughie Steel Visiting Here Mr. and Mrs. F. B. Wood have re turned from a motor trip to Idaho. They also visited their daughter Mrs. Steele, whose home is a ranch in the Yakima valley five miles from Selah. Water for irrieation was scarce in that vicinity until haying operations were in full swing, when the country was visited bv heavy rains causing considerable damage to the hay. Mr. and Mrs. Wood were accompanied home by their grandson Hughie Steele who has recently completed the 8th grade and in the fall will enter high school. The consolidated dis trirt school of Selah is said to be the largest in the United States. Hughie who lived here with his grandparents and attended the first and second grades will be here for several weeks. , World Fliers Home Post and Gatty, 'round the world biers landed at the home field in New York Wednesday evening after cir cumnavigating the world in eight days, 15 hours and 51 minutes. Al though they took almost nine days to make the 16,000 miles, they actually spent only four days, ten hours and eight minutes of this time in the air. George Strand Chosen The vacancy left by the death of the late H. P. Whitman on' the board of directors of the Pendleton Round- Up has been filled by the election of George Strand. Mr. Strand, who in the past has been identified with the association as an assistant in the arena, will hereafter have charge of non-competitive events. Elm Trees Destroyed A parasite is destroying the elm shade trees in some parts of town. A couple of elms on Third street, near the Athena Hotel are almost denud ed of leaves, and other elms in town are in lik condition. Quilt Drawing July ll.: Wauna group of Campfire girls is actively engaged in redecorating the house recently taken over by them for headquarters. The girls wish to express their appreciation to Mr. Justin Harwood who generously pap ered two rooms. An attractively pat terned paper was used and the rooms are taking on a cozy appear ance. Thanks are also due the guar dians Mrs, Bert Logsdon and Mrs. C. M. Eager who have worked untire ingly. ' Mrs. Lloyd Michener and C. M. Eager have also lent valuable as sistance in the work. Preston-Shaffer Milling Co. donated the use of elec tricity while the papering was in pro gress and the City of Athena is donat ing water for the flowers recently planted. The girls will meet next week to paint woodwork and floors. They would appreciate the donation of five window blinds and two light fixtures and any pieces of furniture not in. use. The drawing for the quilt will be held at the Athena meat market at 9 o'clock Saturday evening, July 11th. Until that time tickets may be procured at the market. A Lot of Fine Trout Fay LeGrow, who spent a portion of last week on a fishing trip with Byron Hawks on the Yak river near Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, returned home with the finest lot of trout seen here this year. In the catch were a num ber of big Rainbows with fine mark ings and all were taken from the cold waters of the Yak on the fly, no bait fishing being done on the trip. Foster to Klamath' Falls Walter Foster, state traffic officer who came to this district from Klam ath Falls some months ago and who has been registering his visits to Athena at the Athena Service Sta tion, has been transferred back to the Klamath FalU district for duty there. New Rates in Grain Dis counts Are Approved by the Portland Dealers Portland. The : schedule of grain disoounts for the 1931 crop as recom mended by the grain committee of the Portland Merchants' Exchange, was ratified by the members of the ex change in its entirety and became ef fective Wednesday morning. The schedule shows some reduction from the previous season, and is the first change made in the rates since 1927. In changing the schedule the sack ed basis was established at 2 cents over' bulk, instead of 3 cents as last season. The resaeking charge was reduced from 10 cents to 7 cents per sack, and bad order sacks are dis counted 2 cents instead of 3 cents. Smutting charges on bulk wheat remain unchanged, but on sacked wheat have been reduced 15 cents per ton. The interest rate on drafts will be 6 per cent instead of 7 per cent. Discounts on export ' classes of wheat running 25 to 50 per cent ad mixture are reduced 1 to 2 cents, ac cording to the test weights. On mill ing wheat testing from 50 to 52 pounds, the discount is reduced 1 cent. On all other classes and grades, the discounts are the same as in the pre vious season. The new lists will be ready for dis tribution to the trade Monday. River Road Is Open The new Mission-Thorn Hollow river road is now open for travel. The road which is 12 miles in length was constructed throughout the late fall and winter months and gave work to a large number of men, when employ ment was most needed. The high flood waters of early spring delayed the work and damaged the road grade to some extent. Only a portion of the new road has been graveled, but recent rains have settled the un- graveled part so that automobiles are passing over it with fair speed and comfort to travelers. The Fourth at Ukiah Beginning last night with a dance in Jazz Canyon, the two-day Cowboy convention an annual rodeo exhibi tion will be in full swing today and tomorrow. With improved highways leading to Ukiah, and the hospitality of that community well known, a large crowd will be there to assist in the big celebration. Bryce Baker, who assisted in the. arena last year, is taking part again. Mr. and Mrs. Ba ker left for Ukiah yestrday. To Celebrate Fourth Tomorrow in observance of. Inde pendence Day, Athena stores and business houses will be closed. There will be no celebration in Athena and the populace will virtually move away to other cities, to streams and moun tain resorts in quest of Fourth of July pleasures. Langdon Lake, Bing ham Springs, Ukiah, Walla Walla and mountain picnic nooks will attract their quota of celebrators, picnickers and campers from here. A Visit From Sea Gulls Athena was visited by three sea gulls, which flew above the tree tops, surveying the town, Monday evening. The gulls presumably were from Hermiston reservoir, for after circl ing aorund for some time they head ed back in that direction. fclrJ. . . Cavity Under Street Is Discovered by Workmen Workmen repairing a water pipe line at intersection of Third and Jef ferson streets Monday afternoon, un covered a cavity four feet in diameter and about six feet long running at right angle to the excavation they were making. The hole or tunnel, rather, was about two feet below the rockf illing base of the pavement. How or when the excavation was made, is a matter of conjecture. It is improbable that at one time a cellar was made there, unless it was a temporary one used for winter storage of potatoes when that part of Athena was a field. In making repairs to the pipe line it was necessary to cut the asphalt pavement in two sections. The leak which sent water oozing up through the pavement was fortunately dis covered before damage resulted to the base construction of the thoroughfare. Membership of the Golf Club Continues Increase Membership in the Athena golf club continues to increase, with the enrollment now at thirty-six. Con siderable interest is manifested by the local members and the course is being well patronized by outside players. Sunday the links attracted the larg est crowd of players since Mr. Pink- erton, the proprietor, opened the course three weeks ago. A number of carloads of players from Pendle ton, Freewater and Milton played and practically the. entire club member ship was represented. Mr. Pinkerton has the fairways in good condition. He recently purchas ed a machine which cuts the grass close to the ground and he is con stantly employing methods to furth er improve the course. Missionary Meeting The Missionary society of the Christian church met Wednesday af ternoon at the home of Mrs. F. B. Boyd with eighteen present. Mrs. M. M. Johns presented an interesting program relative to missions in In dia, papers being read by Mrs. J. W. Pinkerton, Miss Glea Sias, and Mrs. Boyd, Devotionals were led by Mrs. G. R. Gerking. Light refreshments were served by Miss Elsa Ringel, as sisted by Miss Gias. Guests other than members were: Mrs, Huldah McKinney, Mrs. Margaret Banister, Misses Mary and Esther Berlin, Joyce and Margaret Pinkerton. Flowers car rying out color schemes of red, white and blue, were used in decorating the rooms. Violators Arrested Several state traffic patrolmen Wednesday arrested 30 or more auto ists for oDeratinir cars with old plates at Oregon City. Justice Catro, before whom most traffic cases are tried, said he would fine the violators in ac cordance with his usual custom, but intimated that the tines wouia De lifi-hter than customary. He usually assesses $25 for violation of the motor code. At Langdon Lake Mr, and Mrs. J. W. Pinkerton will join the Frazier family reunion picnic at Langdon Lake tomorrow. The following account of the an nual picnic held by former residents of Athena at Portland, is given The Press by Mrs. Alma Koontz: Saturday, June 27, was the date' of the annual Athena Picnic held each year in Portland, but owing to the many days of rain, very few had the courage to venture out, some 25 or 30 being in attendance. F?r a time it seemed as if the sun would be victorious over the rain but not so. It was not an "Oregon mist" that came but an "Oregon downpour." However, we found a sheltered nook to spread our lunch and I am sure the few who were there enjoyed them selves, though we were a little damp. The inclemency of the weather was a great disappointment as we had plan ned on a large attendance. We had the pleasure of having with us several from a distance which al ways adds a great deal to our picnic. Our visitors were: Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dell from Athena, Mr. Ernest Koepke of Seat tle, Mrs. Feral McBride Clark and son James Edward of Chicago and Mrs. Mabel Barnett Chrineuto of Seattle. Others in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. W. McBride, 636 Birch St.; Mrs. J. E. Gorman and daughter Bernice, 973 Brooklyn St.; Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Wescott (Ruby Callender) 653 E 66th N.: Mrs. Ella Callender; Iva Callen der Kilthan, James and Roy Kilthan, 1621 Klickitat St.; Mrs. Nora Bar. nett and Flora Kemp, 545 Tillamook St.; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Swaggart and daughter, Mrs. Blanch Peterson, R4 Box 1793; Mrs. Maurine Akers Smith and daughter Betty same ad dress; W. P. Leach and Etta Leach Penneul, 9915, Foster Road; Mrs. H. McArthur, 681 E. Ankney St.; Alma Koontz, 1116 E. Stark St. The president, Mrs. Osburn presi ed and the officers of the past year were reelected. Huge Transformers to Con ; trol Transmission Volt age of 72,000. Baptist Sunday School Classes Enjoy a Picnic A most pleasant outing last week was enjoyed by members of the Sun day school classes of Mrs. Clarence Zerba and Kohler Betts. The party, chaperoned by Mrs. Ross Payne left Wednesday morning by motor for Cold Springs in the Blue Mountains, where camp was made in cabins, and regular routine established. Squads of three were appointed for the preparation of meals but each person was respon sible for other work about the camp. Hikes were the most popular form of amusement and Thursday a trip was made to McDougals Camp. Fri day the party hiked over the old stage road to Bingham Springs. The day was spent in camp Saturday. The group was augmented by a num ber of friends Saturday night. Sunday morning remaining mem bers of the B. Y. P. U. joined the party and Sunday services were held A pot luck dinner was enjoyed at Langdon Lake and the next trip end ed at home. The girls who spent the five days in the mountains were Genevieve and Helen Barrett, Annabelle Payne, Mil dred and Bonnie Alkire, Laura and Velma Ross, Roberta and Valerie Cannon, Jean Zerba and Mary Jane Miller. Charged With Rustling Charged with rustling and slaught ering cattle and transporting the meat with pack horses, John Darling and Carl Davidson of the Government Mountain district in the northeast corner of the county, are under ar rest. Darling was taken at Waits burg. Davidson who is 70 years of age, ex-government packer and all 'round mountain man, gave men from the sheriff's office a merry chase of 800 miles over side roads and trails before they appreheaded him. , New Golf Course Teddy Miller has made himself an other miniature golf course, consider ably larger than his first one. Ted is something of an artist when it comes to making "hop-o-my-thumb" golf links, and in this in stance he has utilized some clever hazards that point to marked origin ality. The course is an excellent one, brightened with painted fairway en closures and a center rock plot, sur mounted with potted plants. Has Cabin at McDougal Mrs, Raymond Geissel of Milton, who has been ill for some time is now at Camp McDougal in the Blue Mountains, having taken cabin ac commodations there. Mrs, Geissel's mother, Mrs, Bern Banister, is with her daughter. Repairs at Elevator Repairs have been under way for the past two weeks down at the Farmers Elevator, where spouts, ma chinery and other equipment is being overhauled, repaired and put in con dition to handle the new crop of grain. The Pacific Power & Light company has had a force of men employed here in the construction of a new transformer sub-station, which is lo cated on Hunt Avenue, on the corner west of the Preston-Shaffer Milling plant. sThe new installation will control a current of 72,000 voltage as against the capacity of the old sub-station's 25,000 voltage. The new station is of the out-door type, there being no part of the equipment housed. During the past two years the Pa cific Power & Light company has made vast improvement in its equip ment and service in the Inland Em pire and especially in its transmis sion capacity through this part of Eastern Oregon. New lines were con structed last year, bringing increased high voltage via Pendleton and Athe na to Walla Walla. Formerly Walla Walla and inter vening towns between that city and Pendleton inclusive, depended on pow er generated by a steam plant in the Washington city and the water pow er plant located on the south fork of the Walla Walla river in Umatilla county. With the construction of the new high line last year an inter changeable hook-up with other power plants owned by the company became available, so that abundance of power required in the territory it serves is assured at all times, even though one or more power sources may be put out of commission from any cause. Increased voltage will also insure more even power which should be noticeable in lighting, heat and motor service. The Pacific Power & Light company has spent huge sums of money in perfecting the facilities of its service and even through the period of depression it has carried on an improvement program that began several years ago. Church Indorses Council's Action on Birth Control Seattle. With only two dissenting votes from 110 members, birth con trol was indorsed here by the seminar on "the family and youth" at the na tional convention of the Congrega tional and Christian church. The seminar voted its approval of the statement on birth control1 given in the majority report of the commit tee on marriage and home of the fed eral council of the Church of Christ, and recommended the general council of the , Congregational and Christian church in its message to the church body, commend the federal council's committee report. A resolution adopted by the seminar on "National Life" said public schools and churches should "redouble their education on the physical, social and economic evils which result from the use of alcohol." ' The resolution also advocated "the maintenance of the present law" and declared that the "law enforcement and conscientious observance should be held a citizen's duty." Red & White Picnic The annual Red & White picnic occurred at Meacham Lake Sunday. A group of Athena people motoring to the lake for the event included Mr. and Mrs. Ed Montague. Clarence and Melba Montague, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Cornell. Mr. and Mrs. Will Campbell, Boh and Myrtle Camp bell, Mr. and Mrs, George Sheard and Mr, and Mrs. Harve Roseberry. Guests numbering 395 registered and dinner and amusements were furn ished by the Red Bnd White corpora tion. Contests with suitable prizes in addition to prizes given for being the oldest person, guest, member coming from the longest distance,? Red and White store having the largest representation. Clarence Mon tague received 3i lb. can of cof fee for being the 150th person regis tered. A musical program, baseball game and horse shoe contest were al so features of entertainment. Firecrackers Banned Pendleton has put a ban on fire crackers, potassium sulphide caps or fireworks of any description in which explosive inflammable materials are used and prohibited their use within the city limits. An ordinance to pro tect the city from fire prohibits their use in the city limits at any time, Fourth of July included. Indians Will Celebrate Indians on the Umatilla reservation are making preparations for their an nual Fourth of July celebration at Cayuse. The Nez Perces will join with the Umatillas, Walla Wallas and tho Cay uses in a celebration which will bo of several dava dura tion.