TEW MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Friday 19s7
Tough Old
Holds Out
editor s not: The IT S. Army tin
been buying up New Mexico land for
It McGregor guided tnlulle ranee.
L'ntted Prefi tent correipondent Wil
liam P. Montgomery out to talk to
the thorniest holdout, rancher John
Pnther. In the following ditpatcb,
Montgomery telli Prather ttory.
Rancher Steadfastly
Aqainst Govemment
Br
WILLIAM P. MONTGOMERY
United Pr.ti Corr.ipond.nt
Orogrande, N.M. Oft Tough,
bitter old rancher John Prather
tightened up his hard but aging
muscles for a new defiance of
the U.S. Army and said for may
be the 100th time, "I'm not
leaving my birthright alive, by
damned, government or no."
Periodically threatened with
forced removal from the 120
tection ranch he carved out cf
the wilderness with half a cen
tury of patient toil under a boil
ing south-western sun, Prather
repeatedly has made the Army
back down from a showdown.
Whether the Army will make
another "strategic retreat" from
the newest deadline for his re
moval Aug. 1 from its 1,000
square mile McGregor guided
missile range Is not clear.
But Prather's attitude, as it
always has been in four years
of negotiations and court actions
concerning government seizure
q the best 40 sections of his
place, Is clear.
An American has got a right
to die at home," he says.
Headquarters for his ranch
is a rock house barely one and
a half miles inside the outer
edge of the huge anti-aircraft
missive testing ground.
The Army has said that a six
mile wide strip around the
perimeter is reserved for a safe
ty zone, but that Prather may
not remain in his home unless
he signs a lease limiting his
occupancy to the house and
yard.
"That's ridiculous." Prather
stormed in a voice still as steady
at 82 as it was when he follow
ed a chuck wagon and "little
herd of sorry cattle" from Texas
to New Mexico in 1883.
The lease offered Prather also
specifies his home and hearth
would pass to government con
trol upon his death.
"I've spent a lifetime building
this place and I've always plan
ned to be buried right here," he
said. "Do you think I want a
bunch of Army people making
my home into a beer garden
within sight of my grave?"
Crusty and obstinate, Prather
nevertheless maintains a keen
sense of humor that has sent
colonels away from his home
smiling in spite of assertions
that "the Army had better start
realizing we taxpapers have to
have land to grow something to
feed the damned government
parasites."
Prather recalls scraping up
rarth with a horse-drawn slip to
make surface tanks to hold
water on an otherwise barren
land. Under his direction, 1,000
foot deep wells have dotted the
rolling plain he steadfastly de
clares is New Mexico's best
cattle country.
The only time his voice nears
a quaver is when he regards
the sweeping vistas south of the
Sacramento Mountains, sees the
scattered bunches of Herefords
and Angus "bred up from those
sorry cows."
Then he says: "Move out and
leave home. If I did, I'd die. I
might as well die at home. We'll
just have to wait and see if it's
of old age or if the government
forces it."
Fooilighfers' Play
Scheduled in August
The Medford Footlighters'
summer show, "Mr. Angel," is
now in its second week of re
hearsal and will open the first
week in August, according to
Mrs. Max Wimmer, president.
The three act comedy was
written by Harry Segall. It will
be shown at the Footlighters'
fairgrounds theater.
Thirteen characters in the
play are divided between
earthly and celestial beings. The
directing is being managed by
Frank Buchter. "Every member
of the cast seems bent upon
making this the best show we've
ever don e," Mrs. Wimmer
stated.
Assisting Buchter is Lenore
Zapell, Medford High School
drama instructor; Bernie Rob
erts, who has constructed many
Footlighter sets in the past, and
Michael Thorniley, set designer
and artist.
The cast will , include Les
Boardman, Clyde Wheaten, Joe
Hilesburger, Margaret Dix, Jac
que Colton, Helen Ashley, Claire
Flickinger, Jerry Jerome, Don
na Nelson, Beverly Johnson and
Madelyne Buonocore.
About 92 cubic miles of water
are stored up behind the Hoover
dam.
Dr. Campagna Joins
Dr. Luce in Practice
Dr. Mario J. Campagna re
cently became associated with
Dr. James C. Luce here in the
gery.
Dr. and Mrs. Campagna and
their children came to Medford
from Rochester, Minn., where
he completed four years of neu
rosurgical training at the Mayo
clinic.
Dr. Campagna is a native of
Portland and attended Oregon
State college and the Univers
ity of Portland, receiving a BS
degree from the latter. He was
graduated from the University
of Oregon medical school and
served internship at Philadel
phia General hospital.
He was granted a master of
science degree in neurosurgery
by the University of Minnesota
graduate school. He served in
the Navy during World War II.
The family is living at 215
Erie st.
Augusta, Me. (1PI State elec
tion officials packed a day's sup
ply of ham, beans and other
food, when they took a portable
voting booth to the hamlet of
Brookton for a special liquor
referendum. There is no restau
rant within miles of the unor
ganized township in woodlands
near the Canadian border.
Legislator Cannot
Be School Teacher
Oregon City W Circuit
Judge Ralph M. Holman ruled
late Thursday that Thomas
Monaghan cannot hold simul
taneously 'jobs as a grade school
teacher and a state legislator.
Monaghan indicated he would
appeal to the State Supreme
court. He had based his plea on
the proposition that by taking
leave from the school job and
serving in the Legislature he
was not in conflict with an
article of the state constitution.
The article says that no one
"charged with official duties,
under one of the state depart
ments shall exercise the func
tions of another."
Use Mail Tribune Want Ad.
(mm
i aauue or Men news
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CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Olnev. Ill iw Four youths
dumped a truckload of trash and
debris at the homes of two of j
their friends as a practical joke.
They planned to spend the next .
day watching their friends in j
the cleanup work. Police ob- :
served the "joke" though, and
their friends watched as the four i
boys reloaded the trash they had j
dumped.
Grange Notes
Boxy Ann Grange
At the last regular meeting of
Roxy Ann Grange Master Moore
and several members from Eagle
Point were guests.
Three applicants were voted
on and will become members of
the Grange. They' are Mr. and
Mrs. Clifford Kennedy and Mrs.
Evelyn Hendricks.
The Agriculture chairman re
ported the livestock prices were
about the same with a small in
crease in price for cattle and
sheep. The hay harvest in the
valley was in full swing.
Irs. Eleanor Mankins had a
display table of some articles
of clothing and fancy work that
had been in the family for years.
Also of interest was a scale used
by the Chinese to weigh gold.
.Mrs. Joanne Lemacks was
elected treasurer to finish te
term vacated by Mrs. George
Walters.
' Chaplain May Dalton reported
a number of members sick in
the hospital and at home.
Roscoe Roberts gave a very
interesting report on his attend
ance to both te Oregon and
Washington State Grange.
Memberi retired to the dining
room for a birthday cake and ice
cream was served in celebration
for those who have birthdays the
last six months of the year.
The next meeting will be Fri
day, July 19, and Mr. and Mrs.
Shy Morthland, Mr. and Mrs. Al
Sims and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth
Shaw will be on the serving
committee.
Phoenix Grange
Members of Ph'oenix Grange
held a picnic Sunday, July 14,
at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Johnson on Camp
Baker rd.
The long table was set up on
the lawn under fir, pine and
laurel trees.
The meat dish of baked ham
was furnished by the commit
tee. Mr. and Mrs. Charles John
son, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Nor
ton. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gro
chocki. Mrs. and Mrs. Mervine
Hixon, Mrs. Christine Dins
rgpre, and Mrs. Mona Ferms.
Ice cream and beverage furn
ished by the Grange and those
attending brought vegetables,
salads and deserts.
HEC Chairman Colar Sch
roeder called a short business
meet of the club following the
dinner. The Home Economics
club will hold no meetings dur
ing the months of August and
September.
Tuesday evening. July 16.
members of several Granges in
the valley made a surprise visit
to Bellview Grange, their regu
lar meeting night.
There were 46 visitors repre
senting Central Point, Griffin
Creek. Roxy Ann. Shady Cove
and Phoenix Granges. Nine
will be Tuesday, July 23, at
8 p.m.
Gertrude Lewin.
Publicity Chairman
Don't Say
Hello''
i
Say
"FILTER-FLO"
SPRING
3-5395
TOMORROW - - SATURDAY IS THE FINAL DAY OF OUR
i
pBgffigl M ETEBT
yj u J LZs U U U
Ilia
y iyj uu m
W
SALES
A
4s
With Red Hot Values . . King-Sized Trades . . . and Terrific Savings!
WHAT A SALE!
8 A.M. TO 9 A.M. VALUES
HOME LAUNDRY
DeLuxe models at Leader model prices . . .. and.
some real WORTHWHILE SURPRISES!
7
Your Exciting Response Has
Been Tremendous . . . It's Going
to Be a Record July for US
and a Sale You'll Remember! .
1 P.M. TO 2 P.M. VALUES
REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER
General Electric Quality and Dependability for
less than you'd pay for unknown brands!
9 A.M. TO 10 A.M. VALUES
REFRIGERATOR-FREEZER
Just imagine a big Deluxe Model Refrigerator for
less than $270 . . . We've got it! Freezer buys
with real SURPRISE "EXTRAS"!
10 A.M. TO 11 A.M. VALUES
RANGES
Roam the Range as far as you want Cowboy ; . .
You'll never corral a Range Round-Up such as
this one!
11 A.M. TO 12 P.M. VALUES.
1957 TV
Just a hint: IF YOU'RE EVER GOING TO TRADE
TV'S ... DO IT THIS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY . .
DONT WAIT!
SURPRISE
HOUR
SPECIALS!
You'll catch the excitement of this Terrific Sale
when you see the unsurpassed savings on G.E.
Appliances and TV's that will be offered during
the SURPRISE HOURS!
For example: Any trade-in may be worth at least
a brand new G.E. Vacuum Cleaner! ... Or prices
may be slashed even further during a SURPRISE
HOUR ... OR FOR $1 more you may buy the
biggest dollars worth of VALUE that you've ever
seen! No tricks ... no gimmicks . . . but the
biggest WHOOP-DE-DO OF A SALE YOU'VE
EVER SEEN! DON'T MISS IT!
DONT MISS THIS
BIG STORE-WIDE SALE!
2 P.M. TO 3 P.M. VALUES
PORTABLE TV's
You've wanted a famed G.E. Portable for that
2nd Set ... At these prices . . . you've got it . . .
and a Big Saving too! ' ,
3 P.M. TO 4 P.M. VALUES
WASHERS and DRYERS
Enjoy the complete luxury of the FILTER-FLO at
far less money than you'd expect to pay for THE
VERY BEST!
A
12 P.M. TO 1 P.M. VALUES
Portable Appliances
Toasters, Mixers, Steam Irons ... all Small G.E.
Appliances at TREMENDOUS SAVINGS!
7
O LIBERAL CREDIT TERMS
O KING-SIZED TRADES
O IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
O MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
O LOW, LOW PRICES
4 P.M. TO 5 P.M. VALUES h
RANGES
All sizes, all styles . . . You'll cook better ELEC
TRICALLY . . . with a new GENERAL ELECTRIC
KEYBOARD RANGE . . . You'll save a lot too!
WHEN YOUR TELEPHONE RINGS . .'.
DONT SAY "HELLO..."
SAY "FILTER-FLO!"
5 P.M. TO 6 P.M. VALUES N
Portable Appliances
Steam Irons, Grills, Mixers, EVERYTHING . . .
You'll "pop" like a Pop-Up Toaster when you see
these low pricesl . - .
REMEMBER . . . EVEN DURING THE EXCITEMENT OF A SALE . . . YOU MUST BE SATISFIED OR YOUR MONEY BACK!