The Blue Sky Law
SPRINGFIELD IS
MERE GHOST OF
OLD BUSY CITY
GO TO ROSEBURG
AND SEE WRECK
DRYS HAVE MADE
Prohibition Makes Formerly
Thriving Center Banen
Bank Deposits Fall Off Half Mil­
lion Dollars in Dry Town
BINK DEPOSITS $57,000 LESS
ASSESSMENTS MICH HIGHER
The abolishment of the Corpora­
tion Department of Oregon and plac­
ing 01 the vast work of that depart­
ment under the jurisdiction of the in­
surance Commissioner, whose duties
under the present law are *0 onerous
a* should develop upon the Insurance
Commissioner, cannot possibly result
in any greater efficiency than is now
afforded by the two departments
working separately. The functions of
the two commissioners are absolutely
separate. The abolishment of the Cor­
poration Department cannot result in Twt Blocks of Vacant Buildings Line
Real Estate Offered for Sale at Less
a saving to the people and the bill
Main Street in Place of Busy Stores
Than Valuation But No Bidders
providing for the consideration of the
two department* carries a joker
The city of Springfield,
which will result in increased taxes.
The Committee of One Hundred
in
its present cobwebby,
It provides for a State Fire Marshal,
says:
with numerous deputis and heavy staguant condition, today
“If you want to find out what
traveling expenses which would add presents a picture, as com­
dry Oregon will do for Oregon, go
greatly to the taxes of the people.
pared with its thriving,
to Roseburg and see what dry
Bill No*. 338 and 330 is on the bal­ bustling condition of a year
Roseburg has accomplished.”
lot because the Corporation Commis­
Here’8 what it has done.
ago,
that
would
make
the
sioner refused to grant a permit to
It has cut down the bank deposits
A year ago
by over §500,000, in spite of the
the Mutual Fire Company of Port- j angels weep.
fact that there are now four banks
every
store
was
filled and
land for the sale of $100,000 of bonds,
to the two in existence when Rose­
H. D. Wagnon of Portland, Vice crowds of people thronged
burg had licensed saloons, and that
President of the company, made ap- its streets. Every merchant
the population has increased in pro­
plication for the permit. The com- was making money, practi­
portion to the settling up of South­
pany had no tangible property as-
ern Oregon by new settlers and im­
cally everyone who wanted
sets. The report of Paul L. Woolston,
migration.
work
was
employed.
Every
­
an expert actuary, shows that on Oct.
When Roseburg had licensed sa-
31» <913. the total liabilities of the one seemed happy and con­
loons the tax levy, on one-third of
the valuation was two mills. Since
company were $344 28 in excess of its tented, except the prohibi­
Roseburg has gone dry the tax levy
admitted assets. There was no basis tionists.
has varied from eight to ten mills
for an issue of $100.000 of bond* and
Today Springfield looks like a
on a full valuation; and in addition
the permit to issue them was refused. deserted village, business is par
occupation taxes have been steadily
Wagnon asked for a rehearing, and alyzed, and more than eight or
increased.
at it* conclusion, the permit was ten people on its main street at
The Committee of One Hundred
again refused. Then Mr. Wagnon any one time would actually be
boasts that dry Roseburg has erected
said to the Corporation commission, the cause of excitement.
Yet
a §115,000 hotel.
The hotel was
"If that is your final decision, I will the Committee of One Hundred
erected in 1913, stood idle and ten­
instruct my attorney at once to draft says: “Business is fine in dry
antless for four months, and was
rescued from the bankruptcy court
an initiative bill abolishing your of­ towns. >
by liberal business men of the city,
fice."
Springfield went “dry” at th«
among whom were E. L. Parrot, C.
The motive back of the bill is im­ election last fall, the saloon­
W. Parks, Joseph Micelli, A. N. Or-
proper, unfair and unjust and it is an closing January 1.
cott and Henry Hart, all of whom
Let the “drys” tell all about
miquitious use of the right of the in­
are radically opposed to a dry town.
itiative not contemplated by the initi­ these “fine” business conditions
The Committee of One Hundred
in
Springfield
after
nine
months'
ative and referendum act. Such abuse
also boasts of the armory as an
of the initiative will result in the Ore­ operation of their “business the
achievement. The armory was built
by state, county and city funds com­
gon law being held up to ridicule. The ories.”
Although a much smaller city than
bined, and is not yet completed.
Corporation Department is the larg­ Salem, the bank deposits in Spring
Over 140 leading business men
est money earning division of the field have fallen off in the laat
signed a petition calling for a
have
state government, and therefore the over 457.000.
local option election in Roseburg this
When .Main street finally 1*
greatest lax reducer It* income from 1
year, and such an election will be
June 3, 1913 when the department justed in the next month or two,
held.
tieally
two
blocks
of
store
buildings
on
wa* established, to June 30, 1914, in­
Many empty store buildings are to
each »ide of the street west of the
clusive, was $310,61309 The normal Southern Pacific tracks will be desert
be found on the leading business
running expense of the department ed, but “business is fine.”
streets—a condition that never ex­
will he approximately $17,000 a year I
isted when Roseburg had licensed
A real estate sale is unheard of and
saloons. Scores of dwelling houses
To merge the Corporation Depart­ would be impossible on sny part of
are vacant for the first time in the
ment with the Insurance Department Main street, but “business is fine.”
Constitutional Amencbnent initiated b> Paul Tun:.-, etc.,—ABOUSHI.'.G DEATH PENALTY. etc..
Yore YES or NO
history of the city.
The Springfield Toggery, the beat
is like asking Jonah to swallow the
33»
Yes
John Hunter, a leading contractor
whale. There are 9386 domestic cor­ gent's furnishing stere, is now being
closed out by a receiver, but '‘business
315
No
and formerly a supporter of the drys,
poration* and 693 foreign corpora­
- —----------------- —-------------
is fine.”
is now advertising in Roseburg pa­
tions upon the active record of the
The La France Confectionery Store,
pers:
corporation department and there are one of the best in "wet” days, has
Business block for sale
286 insurance companies doing busi­ closed out. but "business is fine."
for §500 less than present as­
O. W. Johnson's Hardware Store, the
ness in Oregon. During the fiscal
sessed valuation.
year 985 permit* have been granted beat of its line durini' "wet” day»,
Another property owner has of­
fered four parcels of inside prop­
investment companies in the admin­ already has been sold out by a re
ceiver, but "business is fine."
erty for sale at less than the as­
istration of the “Blue Sky" law.
A. J. Henderson, the leading dry
sessed valuation, and has not even
The consolidation or abolition of a goods merchant, occupied a double
received a tender.
department of state should not be a store a year ago. Today he occupies
One of the leaders of the dry
haphazard procedure, l>ut should fol­ but one store and will tell you his
forces in Roseburg is a man who as
low after the most careful legislative business is "about half” whet it was
a former agent of the Albany brew-
inquiry indicates that such consolida­ a year ago, but "business is fine."
ery made his fortune, and who to-
The city has run into » 4',200 deficit
tion would result in a saving of dol­
day is the owner of a drug store,
from an excess of expenditures over
lar* and cent* without loss of effici­
He was at one time prominent in
income, although the "drys" promised
ency in the administration of the that less police and court expenses
politics, was repudiated by the vot­
ers of Douglas County, and is now
state's business. This hill is in viola­ would make a surplus, if the people
said to be seeking to place lieuten-
tion of this fundamental principal of would vote the 112,000 saloon licenses
ants in office through the dry move-
sound business judgment, For the out of business, but that's “fine busi
ment.
nesa. ”
above reason* the Headlight reco-
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Beggars are common on the streets,
The prohibitionists a year ago prom
mend* that the voter* oppose the
and many poor families are appeal­
iaed
to
reduce
the
tax
levy,
but
have
consolidation of the Corporation and
ing to the local bankers for aid.
increased the levy thia year by five
Insurance departments by voting Bill mills, but "business is fine."
And vet the Committee of One
339 X "No.”
Hundred says:
Not s foot of permanent street im
“If you want to find out what Ore­
jrovement work has been done, ex­
gon dry will do for Oregon go to
Although the Oregon “Blue Sky" cept the construction of a small briJg-
I Roseburg and see what dry Roseburg
law ha« been in operation leas than over a creek, and thst was paid for by
*
bend
issue.
Streets
and
sidewalks
has accomplished.”
eighteen month*, the Corporation
are in * depl rable condition, end th'
Department ha* squeezed over $>4,- probil.iti< ■> sts are now petitioning the
ooo.ooo of water out of over-capital­ coon'll to "dculle” the expense levy
EUGENE,
ized companies. The department, un­ If the local taxpayer*, but » few of
Lane County’s “model” prohibi­
der the *ame law, refused permission whom are "dry*,’’ vote down thia pe
tion city, and the seat of the
to a »rorr of companies capitalized at tition, the city confront* the same pc*
state university, is
over $30.000,000 to sell stock to the Mbility as Oregon City, viz., the ap
NOT A “DRY” TOWN.
4»
public. Refusal wa* based upon the pointment cf a receiver, but "business
From January 1 to October 1
» fine in dry towns.”
unsound condition of the companies
of this year there were shipped
or because they were capitalized on
Trchl Speaker Fined.
into Eugene 102,457 QUARTS
the hot air plan. The present “Blue
SEASIDE. - J. A. Adams, a prohibi
OF BEER.
Sky" law is imperfect, but it is a 'icn speaker end worker, served out a
From January 1 to October 1
of this year there were shipped
good law and should be upheld by the five dollar fin« in the Seaside jail for
into Eugene 3,490 QUARTS OF
people. Had there been a "Blue Sky” fsl’ing to rbey the loc-I ordinances
gulating street apeakng.
Adams
UQUOR.
law in Oregon three year* ago the »ho bo-st* cf having been »nested 44
Of this amount there went to
people of this state would not have time* tad of having served 14 jail sen
4
one drug store 524 QUARTS OF
invested over $1,000,000 in the worth­ tenees. declares that he prefers tai
UQUOR.
1
ies* bond* of the Columbia River
«rtecee» to paying fines, ss they give
Express company records show
Orchard* Company. This company is­ I im more notoriety and enable him to
I
these figures.
41
sued $5,000,000 in bonds on $50,000 draw larger nudienee*. Upon com1 le
IS EUGENE “DRY”T
tioa
of
his
jail
term
here
he
left
town
worth of assets. .Many a widow and
VOTE 333 X NO.
st once.
orphan suffered through the opera­
* • • * • * a o a I f.f J
tions of this fake orchard company.
A new “Blue Sky" law is being pre­
pared by the Corporation Commis­ Die Anti-Prohibition forces have steadfastly claimed :
sioner (or submission to the next
Tlml
................ i. an infringement of personal liberty.- Mr. Wheeler admits it. word for word in oublie nriot
That *• prohibition
legislature, it will eliminate many of
« 4
That prohibition will not prohibit." Mr. Wheeler's admission proves his Committee is not tryintr to nrohibit
the imperfeetioos of the existing law.
1 he people of Oregon should not
That • « prohibition docs not mean Dry Oregon.”
P
buy the stock or bonds of any com­
4 4
That
pany unless the vendor can show a
tOthe Pre8eut healthy growth of TRUE TEMPERANCE SENTIMENT in the land.”
permit for the sale of the stocks, is­
Mr. Wheeler’s admission proves it.
sued by the Corporation Commis­
That " prohibition would let down the bars 'to BLIND PIGGERS and BOOT-LEGGERS, who would deal in deadly decoctions."
sioner.
333 X NO
Jokes in “Dry’ Amendment
Admitted by “Drys.”
Big blunder is misleading “Prohibition”
Campaign is made.
J. E. WHEELER,
Chairman of the Committee of One
Hundred Admits In Public Print.
That Prohibition is AN INFRINGEMENT OF PER­
SONAL LIBERTY
That the word “DISTRIBUTION w;s DELIBERA­
TELY LEFT OUT OF the proposed “ prohibition" amend­
ment.
That ANY CITIZEN may ship liquor “ direct from
some other state” into “HIS OWN HOME.”
Every Claim made by the Anti-Prohibition
Forces against the Proposed Prohibition Amend­
ment in Oregon is Confessed in the three above
admissions.
A fake orchard company operating
on the Columbia River wa* rxposed
by the Corporation Commissioner of
Oregon, under the "Blue Sky” law
and some of the people who bought
orchard* have got their money back. I
le same law would allow any blind pigger with a HOME to ship liquor "direct from some other state” to HIS own
home, for the BLIND PIGGER is as much ofa "CITIZEN" as any other man or woman in Oregon And the b!.nd XgZ"
leiausehe is NOl I NDER INSPECTION by federal, state or city officials, will make one barrel of PURF WINF RFER
^^°^Xi^XoBARRELS OF ro,soxol,s BEVERAGES
‘ -Œ2S
I aid advertisement. Taxpayers A Wage Earners' League of Oregon, Portland Ore.
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