, 1882-06-17
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE


PENDIrToS. Ogn-. June 5, iss2
The jig i. up, and division IN Uma'iila
county Is knocked higher thaa Beeehers
Life of Christ" Nr Pennington, the dem
oeratic candidate and auti-divIsionis', l.
rircted b. iarrer majority tilan any stat
senator ever had before. He is ahead about
700 votes in total OF 800. Tins Is so IN
expected ,hat mu n surprise Is expressed
bat it can very easily be accounted for. Up
TO the Friday preceding the election the di-
vision feeling was strong, and erything
looked favorable on that issue The towns
and precincts of Cottonwood. Milton. "es-
ton, Centerville, Greasewood AMI Others
were q ioin in with the Heppner country
and sweep everything before them and three
counties instead OF one, was TO be the result
at the next legislature. Ii was a good plan-
but there were some very weak points about
IL which the anti-divisIonIs;s were not slow
to avail themselves OF. Centeryille y e1ceed'
ingly jealous Of Weston, and Milton itself
has as good a right as any other town TO be-
come a county seat, and therefore is not In
cline.i to look with willing eye or assist
any rival. Now, the people Of Weston are
4 wide-awake, energetic class. They have
built mp 4 town in the center Of the richest
country in Umatilla county, and they have
always been the first 70 work for and agitate
the dividing OF the county. and this very
naturally caused the other asplrants 70 the
county seat TO imagine that Weston would
fight ha;d for that questionable honor, and
there is no doubt but they would have done
50. Tins Jealous feeling was so worked upon
by the aniI-divisionists thst in two days all
The well laid plans We're Oyerthrown, prom
.ses broken and Mr. Steen, on whom the di-
vision rested. WAS defeated everywhere ex-
crpt At Milton and Weston. The slaughter
conmeuced st Ccnterviile, AMI that republI-
can precinct gave democratic majority ot
nearly $50 out of a vote of about 3DO.
Weston. democratic precinct, gave on the
issue 4 republican majority OF l05 ont OF a
vote Of 3:u. ADi in spite Of these facts
stanug them clear in the face. these very
voters II tnTn aToand aud abuse 4 news
paper for giving expression to its honest and
independent ideas. In future | intend 20
take my poitIcs as the voters take Their
whiskey -~traight.
Now for a more congen;a! topic, and one
ur which | can write with mo:e pleasure
,fan any other. ! allnde 10 th- prosperity
OF the county. When inst visited Pendle-
ton, during tine Bsnnack outbreak, the place
CONSISTED Of a few business houses and many
residences. Il had Just began to feel its legs,
a. II we're, and the citizens being live enter
prising gentlemen, with that open hearted
generosity which is such characterized, of
our frontier population, made stranger feel
good, and left a lasting impression that they
would surely build up n commercial center
which mnst ultimately stand head and shout
irrs above any other rival in that portion OF
the conniy. and brc0me 10 Eastern Oregon
what Walla Walla is 10 Eastern Washington
without 4 rival IL br ared and to-day
II Is tins position.
The improvements gong on are IN them
selves sufficient to prove its future status:
large brick buildings for banks and mercan-
tile business are gong up as rapidly as men
and money can push them. and Others are
projected but must wat until workmen can
be procured. The railroad is now within
a few miles Of the place. and by the 4th OF
July the iron horse will quench his THIRST in
the city. Around the country tributary
unto it every acre of land is rapidly being
placed under cultivation, and even this Sea
sons harvest will keep the ears running day
and night to carry off the surplus gram.
The railroad is the making of the country
and the people appear to he well satisfied
with the company and what they are doing
Ior lis development, and well may they he,
ior it viii adj millions to property vs'ues
throughout the entire region.