The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-10-09
MlTcHELL's SPEECH.
PendIeton, Weston, and the School
children Augmented the Audi
ence Whom the Senator

he present campaign.
Senator John Fl. Mitchell, fepresen-
Iative Of the people in the national legis-
Iaiure, was billed to speak in Athena on
that day, and as natural consequence,
the conjecture was made on all sides,
and particularly By republicans, that
large crowds from the surrounding coun-
trv. would be present. AS far the
turnout from the country was concerned,
Athena has had upon her streets in times
past, an equal number who were in
town for tsading purposes only. How
ever, the audience was one OF fairly good
size, taking into consideration some 35
from Pendleton and Weston, the pupils
Of the fourIrooms Of our public school,
together With fair sprinkling Of demo-
Gratis and Iopulists.
The Local freight from Pendleton was
two hours late, arriving
at the dep0t little after one o'clock. The
Athena Band, in full uniform was on
hand, and as the train drew into the
station, played lively music. The Sena-
tor was met by committee from the Nc
Kinley club of Athena, and was escorted
toa carriage by g. w. Rigby and J. B.
Huntington. A delegation IS strong
from Pendleton, climbed into buses and
carriages which Immediately fell in be-
hind the one occupied by the Senator,
and the march headed by the band and
the drum corps of the young mems Nc
Kinley club, OF Pendleton, started for the
st. Nichols Hotel. At the hotel the Sen.
ator and Pendletonians partook of din
ner.
Senator Mitchell addressed the people
from a dry goods box, on the porch of
the Christian church, the doors Of which
were thrown open in order that those
within the building and those without
could belin reach Of his voice, which was
greatly Effected by hoarseness.
]. j. Hallerey made remarks for about
10 minuses, then lawyer ]. B. Hunting
ton in a very neat, eulogietic manner in
troducedsthe Senator. Mr.. Huntington's
Introductory remarks seemed as though
endowed with inspiration, and the man.
ner in which he introduced Mr.. Mitchell
broughtforth round OF applause. In
the course OF bis introduction OF the Sem
ator to TIE assemblage, Mr.. Huntington
said: II am about to present TO this
audience, the most distinguished citizen
in the state, and one OF the foremost men
on the Pacific slope; and one who is for
the third time occupying seat in the
highest legislative body in this nation,
whose name is q synonym for loyalty,
adherance to principals of constitutional
supremacy, and faith in the political
party toswhich be belongs. A man who
needs no introduction anywhere in Ore
gon, and especially in the Eastern por-
tion OF the state; man whose efforts
have been unremitting in behalf of the
interests Of the people of Eastern Ore.
gon."
Mr.. Huntington assured the people
that the Senator felt gratified and honor
ed by the presence of so large an assemb.
lage, and in closing said that he was
presenting the present senior, and nexI
junior Senator from Oregon, John FL
Mitchell.
There was round Of applause as the
Senaterl mounted the platform, and com
menced the delivery Of his speech which
provedtO be one on agriculture, inter
spersed with the tariff and the silver
questions, the latter being drawn from
him viItually, by questions put to him.
MIR. Mitchell commenced his address by
procIailhing to the people the amount of
pleasure it afforded him to be with them
He stated that 2l years ago be had pass
ed through Umatilla county, and had
stopped over night at a farm house on
the hill above Weston, that be had taken
soil from that farm TO Washington and
bad it analysed to learn for bis pains that
it contained properties peculiarly adapted
for wheat raising.
Mr.. Mitchell then went into the tariff
question red-eyed, and talked OF barley
and prunes. He talked of prunes 80
earnestly, seemingly knowingly, and &C
long, that democrats and populists who
were there to hear about silver, began tC
despair and fear that the distinguished
gentleman was full OF prunes. The SEN
ator, however, gradually camo down tc
the question so anxiously awaited.
He claimed that the republican party
was always willing to discuss any Of the
great issues of the day, and that he hoped
that If any one had questions to ask, they
would LET it be known while he was pres
emf andlnot wait until he was gone.
When asked ii ne did not say in Q
speach ia the Senate last January, that
Sit is Just as impossible to secure inter
acknowledgements to bimatallism as Il
| ia to secure railroad connections between
here and planet Mars" said his reaeor
| for saying 60 was that, since going to 9
gold standard in 1916, England had al
| ways opposed such an agreement, bul
some two months after he made tha
speech, Two resolutions favorable to inter
national agreement had been introduced
in the British house Of commons. liz
then made the statement that, II dem
ocratic president should be elected such al
agreement would be as impossible as rail
road connection with planet five hun
dred million miles beyond the plane
Mars, and, If We had had republican
president the last four years, he believed
We would now be enjoying internationa
bimetalliem.
When asked why We could not hav
international agreement under demo
/ cratic administration, since he had de
clared that after studying the question
for 80 30years--during most OF which tim
we had had republican administration
such an agreement was Impossible AM
then under almost the frat democratic
administration, such an agreement be
come possible by England making over
tuTes for such an agreement, be replied
"Mr lClekeiand had not tried 10 secur
such, and Mr.. Bryan would try inde
pendent bimetallism without asking fo
international agreement
1 When asked il England refused to joil
in an international agreement, II he woul
vote for independent bimetallis m, b
said he most assurediy would, BC
when asked, If be believed the Unite
States government was powerful enoug
to maintain independent bimetallism, b
refused 10 answer, evading the qnestio
by taking up some other part OF the il
sue.
Taken all in all, his talk regarding silvl
was pretty much the same as he mad
the people Of Woodburn, some time ag'
extracts from which were printed In tt
last issue OF the PRKss. After attac
. sag tha aar4oerafic nlzffo1m qnnerall