The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-04-10


of county conventions to deal with
county and state affairs, and be.
lieving it to be our imperative duty
to look first to the direct interests
of our home people, hereby pledge
the party of this county and all
candidates named by this conven.
tion, from the highest to the lowest
office, to work for and support by
ballot and in all other honorable
means retrenchment in every form,
and especially reduction of salaries
and expenses in all county and
state affairs; and under this pledge
hereby resolve that we are unequi-
vocally in favor of
First, placing all state and
county officers upon salaries, such
salaries to be made commensurate
with the salaries paid by inoividu.
ais for like talert and services.
Second, The abolishment of all
unnecessary state commissions.
and especially the railroad com
mission, and domestic stock com.
mission and fish commission.
Third, The abolishment of the
office of attorney.genera Of this
state.
Fourth, We denounce the secre-
tary of state taking fees in excess
of the constitution as being a plain
violation Of his official oath, and a
betrayal of the trust reposed in
him by the people.
Fifth, That we denounce the ac.
tion of the last legislature of the
state of Oregon in passing house
bill No. Ga, whereby the school
lands of the state of Oregon were
withdrawn from market. and where
by and wherein it is made possible
for corporations and timber grab.
bers to acquire large tracts of the
most valuable lands of the state at
nominal price, defrauding the
school funds Of the state out Of
large sums Of money, that individ-
uals may profit.
Sixth, We denounce as worse
than robbery the scandalous action
of the last republican Legislature
in the employment of large num-
Der of clerks for political purposes.
Seventh, While we are firm be-
levers in giving charity to all the
county's needy poor, we condemn
as reckless extravaganza the action
of our present county court in
granting county aid to the lazy
and shiftless, as we'll as to the
needy.
Eighth, We further denounce the
action of the county court in its
negligent, careless and unbusiness-
like methods Of allowing printing
bills, mileage, and other illegal
bills and fees.
Ninth, We condemn the action
Of the county assessor in the EN-,
ployment Of needless deputies,
thereby adding unnecessary bur-
dens upon the taxpayers for the
purpose of personal gain.
Tenth, We pledge our nominees
to the legislature to the support Of
a labor lien law, whereby the la-
borer shall have the first lien upon
the products of his labor services.
Eleventh, We favor the deduc-
tion of all just debts from the
amount of each individuals assess
ment.
Twelfth, We endorse the efficient
and business.like manner in which
the Office Of recorder Of conveyances
has been kept during the past two
years, and in the light of the action
of the late republican convention
we charge them with insincerity in
their demands for efficiency and
economy in office.
H. L. Hexter was appointed
second assistant secretary.
w. J. Furnish and D. w. Nc
Dannald were appointed tellers.
Nv. J. Furnish in neat little
speech nominated VIM. Blakeley OF
Eastland, for the office Of saeriff.
The motion was seconded by J. F.
Johnson in few well chosen re-
marks, during which he paid high
tribute to the character and quail
fications of Mr.. Blakeley.
There were no further nomina-
tions and Mr.. Blakeley was de-
clared the unanimous choice of the
convention for the Office of sheriff.
The next order Of business being
the nomination of county clerk,
j. HI. Raley took the floor and
said:
1T becomes my pleasant duty at
this time TO place before the con-
vention another democrat who is
tried and true. aud another demo
crat who will be elected next June,
and / want to say to you, gentle
men of the convention, no more
competent man can be placed be-
fore you for consideration than the
gentleman / have the honor to
place before you today. Now
gentlemen ! have the honor to
place before you the name of John
Vert, of Pendleton."
There being no other nomina-
tions the vote for Mr. Vert upon
motion was made unanimous.
G. Fl. Carter placed Jas. A.
Howard, Of Pendleton, in nomina-
/ 4e~.~ e. afst ~racwIre