The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-01
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garded il as sincere newspaper, al
all times aiming to advance the inter.
ests of Oregon. We have found 1t faii
In the past and have enjoyed its homes,
comments on matters Of public inter
est.
But the Statesman has retrograded
In its issue of Thursday it contains ar
editorial entitled, "Astoria's Candi.
date" that is so glaringly unfair. SC
plapabiy uncalled for and so strikingly
dishonest that one can scarcely believe
the Statesman responsible for it. The
article Is in effect that the election OF
Mr.. Fulton to the United States SEN
ate means the closing TO navigation OF
the Columbia river above Astoria--a
condition that the interests OF Astoria
demand, and for which every Astorian
has always contended. Read this from
the Stat asman:
There is but one sentiment which
actuates every Astorian. They are
good people down there. but they VIII
sacrifice everything else within the
bounds Of reason TO whatever Will
further the interests of their town.
No one blames them for this, but when
the growth of Astoria involves the
shoaling Of the Columbia river from
the town of Portland in order that It
may become the seaport of Oregon. As
toria's interests must be made supserv-
len. to those of the rest OF the state.
If the Columbia river We're allowed
to shoal from Portland 10 Astoria so
side Of that city, and forty foot cham
mel were maintained across the bar, 1t
would necessitate the sending of all the
immense business Of the entire coun-
try by rail. The magical effect this
would have on ,Astoria's growth is too
well known to need more than a mere
mention. And to do this is the dream
OF every Astorian. And why shouldn't
1t he? In every controversy between
Portland and the sound on the question
of commercial interests, Astoria papers
universally take sides against Portland.
The reason is plain.
At this time every Astorian, even
those who for ages have fought Mr..
Fulton bitterly, is shouting for his ell
ection. The Astoria people are unir
against the improvement or the river
above Astoria. The sentiment there
is universal in the belief that Astoria is
the natural seaport for the state and
that the effort to maintain Portiand's
supremacy in that regard is an arbl-
trary. distortion Of natural conditions.
Everybody KNOWS this. and no one
knows it better than the people Of
Portland.
In answer to all this Mr.. Fulton
says: Have not repeatedly declared
my belief that the Columbia river
should be opened to the sea?'
This is true, but how are we to know?
There are Astorias interests, which all
point the other way. and so do all OF
Astoria's people.
So the Statesman believes. with the
Oregonian, that Mr. Fulton should not
be elected 20 the United States sena,e
because he lives at Astoria? Well,
this is a surprise. We had all along
thought that the Statesman was too
loyal to the interests of its own city
to father the sectional strife that the
Oregonian has attempted to create, and
even now we doubt its sincerity in thus
attacking Senator Fulton. Resort to
argument of this sort shows up the
weakness Of The Statesman's contention
for Governor Geer, and makes 1t plain
that the capital city paper is in sorry
straits for campaign thunder.
The Astorian knows whereof it |
speaks when II says that the Statesman
departs from the truth in insisting
that every Astorian wants the Colum-
bia river closed. above Astoria. At
times during the great common point
discussion-an agitation that was car
ried on as much for the benefit OF the
city Of Salem as for that of the city of
Astoria--it was stated that the people
Of Oregon would be the better off if the
Columbia river terminated at Tongue
point, but there has never been any an
tagonism to improvement of the river
above Astoria. The matter of the ex-
tension of terminal rates to this city
has rested solely with the railroads,
whose refusal to accede to Astoria's
demand for recognition has settled
the question definitely.
When Mr.. Fulton is elected to the
United States senate, let US have the
Statesman understand, he will repre-
sent all Of oregon, He will work as
fnlthfnllx for the necessary river ap.