The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-05-14
Aood River Glacier
THURSDAY, MAY IA, 1908.
When II was Editor W. L. Adams.

When IL was Editor w. L. Adams.
The recent issue OF the Oregon Histor-
ieal Society Quarterly contains an inter-
esting contribution by George H. Hines
on the History OF the Press of Oregon,
1889 to 1885," This furnishes, we think,
the first complete account of early Ore
gon journalism. Mr.. Hines has spent
some time in gathering the data, and
has prepared a very readable article.
Somehow there is a fascination about the
history of newspapers in the far West,
and any one imbued with the historical
instinct will delight in reading Mr..
Hines story.
This history of the Oregon press re-
minds us that there lives in Hood River
one who years ago welded the editorial
Quill and whose labors furnish chapter
in the history of the Oregon press. We
refer to Dr. W. L. Adams. In speaking
of the transfer OF the plant and material
of the Oregon City Spectator in 1855 to
w. L. Adams, Mr.. Hines says:
Afterwards the plant was sold to w.
l.. Adams, pioneer OF lS47, for 81, 200.
He used it in starting the Oregon City
Argus. which was issued on April 2l
1355. and was the first distinctively re-
publican paper in Oregon, if not on the
Pacific coast. Prior to this time he had
become well known as teacher, and as
a forcible political writer and speaker
He wrote in the Oregonian over the sig
nature OF "Junius," and was the author
of a locally famous political satire en-
titled "Rreakspear: or Treason, Strata
oams and Spoils.r This was published
in the Oregonian of February IA and 2l,
and March 6 and l3, 1852, and after
wards printed in pamphlet form ano
illustrated with number OF rude car
t0ons--the first attempt ol the KIND II
the territory-which added spice to the
text.
The leading democrats of that day
among them Judge Matthew Z. Oeady
Judve o. C. Pratt, Asahel Bush, editor
of the Oregon Statesman, John Orvls
Waterman, editor of the Oregon Weekly
Times. Col. VIM. NJ. King, and Genera
Josepb Lane, were mercilessly carica
tured All we're veiled under fictitious
names, but the peculiarities and charac
teristies of each one were so aptly de
scribed that the disguises did not hid'
their identity. =,
MIR Adams was born in Painesvllle
Ohio. on February 5, 1921, both parent
emigrating from Vermont to Ohio whel
II was a wilderness. On his father
side he is connected with-the Adam
family Of Massachusetts,, and his mother
whose name was Allen, descended iron
Ethan Allen of Ticonderoga fame, III
went to school at the academy in Milan
Ohio for time, and obtained throug
his own efforts classical education
BETHANY college, Virginia. He came Z
Oregon in lS4S, and the first thing n
did after locating claim in 1amm
comfy, was to Join with his neighboI
In building school house, wherein d
taught the children of the settlers durln
the following winter. &,
Asa master of cutting inveetive h
was rarely equaled and never sui
passed. His proficiency in this dlre'
ton. together with similar qualification
on the part OF two Of his territorial con
temporaries, gave rise TO what was !.
callv known as the "Oregon style" II
was fearless aud audscious 10 the fulle'