The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-12-08
HOW OREGON WON
DOWN AT Ell PASO

FL Paso
son the train my father and / found
the Oregon delegation enroute to the
convention that they might begin an
early and active campaign for the cap
ture of the next congress for Portland.
They formed splendid group of men !:
namely, the Hon. L. L. Smith of Hood
River, president of the Oregon Develop.
ment ieague and man who has attained
an enviable reputation in agricultural
science as well as in state politics |;
Judge Stephen A. Lowell of Pendleton.
Mr.. Smith and Judge Lowell later
made brilliant speeches before the con-
vention to forward the interests of their
state, and these, together with the
hustling proclivities of A. King Wilson,
secretary of the Oregon Irrigation assoc
iation and "wheel horse of Portland
progress" A. H. Devers and other
enthusiastic delegates, won for Portland
the congress of 1905. They had strong
and persistent contestant In Boise City,
Idaho, Because of the strenuousness
of the battle, the victory was more
commendable. At first Los Angeles
had aspirations, but gracefully with
drew in favor of Portland and aided her
in every way possible. 1t is hoped that
Portland will extend the same courtesy
to Los Angeles for 1906, when that city
intends to make strong fight for the
possession of the congress.
"The method of campaigning en-
ployed by the Oregon delegates attracted
great attention and interest throughout
the session in FL Paso. They were for
titled with thousands of Lewis and
Clarke buttons, which they distributed
broadcast, also broad white satin badges
bearing the inscription, Portland,
1905" They brought with them from
their proud state many boxes of de-
licious crimson apples, but best of all
they brought six Columbia river salmon
aggregating 1876 pounds. These were
presented to the various hotels where
the delegates were stopping, that they
might be served and sampled When
Ell Paso was reached, they fitted up a
reception room in the Sheldon hotel.
Beautiful pictures of Oregon scenery
covered the walls. Apples were on tap.
A magnificent salmon four feet in
length lay on an ice bed in huge
trough, and was the center of drawing
room attractions. Literature regarding
Oregon's facilities was conspicuous.
Stuffed pheasants with beautiful plum
age, assisted the salmon in portraying
northern possibilities. The hospitality
of the Oregon delegates was delightful.
Their atmosphere was one of progress
sion, perseverance and power, and
Oregon will not soon be forgotten by
those who attended this congress. Their
methods Of electioneering might serve
as excellent examples for the coming
Los Angeles campaign, which will
undoubtedly take place at Portland
next year.
"Human curiosity is an active task
master. At Ell Paso it won against
reason, and was responsible for large
attendance at the Mexican National
game. Few Americans enjoyed the
spectacle and most of them declare
they will never go again. Taken as a
whole, bull fighting is the most inhum.
an, hideous, revolving, degrading spec.
tacle imaginable. Horses, SO weak and
faint from starvation that they can
scarcely get off walk, are deliberately
ridden in front of the bull, already
infuriated by the thrusts of the bander.
illeros, and gored to death. In com.
pany with Mr.. and Mrs. Pliney Evans,
delegates from Riverside, attended
one of these fights, because j
wanted personal knowledge of this
thing that Mexico calls "fun" and
"sport." One of the bulls tossed both
horse and picador high into the all
from the tips of its powerful horns
When they dropped there was gushing
of blood, quivering of limbs, and death
most horrible. Two horses and three
bulls were killed during this game. As
it is the national game of Mexico, they
uphold it, applaud it, patronize il
necessarily, just as we patronize oul
theaters. The more blood split, the
merrier, the more furious the bulls, the
better while we? we cringe and cover
eousness. Without the gore and cruelty
which, however, seem indispensable tC
the Mexican ideal, the game would be
picturesque and enjoyable to the ex
treme, for the gracefulness and agility
and skill of the matadors, lazadores
banderilleros and picadors in their gay
embroidered costumes as they dart
about the arena with the bull furiously
pursuant, is a wonderful and fasCinat
ing spectacle Every moment you
expect to see the man gored to death
But these players have had long train
ing. The bulls are quick, but thest
men have brains as well as fleetness o
limb, and the beasts are powerles
against this combination.