East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-05-26
pIEHCf FOR JOINT SENATOR.
Ono of the Most Successful legislators
In the State.

Walter NJ Pierce was born In
~Grundy county, Illinois. in 1861, and
came to Umatilla county when %
years Of age and has made this his
home continuously since that time. He
located at Milton first and worked
upon farm in that vicinity for three
years, and in 1856 was elected super
intendeht of schools in Umatilla coun-
ty, serving four years.
In 1890 ne was elected county clerk
and in 1892 was reelected by large
majority. Then for 10 years he was
out of office. devoting himself exclu-
sivelv to business interests in this and
adjoining counties. He was success
ful In business, and by competent
accumulated a moderate fortune and
owns an elegant home in this city
. His property consists in farming lands
in California and Grand Ronde val
ley, in the Hot Lake Sanatorium and
in holdings in Umtailla county. Pen
dleton is his home although he di-
vides his time between this and Union
counties in the management of his
business.
In 1902 he was elected joint sena-
tor for the n-Umatilla-Morrow
county district, for n four-year term,
and is now candidate for reelection
to that office.
During his term Mr. Pierce was n
power in the state legislature. Al
though a minority member he secured
the passage of more bills than any
other individual member of the leg
| islature and his bills have been ac-
cepted as useful and practical laws.
/ Oregon owes her present splendid
/ school law giving each district Sc per
/ capita instead of the 5-mill levy from
! the county court. as formerly, to Wal
| ter NJ. Pierce. candidate for Joint sem
/ ator for the Crlatilla- -Union-M Morrow
county district. This law has increas-
ed the resources of the various dis
tricts in the state from o to 100 per
cent.
Oregon owes her present excellent
local option law to the leadership OF
Waiter Pierce, who led the opposition
to the whiskey rings of Portland
which attempted to throttle and de-
stroy this law at the last Legislature
after the people Of Oregon had adopt
ed It by their ballots.
Among the measures of which Mr..
Pierce is especially proud and which
have been of incalculable value to
the state, is the school law now in
force, giving each district n per cap
ita sum of Sc for each pupil, thus in
creasing tho resources of sparsely set
tied districts and making 1t possible
to hold school where before 1t was
well nigh impossible because of a
scarcity of funds. Mr., Pierce drafted
this bill to give each district sS pei
capita, but was forced by the opposi-
ton to cut down the per capita
amount or lose the bill entire. He
accepted the compromise rather than
have the bill defeated and hopes to
see the per capita amount Increased
in future to SO as originally intended
While in the state senate he has
been n fearless and aggressive fighter
, for his district and for eastern Ore
, gon. He is an able speaker and q
, forceful man. He has led the senate
during his term and was recognized
. as the most aggressive man in that
, BODY The record which he has
made, although in a minority party
proves that he is highly fitted for the
place.
|, Mr.. Pierce Is an enthusiast over the
.. election of United States senators by
the direct vote of the people, and was
. one Of the first candidates for a leg
islative position to sign Statement No
/, pledging himself to vote for the
peoples choice, regardless of personal
inclination. He believes that by this
method only can the integrity Of the
senate be preserved.
He led the opposition against the
Portland machine in the last legisla-
ture when II attempted to call con-
stitutonal convention with a view to
turning over the control of the state
machinery to Portland through
changes in the constitution.
. In the fight for the bill revising the
, basis Of taxation, fixed by. .Multnomah
county, he was invited to speak in the
house while that body was in session
and carried the bill by n bare ma
jority, thus relieving the state of the
burdens imposed by the Multnomah
, | county hill whfch fouor,ht~ e.