Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-09-14
SALEM
PEOPLE
DISPLEASED
State DevelJ . pnent League
Was Nor Properly
Entertained.


the way the State Development
League was entertained. The local
committee, composed of President
Derby, H. B. Thielsen, John H.
Scott, j. H. Albert and F. A. Turner,
were very active in making arrange
ments for an excursion over the city
on the new electric line and an en-
tertainment at the Salem Indian
school, with banquet at Hotel Will
lamette for the officers of the State
League, and the other prominent men
at the head of the state development
work from all parts of the state. All
these arrangements of social ma
ture were Cancelled on request of the
Portland manager, who was opposed
to much doing in the line of enter
tainment.
Delegates were here from klamath
county and from Coos Bay and
Southern and Eastern Oregon, who
had to pay admission after admission
to the state fair, only to be told there
was no opportunity given for pre-
senting the matters in which they
were vitally interested. They went
home disgusted, and say no more
such management Is desired when
an organization attempts to speak
for and represent the whole state.
The Salem committee and the peo-
pie of Salem generally regret that
anyone should have been dissatisfied,
but Salem has never failed to do the
utmost when any other part of the
state had need of support. Salem
sent $500 people to the Lewis and
Clark fair on Salem day. Salem en-
tertained the Portland Business
Mems excursion royalty. Salem is
always first and foremost In support
ing any undertaking in any part of
the state. Salem fights all the year
around for development, for pro-
gress and for the unification of Ore
gon. Marion county takes the lead
In the good roads movement and In
building electric lines, and would
have been glad to show the rest of
the state what we have done in that
respect. But it could not be done
this time, and we were not permitted
to show off and make any suitable
display of hospitality. A manager
of State Development League who
is not broad enough to unite and
harmonic with representative men
who are just as good as he is, when
they come at their own expense, and
bubbling over with enthusiasm for
the upbuilding of the whole state,
should either take lessons In a kim
dergarten of undeyeloped gentlemen
or learn In the school of hard knocks
that the people of the West are not
a lot of school children, to be herded
by any supposed superior intellects
that may be brought out for that
purpose.
Not alone Salem people and Ore
gon people felt that they were not
shown proper courtesy, but men like
Mr.. Mott, the head of the immigra-
tion department. of the Northern Pa
cific railroad. from st. Paul, who
came to attend this. state league
meeting, went away displeased at
the way they were buffeted around,
and failure OF programs TO material
ize. The place for the meeting was
selected by the Portland manager.
He made up his own program, invit-
ed all the speakers. and the pro-
gram was entirely in his hands. The
stage was decorated by the local COM
mittee, and music was furnished for
each session. and the reception COM
mittee was active with badges and
in the meeting and greeting people
and in attending meetings. Yet men
like Mott we're compelled to stand
around and cool their heels session
after session and yet no session.
When he did speak the uproar was
such that few heard HIS best points.
and no effort was made TO make II
possible for him to be heard. He
went away dIsgusted with the man
agement of the State Development
League. which the Portland manager
seeks to throw on the local commit
tee. Mr.. Mott Is a man OF affairs
and business and got some substan-
tial impressions Of the greatness OF
the resources OF this country and
will do things for Western Oregon
over the great system he represents.
but not because of the courtesies
shown him at the State League.