The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-01-24
IGNORED BY THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES
DIVISIONISTS GIVEN NO HEARING
But Handful of Opponents Supported
by County Officers Get Ear of
Local Legislators.

Notwithstanding the fact that Sena-
tor Whealdon had agreed to meet a
delegation from this city at Portland
Sunday to discuss the county divis-
ion matter, when the committee called
at the Perkins hotel io that city to
keep its appointn ent the senator was
conspicuous by his absence. The del
egation, which was composed of A.
A. Jayne, Chas. L. Early, Ii. +. Dav-
idson. p. S. Davidson, Leslie Butler,
lC. l.. Morse aud VIM. Kennedy we're
met by Representative KneEie les and
Hendricks, who in lew brief words
informed them that they had been
instructed by their boss to tell the
Hood River citizens that there was
nothing doing.
This terminated the interview alb
ruptly and several of the delegation
came home on the evening train, not
ho Sever, before they saw Senator
Wheadon, who was ambling about
the streets of Poratland to keep out
Of the oammittee's way.
Their inter, lew with him was also
short and to the point, as they we're
bound for Hood River and the fena-
tor evidently wanted to keep ON walk
Ing.
In the previous meeting at which
Senator Whealdon was present he as
sured the committee that If they
could bring data and information to
show that majority of the taxpay-
ers of the new county were In favor
of IL he would take it under consider
alton. Relying on his assurance they
went to Portland Sunday with peti-
tions on which there were the names
of 1898 residents and taxpayers in the
proposed county and who represented
over 81, 900, 600 ot ist assessed valua
tion not including the o. X. d N.
railroad company, the Western Union
Telegraph company, telephone compa-
ny and other public corporations
which are assessed Or S306, 900. The
amount of valuation not represented
on the petitions is S3l2, ,000, much of
which was not represented for the
reason that the owners lad had no
opportunity to sign a petition. The
petitions themselves, GU in number,
represent all the big intel ests in tho
new county, including banks, lumber
mills, railroads, fruit companies,
ditch companies, orchard companies,
trust and guarantee companies in
Portland, who are assessed for thous-
ands of dollars, wealthy fruit growers
in the valley, owners of small proper
| ties, and residents and voters through
out the proposed new county all in
favor OF it and representing an over.
whalming majority that entitled them
to hearing from the men who were
elected to represent the wishes of
their constituents.
Having been given Senator Veal
don's assurance that they would be
treated fairly in the matter and allow
ed IL possible to demonstrate to him
and the other members to the legisla-
ture from Wasco county that they
were representing thousands OF dol
lars, hundreds of taxpay ers and great
business interests, which asked and
we're in favor of county division, they
at least expected courteous treatment.
This they did not get but it WAS Civ
en- the handful of men who have been
opposing the movement and who have
been in consultation with Senator
Whealdon and Representatives GLEN
bricks aud Knowles for hours. Ordi-
nary courtesy ought to at least have
been accorded the gentlemen who, at
time, expense and trouble, went to
keep an appointment for the citizens
of Hood River and other residents Of
district that has heretofore been
considered of a. least passing notice.
Only the day before long consulta-
tition was held with one or two men
lepi esenting themselves, the county
officials and few obstructioniets,
who would rather be wrong than be
president. To them they listened be-
cause they heard what they wanted to
hear, but they also heard so much re-
garding the great uninimity OF opin
ion for the new county that they put
their ear to the ground, heard the
thunder and got out OF the way. They
knew that If hearing was given the
Hood River committee the strength
of their cause must be recognized
and they refused to give it.
The claim of Wasco county's repre-
sentatives that the sections of Wasco
county outside of Hood River are
against county division and that they
have been instructed to oppose it on
that account is untrue and known to
be so by the men who make it, In
formation obtained from VAN G, Wa
pinitia, Cacscade Locks, Tygh Valley
and other sections indicate that there
Is no opposition there and that the
residents believe in the right OF the
petitioners to have new county II
they see tit.
The best and most progressive lesi-
dents of Representativ Hendricks
own town aIe for division and have
so stated. The real opposition is from
The Dailes and Dutur and is being
fcstered by the present officials of
Wasco county and other politicians
who can not see anything hut politi-
cal capital in every phase of life and
are opposing the division wholly on
that ground, ana no other.
This is where the real opposition is
and these are the interests that Sena-
tor Whealdon and Representatives
Hendricks and Knowles are represent
ing in defiance of .the wishes OF the
residents and taxpayers OF the Sec
tions of the county outside of Dufur
and The Dalles.
We do not believe that the members
of the legislature of the stale of Ore
gon will ignore the plea of the citi-
zens of community that has ever
and always upheld the honor and dig
nifty OF its name, community that
has never been called upon to put its
shoulder to the wheel for the good
of the state that 1T has not responded
most Loyalty. We believe that the
members of the legislature will recog-
nize the right and justice of the Pc
titioners for Cascade county and that
they will give them the recognition
denied by Wasco county's representa-
tives, who do not represent.
Get fine roast at Bent's meat mar