The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-12-04
'HOOT|hG OWLS
IN PORTLAND
BIG BIRDS SPREAD THEIR FEATH-
Frs AND ATTRACT ATTEN-
TON IN ROSE CITY.

| The three most distinguished Owls
that ever sat in a tree and hooted are
in Portland today, getting ready for
the big fourday HOTTEST that will come
loft in Portland next month.
! Think of Portland being overrun by
$4,000 Owls or their accredited dele
gates for four whole days (and nights!
That's what the Rose City is up
against
The trio of night warblers in ques-
Ition are HI. Leavitt of Seattle, grand
executive of the Brotherhood of Owls;
iCharles B. Wood of Seattle, grand
secretary, and FredsD. Merrill, national
organizer of the order. They are stay
ling "a the Oregon hotel, having ar
rived from Seattle this morning. They
will meet with Portland Nest No. to-
night at which time the preliminary
four days session of the Grand Nest to
be held here. from January Is tc IS,
1905. says yesterdays Oregonian
The Brotherhood of Owls grows fast
az than a bunch of guinea pigs, in spite
of the fact that it has had to wipe out
an eastern imitation order during it's
brief 10 months existence Discussing
the founding and remarkable growth
of the order, Grand Executive Leavitt
said this morning:
Il don't think any order in the
world ever showed such rapid growth
as ours has. Organized at Walla Walla
September II, last year, less than 10
months ago, we now have a member
ship of more than $4,000. We have 219
local lodges, and have entered 21 states
Seattle, where the grand nest has it's
headquarters. has a membership of
400; Spokane, Tacoma and Walla
Walla each have very large member
growing rapidly. Victoria. Tacoma and
Spokane were contestants for holding
the next national convention. but Port
land won out. and we are now here to
he session.
Mr. Leavitt declared that the Order
Of Owls, an imitation and plagiarism
on the Brotherhood, was organized at
South Bend. Ind, by a small clique of
fellows who were envious of the rapid
upbuilding of the western order, but
! that it had practically gone out of bust
ness from lack of support
"They spent thousands of dollars try
ling to get d fOOthold." continued Grand
Executive Leavitt land sent organizers
all over the country. A few lodges were
,s:arted, but when the members found
out they We're the victims of a steal
on our order a majority of them quit
/ cold and joined our order They have
died natural death at almost all the
Icities in this part of the country where
they have tried to buck us, and we
| don't pay any attention to them any
more. They even went so far In trying
, to discredit us as 20 float a cOlOred or
gahiZation of alleged Owls m the the
south. But even that has failed of re-
Suits
| Mr.. Leavitt was one of the founders
of the Brotherhood of Owls and was
also a founder Of the Fraternal Order
of Eagles When it comes to feathery
fraternities. Leavitt is a natural bonn
ornithologist, and he doesn't deny it.
| Gus c. MOser and Jay H. Upton. a
couple of PA" Owls of the Portland
nest, are toting the distinguished WISH
tors about town today and are learn
ling just how little bits of owI-iets into
great big hooters grow
The national convention will prob
ably bring at least 1000 owls into town
for the four days. The streetcar COM
pany is ordering a new flock of owl cars
for the big show
f,x, h.