The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-12

ing communication from Ed RoSen'
berg was presented and read, il be,
ing reply to certain criticisms made
by ], I. Welch;
Returning to this city after few
days absence. my attention was cal
led to an article in the Morning As.
torian Of July 10Th, giving an address
read BY J, T, Welch before the Cham.
Der OF Commerce, In this address
the fishery legislation recently enac.
ted by the vote OF the people is
strongly condemned and personal
abuse heaped upon me as responsible
for such legislation.
Were it not for the fact that an
Astorian paper published this "ad-
Dress" | would not take up the val.
liable time OF the Chamber OF Com.
merce in replying to same, as | feel
fully assured that the members OF the
Chamber, many OF whom took an ac-
tive and leading part in our fishery
Legislation fight, considered this ad
dress as the expressions OF an unusu.
ally erratic mind,
But this address having been pub
lished, to remain silent now might
mislead some OF our citizens who
gave loyal support to the Bill abolish
ing fshwheels and whose future sup
port is needed to hold on to what has
been gained.
For over one year past, Secretary
Lorntsen and myself, acting under in
structions from the United Fishermen
OF the Pacific and the Columbia Riv-
Ter Fishermen's Union, have at every
step in this legislation consulted as
to the legal bearing OF same, with at
torney John Fl. Smith As stated al
THE mass meeting at the Astoria the
latre, the leading cannery men last fall
heartily approved the plan OF cam
paign outlined to abolish the fish
wheels and promised financial support
when needed. The State Federation
of Labor and the Oregon State
Grange endorsed our measure. MeI
OF the standing of David Starr Jor
dan, Judge Thomas A. Mcbride, Stat
Senator Wright and many other pub
llic spirited citizens throughout thC
lState gave their approval and sup
port. And the citizens OF Astoria
gave financial, political and other as
sistance. For months members OF the
citizens committee chosen at the mass
meeting, gave willingly part Of their
valuable time to plan and execute ev'
cry move in the campaign for sal
Imon protection. This was no one
mans fight. 1t was fight OF the cit
Iizens OF Astoria, aided by leading cit.
Iizens Of the State, to save our Colum
bia River salmon by abolishing fish
wheels as far as Oregon jurisdiction
) went.
I This object has been obtained. By
IA majority Of 10000 the voters last
June decreed that commercial fishing
for salmon above the Sandy mus
cease after August 25th. The best at
torneys obtainable have been consul
ted and they agree that there is nc
doubt about the legality Of this law
THE fshwheels thus will 60.
1t is true the ishwheel owners, who
claimed they stood to lose $250000 BY
the passage of our measure, placed'be
fore the people trick bill, which
practically abolished all fishing il
the Columbia, except with fshwheels
traps and seines in certain districts
This trick bill with the aid of misrep
resentation and open fraud and as re
ported with lavish expenditure Of mo
ney judiciously placed for the pur
pose of fooling the voters, received
majority of 5000, and was likewise
declared carried. However, the Fed
eral courts have held, and their de
cisions hold in this matter ] am in
formed, that fishery laws for th'
Columbia to be enforcible on gea
which continually drifts from th
waters of one State into the waters o
the other State, must be approved b!
both States. And | am fully conf
dent that the Legislature Of Wash
ington will not enact the fshwhee
owners trick bill, especially as unde
its terms great many trapmen anc
seiners, the allies Of the wheelrnen
would be as severely hurt as the gill
netters. Also the Legislature o
Washington will be shown wha
fraud upon the people Of Oregon wa
perpetrated to carry the trick bill.
/ OF course it is very much to be re