East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-01-07
Eastern Oregon Legislators
Want What They Want
When They Want H.
COMBINE TO DEMAND
RIGHTS OF SECTION
Conference at Portland on Friday
Evening VIII Consider Only the
Needs Of the Country Eas OF the
CascadesNPOlitics VIII Have No
Bearing-Expcriment Statton-Wa-
ter Legislation and Branch Asylum
VIII BE Demanded.

Portland, Jan. 7.-"You gotta be
good to me-" says eastern Oregon to
the rest of the state. and to enforce
its dlctum the legislators from be-
yond the mountains have arranged a
neat little combine through which
they expect to enforce their demands
and pull down some OF the legislative
plums.
Eastern oregon is going out for
what It wants at the coming session
and does not intend to be shunted off
by the larger delegations and adverse
interests of the western part OF the
state. With that idea in view ar
rangements are being made by eastern
Oregon members OF the house and
senate for a conference of members
from the other edge of the state at
which matters of eastern oregon leg
isiation will be discussed and a definite
plan OF campaign mapped out
Umatilla county wants a branch
asylum 1t announced the fact some
time ago. Came then Baker county
with a desire TO pull down that plum
and with a loud blare OF trumpets as
to that towns claim and now does
Union county enter the lists as an echo
seeking the location of that branch
asylum.
The semi-arid districts Of the state
want an irrigation law that will set
tie the long drawn out disputes over
water rights. Eastern Oregon sheep
men and cattlemen want scalp
bounty law. And there are other
things that eastern Oregon wants the
coming legislature to give through the
enactment of legislation.
At the former sessions Of the legis-
lature eastern oregon has Jared bad
ly at the hands of the legislators
Representatives from some eastern
Oregon counties have made valiant
fights for measures for the better
ment of eastern oregon conditions,
but still other members from other
sections of the eastern part of the
state have Joined with the valley
counties and have aided in the slaught-
er of these pet measures. At the end
of the sessions II has been discover
ed that the eastern men did not get
what they wanted. and they have gone
home firm in the conviction that
there Is strength in union,
The lesson has apparently been
learned and now the eastern Oregon
men are planning to stand as a unit |
on all legislation affecting eastern
Oregon They are also planning to :
tion unless they are given a fair share
at least of what this section OF the
state needs and desires.
Senator Hart and Representative |
Mckinney of Baker county are at the !
head of the movement for a confer
ence Of the eastern oregon men. 1t is
probable that the meeting will be held
Friday or Saturday after the mem
bers have gathered in Portland.
It Is not believed that the meeting
will have any bearing on the organ
ization fight. but that legislative mat
ters will be discussed and concerted
action planned on the different meas
ures to be introduced by eastern Ore
gon men. 1t is fact that should the
men from the other side of the noun
tains decide to stand together on any
measure, either for or against 1t, that
their combined vote would hold the
balance Of power In either house or
both.
As an evidence that the men mean