The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-03-07
NEWBUS|NESSMENSAS AS
SOCIATIDN UNDERWAY
SECRET AssEMBLAGE HELD
AT COURT HOUSE, WE'D
NESDAY NIGHT LAST.

There developed IN this city yes
terday fact that has been held
under the rose" since last Wednes-
day night, closely guarded by those
that took part in it, and thought to
be secure from general knowledge
But II suffered from the usual leak
and Ii now practically, public prop
crty.
A movement was started, IN a sur
reptitous way, for the organization Of
Merchants Mutual Protective AS
sociation," in other words, merger
Of the men and businesses Of Astoria,
committed 10 the proposition Of
opening Up this city 10 the old-time
days and conditions. Invitations were
quietly passed around wherever It
was thought they would be welcome,
and the call was backed by the quiet
caution to keep it still'; the date
was fixed for last Wednesday night
and the place named was the County
Court room, which was granted the
rcactionaries for the purposes Of the
meeting.
AT the hour specified there were
probably dozen people at the court
house (if that many, and included
in that crowd were DR.. w. c. Logan,
ex Councilman, and present Police
Commissioner; George Kaboth, AL
bert Dunbar, Sam Z. Harris, F. N.
Cross, Charles F. Wise and Julius
Wilberg, with enough Others to make
the Bakers ratio alluded to. The
members Of the city press were abso-
luteiy barred and ignored and espee-
ial pains taken to keep them at
distance the embargo including all
members OF the Civic League, and
anyone suspected OF having church
Affiliations Of any sort. The mere
fact that not whisper was allowed
to escape, before, or after, the meet
ing, indicates beyond all argument
that the affair was secretly devised,
carefully submerged and jealously
shielded.
Police Commissioner Logan presided
over the meeting with his usual abil-
ity and adaptability. Speeches of the
evening were made by the gentlemen
present on the issues in hand; and dur
| ing the evening a resolution is said
ID have passed providing that at
subsequent meeting, all present stood
pledged to bring another member
with him; probably with the idea OF
building the strength OF the move
ment upon the "endless chain" idea.
The Morning Astorian regrets its
inability to give the details Of the ses-
sion, owing to the barriers set up
against the reporters Of this and all
other papers in the city; but taking
its cue from the genial chairman OF
the evening, it is directed to say that
the trend OF the movement is to "es-
tablish mutuality, unity OF purpose,
among the businessmen Of Astoria,
looking to the early requirement here
OF number Of wholesale houses"
etc, etc, etc, etc. All of which, or
as much of which, may be believed
| by the thoughtful citizen as he de-
sires to swallow.
Il is understood that the slogan
adopted at this meeting runs thus
wise: "If anyone asks you about
this, tell EN- you wasn't there" And
upon this shrewd and appropriate un-
derstanding, adjournment was taken
to an indefinite day and hour, when
the high-sign will be given and the
conclave will re-assemble to perfect
exact and agreed details for a general
"wide-open town" campaign, which
will be started, in a public way, by a
petition, signed by such merchants
and citizens as are of that notion, for
presentment to the Common Council
of this city, urging that such admins
listrative steps be taken by that body
as shall remove the impediments now
existing, and ior the passing OF such
orders to the police and the depart
ment officers, as shall throw down