Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-08-12
Harvey w. Scott.

There is scarcely a nook or corner
of this part of the continent, in
which the name of this distinguished
and truly great man is not house
hold word. mentioned with reverence
and awe. He was one of the people,
identified with them by association
and habits. In youth he lived in
Mason county, on a farm and teach
irg school and took an active part in
the strenuous activities Of the Indian
war of 1886. AT is close, when about
20 years old, having conceived an
ambition fer an education, he walked
to Oregon a distance of about $50
miles to enter an institution of learn
ing, where he chopped wood and
worked on q farm in summer to at
terd school in winter. BY this
means he graduated at Forest Grove
in 1864. when he went to the gold
fields in Idaho and spent year rs a
miner and a saw-mill hand. He re-
turned to Portland and spent a
couple of years as custodian of the
Portland Library. 1t remained for
Henry L. PittOck. then proprietor of
the Oregonian, to discover the yet
undeveloped genius as journalist in
Mr.. Scott. He was employed to edit
that paper, until 1873, when he was
appointed Collector of Customs, and
was removed the succeeding year, it
is said for refusal to pay a heavy as
sessment levied by a local newspaper
owned by an influential clique, head
ed by Ben Holiday, the then railroad
king. He then formed q partner
ship with Mr.. Pittock, and from that
time the progress of the Oregoniian
has been onward and upward, that
connection continuing till bis death.
His individuality and the once in
lifetime opportunity presented to
Mr.. Pittock OF obtaining the press
franchise at time when the civil
war news was prime necessity to
everybody. conspired as powerful fac
tors for leading the van in North Pa.
cific newspapers. AS an indication
OF the marked ability of the man it
may be cited that although Repub-
lican, he maintained bis place in the
party Notwithstanding he repudiated
a protective tariff and always advo-
Gated tariff only for revenue. His
influence was also shown on mono
metalism. which position was decid-
eddy unpopular Notwithstanding it
was placed in the Republican plat
form by the gold sharks OF Wall
street who held the government by1
the neck and demanded gold bonds
in time of the civil war.
Mr.. Scott died in Baltimore, in
John Hopkins Hospital Sunday morn
ing of heart failure, 80 hours after o
surgical operation for prOstaticto-
my. He left the operating table, it
is said. in strong condition, and it
was thought the operation had been
entirely successful, but q relapse be-
gan which ended in death the sue
ceeding morning.
His wife and son Leslie were with
him. They had accompanied himon
his mission for relief. two sons and a
daughter, Miss Judith. remaining in
Portland.
Mr.. Scott began failing about
three months ago. from an attack of
sciatica. A visit to Hot Lake, East
ern Oregon. did him no good, and he
saw that the only hope-and bare
one at that-was in surgical opera
ton. Heart failure was unexpected.
He arrived in Baltimore in as fine
condition and strength as when he
left Portland four and half DAYS
before.
Mr.. Scott had been afflicted with
scarcely days illness during his
life. Last April he went East to at.
tend the annual meeting OF the asso-
ciated Press, in which he was o d.
rector. In returning en- route he
took q severe cold, which was prob
ably the beginning of his troubles.