East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-10-31

trusted by the ]. Thorburn Ross
bank lobby in framing legislation in
its interest in the legislative session
in 1907.
Under the name of "Joinder,"
Bowerman was the man called on by
the Ross lobby TO watch" bills for
it.
As chairman of the committee in
charge, Bowerman, alias "Joinder,"
killed the Marquam suit review bill.
He assisted in emasculating the
Miller bill regulating deposits of
state funds, by which Ross was en-
abled to secure big deposits of state
funds practically without security.
He was a member of the commit
tee which extended the time of op-
Grafton OF the banking act, whereby
Ross later sought to escape convic-
ton for misuse of state money.
Ever hear of "Joinder?"
"Joinder" is the name under which
Jay Bowerman, assembly candidate
for governor, is held in memory in
the archives of the Title Guarantee 6
Trust company, of which the presi-
dent, ]. Thornburn Ross, is under sem
tence to the penitentiary because of
his misuse of state funds.
Ross maintained an active lobby at
Salem during the legislative session
of 1907, and carried on telegraphic
communication in a cipher code with
those who were watching legislation
in the interest of the bank. The lob
hx- !; i,, tho +l,
files of cipher messages show that
Jay Bowerman was one of the men
depended on by the bank lobby to win
| its points.
The Ross lobby was nervous ovel
three bills in February, 1907. One
was Haines' senate bill No. 1O3, regu
lating banking. Jay Bowerman wa!
a member for the banking commit
tee, and the bill was not passed unit
it had been amended and several fang
extracted.
Disfigure Another Bill.
Another was NJ. A. Miller's senat
bill No. 2, regulating the deposit o
state funds. This was wonderfully
disfigured in the committee on stat
and county government before it wa
finally passed. Jay Bowerman wa
chairman of that committee, whic
reported practically a new bill.
The third measure was Jackson
house bill No. 267, which would hav
enabled Judge Marquam to obtain
judicial review of his suit to recove
the Marquam building, which ha
fallen into the hands of Ross and hi
associates. This bill, after passin
the house without opposition, was re
ported adversely by the senate com
mittee on revision of laws, OF whic
Jay Bowerman was chairman. 1t wa
finally killed on a motion maye
Bowerman, otherwise known as Join
der"
One of the most interesting mes
sages sent by the secret code was di:
patched by T. T. Burkhart, treasure
of the Title Guarantee & Trust,
John Kollock, lawyer lobbyist rel
resenting the Ross bank in Salem.
was sent February IL, 1907, the da
the Marquam review bill passed tn
house. The Ross interests were soms
what alarmed, deciding to reinforc
the lobby and put the Marquam bi
under close espionage in the senat
Pick "Joinder' for Job.
> Apparently the Ross forces wei
already fully apprised of Bowerman
. friendship, and when the crisis can
"Joinder" was the man chosen aboI
all others to watch this hostile bil
Burkhart's telegram to Kollock rea
as follows:
Provide rooms for Munly, me-
him 7:45 train tonight. Ask Joind,
watch namesake vigilantly."
The Munly referred to is Willial
A. Munly, an attorney of Portlan
"Joinder," as shown by the seer
code, Is Bowerman. "Namesake'
the code word for the Marquam r
view bill. These code messages, wit
several others, were published in IL
Oregonian on March 10, 1908.
An inspection of the official sena
journal shows that "Joinder" was {
the job. The bill could not have bee
better watched If Ross had persol
|. ally attended to it. On February l
when the bill came to the sena
from the house, it was referred to Il
| init let 4f