East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-12-26
VESTS PAROLE PLAN
OUTLINED IN PULPIT
OREGON GOVERNOR EXPLAINS
TO PORTLAND CONGREG ALTON
Also Reviews Work of Other Western
states Executives and Himself IN
Advertising Northwest From Special
In the East.


Portland. ore. Dec 26.-Governor
West delivered a sunday morning ad-
dress at the East side Baptist church
East Twentieth and Ankeny streets
sunday. The church was filled to the
doors
The usual congregation Was added
to by various visitors attracted ny
notice that Governor West had ac-
cepted the plea Of the pastor, Albert
Ehrgott. to relieve him from the
duty of preaching by filling his place
in the pulpit.
The bright Christmas anthems and
songs of we'll trained volunteer
chorus filled the first part of the ser
vice. Then Governor West, after
few words of introduction from the
pastor. stepped forward. He began
bv a reference TO the western COVER
pors' trip. He had listened, he SAID.
to the other governors, who told of
the attractions of their states, and to
the opportunities they offered to the
homeseekers from the east.
Oregon's Inland Empire.
The governors of the Dakotas dwelt
on their vast wheat fields, supplying
bread to the nation. But Governor
West reflected that the inland empire
of Oregon was not yet farmed to the
full. Idaho had waterpowers and ir-
rigated lands, TO provide for millions,
where only thousands had Yet grasped
their opportunities. But Oregon had
vaterpower and irrigable lands galore
Montana's mines were the topic Of
her governor. But the riches of Ore
gon's mines, minerals, and mineral
products were but in the infancy of
development. California, the golden
state, dwelt on her unequalled riches,
in products of orchard and vineyard.
of forest and mine, of flowers and of
all beauties of landscape and garden
To adron the home and attract per-
manent' and flourishing population,
But Oregon. thought her governor,
could match attraction for attraction
with her splendid sister on the south.
So said Governor West, il was brought
home to me that, after all. oregon
was the promised land. Why. then
should not prosperity reign through
out her borders, and poverty and un-
employment be unknown? Yet they
were here. and even in great and
growing Portland it was said that un-
employed men were troubling all good
citizens with the problem of finding
for them work and food, and pro-
vision for the future.
Fine Land Beckons.
The land was here-pleading To be
brought to us-the men were here.
many of them walking the streets az
this Christmas time. 1t was the un-
e Il ,f SIC
land owners to bring the labsr to the
land
Among the many duties of the office
that the governor filled it has seemed
to him that the state institutions
should be his first care. And in the
life and treatment of the convicts who
had transgressed the laws and We're
bearing the punishment of their Of
fenses there were insistant calls for
their better management The first
was that they be set TO work. Was
not work-steady. interesting, re-
munerative-the first agency for their
Improvement and reinstatement? Not
merely punishment for crimes past
but reformation of the prisoner, were
the great aims of penal sentences.
Effect of System
To the convicted prisoner who was
beginning the hard work of reform
alton, who was striving to have his
past forgotten in an honest life. such
effort being made possible by the pa
role system of the law, and by the
governors prerogatiye, it was no less
the duty than the privilege of the
governors perrogative, il was no less
For adopting and carrying out that
policy he, Governor West, had no ap-
ologies to offer. 1t had brought on
him misunderstanding and misrepre-
sentation. For himself ii mattered lit
tie. But he pleaded that the men So
striving should not be hindered and
beaten back in their new lives. in or
der to throw obloquy on him. Gov
ernor West read a letter from one man
who had SO suffered to another one
The brave spirit which showed itself
in refusal TO give in, and TO despair
ran through every sentence in the let
ter. There were many wet eyes am.
ong the audience which listened tc
the reading.