East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-01-24
FIGHT ENL|VENS
game ASSN. MEET
Police Chief Kept Busy In
Dove of Peace Role
at Session
Newspaper Man Puts Ear in Way of
Game Wardcn's Flying Fist-An-
other Bout Averted

AS the latest chapter in the attempt
being made to establish a fish hatch
cry at Gibbon, a stirring and any
thing but pacific meeting was held
by the members of the Umatilla
County Fish and Game association
last evening. Frank Earnhart was
called upon to answer why he had
aroused the Indians on the reserva-
tion 70 refuse the request made for
use of the land at Gibbon for a hatch
cry site and the discussion which
followed was marked with much bit
terness. The feeling against Earn
hart was unanimous and before the
meeting was adjourned, this feeling
came near to developing scenes Of
violence.
Earnhart, according to his fellow
members of the association, has for
several months been nursing a secret
grievance against c. X. Cranston,
chairman of the state fish and game
commission, because the latter had
used his influence to secure the ap-
pointment of Edgar F. Averill rather
than Earnhart as deputy game war
den for the county. The disgruntled
one. by his own admission last night.
when pinned down by questions, was
actuated solely by the motive of re-
venge against Cranston when he in
fluenced the Indians against giving
the desired permission. stating last
night that he would go to any extent
to "get even" or words to that eff
feet.
Aroused Indians Suspicious.
At the opening of the meeting,
when asked why he had gone to
Chiefs No Shirt, Umapine and other
influential Indians with the represen-
tation that the association was at
tempting to cheat them out of their
land, Earnhart declared his opposi-
ton to the proposed hatchery was
based on his belief that the commits
sion was asking for more ground
than was necessary and that the es-
tablishment of a hatchery would
mean the prohibition of fishing for
three quarters of a mile along Mea-
cham creek.
When these arguments were ex-
planned away, number of the mem
bers, among them President Wesley
Matlock, Charles H. Carter and G. l.
La Dow, began directing sharp ques-
tions at Earnhart which led to his
acknowledgements of his real motive
and which aroused him to state of
belligerency. Hurting an epithet of
uncomplimentary color at Cranston,
he attempted to follow it up with a
rush upon the man who had aroused
his enmity but was restored to his
seat with more violence than grace
by Chief of Police Kearney, who is
q member of the association and a
| strong advocate of the hatchery.
The meeting was an informal one
| and a formal one will probably be
called within a few days to take de-
cisive steps in the matter. Efforts
have been made today to restore
harmony between Earnhart and the
other members for the sake of the
cause to which the association is
pledged but these efforts failing,
Earnhart will probably be asked to
withdraw from the organization.
Newspaperman Made Uncomfortable
The bellgerency which marked the
! meeting was not all caused by the
/ action of Earnhart. When that
matter had been temporarily settled
Deputy Game Warden Averill called
upon w. A. Hiatt. representative OF
local newspaper, to state the au'
thority for his published statement
to the effect that the proposed
hatchery has no state backing. Thi:
Hyatt refused to do and, when othel
members of the association begar
plying him with questions. the re
; porter arose and moved toward tn,
: dor. A retiring remark, however
directed at Averill, aroused the dep
uty game walden to retaliate with al