The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1912-07-18
.ELKS CONVENTION
GREATEST EVER
Portland Decleaed Grandest
Entertainer Open House
Kept by Heppner Lodge
Many Visitors Received.

Portland now has another pennant
to wave before the eyes of the world
Not baseball pennant, but a ICON
vontion city pennant labelled B. +.
O. E., meaning "Best Place Or
Earth To the eyes of the outside
world this statement may appear
somew hat presumptucus, but TO the
100, 0O0 or more visitors at the metrop-
oils last week there is no doubt Of
Portland's position at the head of the
column. Perhaps at no other conven-
tion were such elaborate preparations
made for the entertainment of visitors
and perhaps at no other convention
were these preparations so fully and
completely enjoyed. From the open
ing to the closing the spirit of jOllity
was rife and if there was a visitor
present who did not enjoy himself ii
was because there was something
utterly wrong with his makeup.
Money, especially that of visiting
brothers was greatly deprecated in
| value. No. l42 had made such extern
sive preparations for the entertainment
of delegates and visitors that it was
hardly necessary for the brothers to
spend their hard earned dollars. In
this the Portland lodge established
new precedent and the city has set a
new pace for future convention hosts.
The nnselfish loyalty of the business
men and citizens generally contrived
to make the convention the greatest
ever and has placed the great nation
al gathering in new light.
To aid in the general scheme of en-
tertainment ard likewise to place
their respective lodges on the map
MANY delegations established head
quarters in the principal hotels and
to these places hundreds Of visitors
fiocked daily to enjoy tie hospitality
of the generous hosts. The most no.
ted of these parlors were perhaps the
California delegations who held forth
at the Portland. They entertained
in a lavish manner, dispensing
oranges. wines, and other products of
their state in generous quantities
Medford also set rapid pace and i'm
pressed the visitors with the fact that
southern Oregon is on the map. Sa-
lem gave away many cherries. Pen
dleton had an elaborate display of
Indian blankets and succeeded in dis
posing of considerable quantity of
roundup spirit before the convention
was over Baker, The Dalles, AL
bany, Roseburg, Eugene were all there
and last but not least. Heppner. No
358 had Headquarters in the new Per-
kins, room 100, and here an open house
was maintained throughout the week
The entertainment was not so lavish
as some of those mentioned, but the
welcome was ever as warm and the
friends made were just as many.
With no idea of boosting Heppner or
trying in any way to make big rep
utation, the local lodge unselfshly
devoted its time and energy to looking
after visitors. The quarters, though |
small, furnished rest for many tired |
sightseers, and many old Heppnerites
spent pleasant hours with former
1eighhors and made the acquaintance
If new arrivals. The punch table,
presided over by a liveried youth, was
ever ready to meet the demands of
,he thirsty, and had complete record
# visitors been kept it no doubt
would include every state in the un-
on as the recipients of Heppnsr s hos
)itality. AS it was a roster was Kept
n which can be found many names.
Tut this does not give a definite idea
# the number of visitors.
Heppuer entered Thursdays parade
With about so members. Owing to
he scattered membership it was diff
icult to draw out complete attend
nce, but considering the size Of the
odge the showing was very oreditable.
The costume, depicting the shepherd of
Id, was typical of one of the substan-
ial industries of the Heppner coun-
ry, and the colors of the order were
dominant in the robes. Pendleton
the Roundup; The Dslles
resented her wheat and woolen in
ustry; Heppner, without the aid of
rass bands. the shouts of buckaroo
nd imitation Indian, marched quietly
through the gazing multitude, a ft- ,
ing representation of the commercial
nd industrial life Of the community
which they represented. In the par
ance of the street, they were There, " /;
nd it is a source Of pride to the lodge
nd to the community in general that
Ieppner should be so ably represent o
at such a notable gathering. b