The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-12-18

- HERE is no more familiar fig
ure on the streets of Seattle
than Edward Clayson, editor
Of the Patriarch. Of patriar-
chial appearance, vigorous in
mind and body, unafraid Of the world
or it's opinion, inhexible in his own
honesty Of purpose. Mr.. Clayson has
carved an unique place for himself
in Seattle neWspaperdom. A veteran
Of the Crimean war, he is also a pio-
neer of Puget sound. Between this
ancient struggle and his location in
the then far Northwest he lived for
a time in the Orient.
Clayson's rugged intellectually
was largely acquired by early expe-
rience and later by deep reading of
only three books-the Bible, Shakes
peare and Carlyle's French Revolu-
ton" With these at his hand, he
commanded mail sloop, ran hotel,
worked as a bartender-always read
ing. He developed a sense of justice
and a love of fair play, a tendency to
activity in controversy, and was
naturally in the thick of all political
trays.
It was not until he had grown
white with years that Edward Clay
son determined to provide himself a
vehicle through which to expound his
views and preach his doctrines of hui
man rights. Because of the advanced
age Of the newly made editor and
publisher he chose the name Patri-
arch for his paper. Starting without
funds and with no resources other
than his vigorous style of exhorta-
ton, he conducted the Patriarch for
more than dozen years without the
failure Of an issue. Except for his
snow white hair and beard his more
than four-scOre years sit lightly upon
him. His is a remarkable preserva-
ton of physical and mental power
and vigor.-The Seattle Post-Intelli-
gencer, November II, 1913.
Two slight errors in the above:
My age is seVenty-fVe; the name of
''The Patriarch" has no personal sig
nificance, but everybody, as we'll as
the P. I. thinks it has. The reason
that the name of ''The Patriarch"
was adopted by me was in accordance
with the new idea that conceived in
relation to a new, just and whole
some form of government that
should be adopted. In order to make
this government firm and stable it
should become patTiarchal, and I
pointed out in my first number the
method to be employed in order to
accomplish this desirable innovation.
Here is the proposition: Every mar
ried man should have two votes and
onehalf vote for every child under
age in his family. This wholesome
and just method would place the gov
eminent in the hands of the hus-
bands and fathers, where it ought to
be. The two great national evils
Lat are SO prevalent with us: "Race
suicide and divorce" would be mini
mixed by this method. This would
set a new pace for the world! This
system would give the home it's pres
tige, Its honor, and it's sanctity. In
several States they are attempting
to tax bachelors" but they do not
appear to be successful. With pat
riarchal republic established, bachel-
,ordom would wither and die in a
very short period, and the hearts of
wives and mothers would take on a
new life for Home, Sweet Home"
would then become a reality and
permanency; and the husband and
father would be "known in the gates
when he stitch with the elders Of the
land"
I headed this short article: "Pay-
ing the Penalty of Popularity" This