Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-01-11

Nevada man, whose brother was U. S.
Marshal for Utah at the time, was an
other leader. Nat Baker, editor of the
Sunday Mercury, played to the gal
lerles, but did some good work for the
order, and s. W. Blaidsell son Of Ne
vada's ex-governor, quietly helped
along. There were dozens of others
of that class, who sympathized with
the movement and aided it materially,
though naturally the rank and file of
the movement, just as they are Of
any large movement for the better
ment of the conditions of life, are
workmen and workingmen.
John Gates, a most excellent man,
though | have always thought since
rather un-self-assertiye, was mayor,
and Sam Parrish, whom it may be
said, as was said of another, God
made but one, then broke the mold"
was chief of police. He was broad
minded, democratic in the sense that
he was one of and with the work.
people, and far-seeing. No better man
could have occupied the place under
the conditions, nor have handled the
situation with finer tact or better
judgment. In the inception of the mo-
ment, he called ellison, Quimby, my
self and others, presidents of the diff
ferent sections, together and had
straight talk with us, He said he con-
ceded our right to meet, to discuss the
Chinese question, or any other that
interested us, when and where we
pleased, and as often as we pleased,
and that we would not be interfered
with, so long as the laws were not vio-
lated; but that he was a sworn officer,
who had the peace and good order of
the city in his charge, and that, while
he had the utmost sympathy with the
working people in any and every
movement they made to better their
conditions, that he would enforce the
law against them Just as quickly as
he would for theh. His frankness was
met by an equally frank statement on
our part 1t was pointed out that our
motto was "law and order" that our
meetings were all public, and that all
the anti-coolie movement was open
and above board He was also volun-
tarily told that should there be any
attempt at violence or any threat of
It,, he would be informed of it as soon
as 1t was discovered by the presidents
Of the sections. He thanked us, and
said under those conditions go ahead.
You will not be interferred with so
long as those conditions are complied
with" 1t is unnecessary to go into
the details Of the movements between
that time and the point where Pen
oyer came onto the stage.
The Oregonian printed just enough
about the matter to thoroughly adver-
tise and keep the movement going.
and also to keep Portland people who
did not understand it more or less ex-
cited. Anyway, Mayor Gates at length
at the behest of someone, called a
meeting of the claw and order" peo-
pie at the courthouse at O'Clock the
following day. to discuss the Anti
Coolie agitation,
The presidents Of the sections at
once got together, and as the meeting
was called for the "law and order"
people, instructions were sent out hur-
rledly to the Anti-Coole people to go
early and get a good seat" The order
was splendidly obeyed and a great
majority of the Anti-Coolle people
were on hand one hour before the
time called for the meeting. Their
gathering, naturally attracted a large
number Of others, and when the hour
for the meeting arrived the court room
was filled and big crowd assembled
outside.
The night before the meeting the
leaders Of may call them such) met
and discussed the situation. II was
then agreed that the proper thing to
do, as It was "law and ORDER meet
ing, was to take possession of It, The
only trouble was to find some one who
was property owner to preside at
the meeting for we were all finan-
cially in light marching order Then
T. was that Pennoyer was suggested.
Gibson, myself, Quimby Il Think and
a couple Of others, called on Mr. PEN
noyer, placed the matter before him,
and asked him to preside, lie did not
want TO do II at first, and we had
about given It up when | suggested
that It would be such n fine Joke on