The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-08-05
SIMON BENSON
TO BE HONORED
MONSTER MASS MEETING PLANNED
Hood River People Will Join PIP. lie.
Management and Celebrate in Hon
or Of First Citizen, August IL

Simultaneous with the Benson Day
celebration in San Francisco at the
Panama Pacific International expOsi-
tion on August n. Hood River county
will turn out en- masse TO honor Ore
CONS First Citizen. While the visitors
at the fair are learning of the philan-
thropies of Simon Benson, Hood River
people will gather at the open air thea
tire to attend a testimonial meeting.
Since the formal opening of the CO.
lumbia river highway and the public
reception rendered Mr.. Benson. Cover
nor NithyeOmbe and party of the
states distinguished citizensr after
their arrival here on the trip of dedica-
tlon suggestions for some such form Of
honor to Mr.. Benson have poured in
from every part Of the valley, and so
spontaneous and simultaneous have
been the presentations of the proposed
celebration that it may be truthfully
stated that no one man can be acered-
tied with the idea.
The first definite action was taken
last Thursday night, when a gathering
OF representative men from all parts Of
the valley assembled in the city and
after discussion decided 10 hold the
local celebration on the date of the
Panama-Pa Pacific exposition Benson Day.
The following Hood River county
Benson Day proclamation has been is
sued: Tuesday. August |, has been
officially designated by the directors OF
tie pranama-P Pacific International ex-
position as the day on which to render
ho or TO the man who has been pro-
claimed by our governor as Oregon's
Fist Citizen Simon Benson. Concur
rent with the celebration at the Pana-
ma Pacific international exposition on
the above date Hood River county will
join in paying tribute to Mr.. Benson by
holding a monster mass meeting at the
open air theatre at O'Clock sharp.
Remembering the enthusiasm created
on the occasion of the formal opening
of the Columbia river highway by the
visit of Governor Withycombe. Mr..
Benson and other prominent men, il is
deemed that the celebration will meet
with the approval of all our citizens.
"H0w fortunate Hood River has been
to have had at this most momentous
time man so public spirited and inter-
ested In the highways of the state, and
who was willing to step forth and give
not only his time and interest. but his
financial assistance as well all of which
is to innure now to our benefit
The Columbia river highway, which
has long been an anticipation, is now a
realization, and we who are to reap the
benefits In many ways are afforded an
opportunity to publicly express our APP
aoAt 80 =. ,.&
energy in our behalf. The great gath
ering of the citizens of Hood River
county, joined together to honor the
man whose name is symbolical of pub
lie spirited generously will appeal to
every man, woman and child, and the
occasion will be one long to be remem-
bered. A committee, consisting of
every citizen of Hood River county, is
delegated to make Benson Day the
greatest day in the history of Hood
River. The idea of such celebration
occurred simultaneously to so many
minds that no one can claim the dis
tinction of being the originator.
Hood River is on the map. The
greatest amount of the right kind of
publicity is being given the community
by the newspapers and prominent pub
locations of the country at this time.
The world will learn OF the Columbia
river highway and of Hood River so
closely linked with it because of the
scenic beauty of the mid-Coumbia, and
we who are afforded the pleasure and
benefits of the highway should not fail
to show how heartfelt is our apprecia-
tion Of the man who has been the prime
factor in its creation"
The full details of the great mass
meeting have not been worked out, but
committees on arrangements will have
the program prepared for issues Of
next weeks papers.