The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-03-01
A CASE FOR PITY

A CASE fOk PLY
Some Of us upstate newspapers have
been prone to get very angry at the
Portland Oregon Journal because of its
continued inordinate sobs of protest
against law providing for the publi-
cation of delinquent taxes. And, in
deed, the broad assertion, made day
after day, that all newspapers in the
state practice.graft, except, of course,
the unpolluted Journal, has naturally
aroused some wrath. But in fact the
case of the Journal, in its endeavor to
put over its demagogical froth, is one
TO arouse pity rather than censure.
Along early in January Mr.. Jackson,
according to the editorial columns Of
the Journal, seemed to think he had
the Legislature in his vest pocket. me
and the legislature, we are going to rid
the neck of the down-trodden people
from that terrible yoke, the delinquent
tax publication BILL" This was the
tone in which he spoke. According to
the Journal some of the newspapers in
other parts of the state made threats
of shifting their support in case their
assembly delegations failec to continue
support of the delinquent tax publica-
tion. Such policy was very foolish,
and the journal fairly sizzled in its de-
nunciations. But the holy Portland
daily began to discover that its con-
cepts of power to persuade legisla-
ture, composed of sane, well.balanced
Oregon citizens, were rather ingrown.
Then the Journal began to sob; it be-
came chief mourner for downtrodden
populace. II does not seem quite able
to shut off the tear faucet. But at
times it tried to be bold, bad paper,
and, despite its former denunciations
of such practice, legislative assem-
blymen were threatened, if not in clear
cut English language, at least by innu-
endo.
And what happened down at Salem,
when the delinquent tax bill finally
came up for definite action? Nine to /
one the Legislators voted to continue
the publication of delinquent taxes, the
new bill carrying some needed modifi-
cations over that formerly in force.
Legislators were outspoken in their
disgust at the soldering of the Jour-
nal.
If the Portland Journal had conduct
ed campaign against delinquent tax
publications as matter of principle,
if it had not endeavored to make its
efforts demagogical asset, the legis-
lators might have needed to a greater |
degree its arguments. 1t is very likely |
that evidences of graft in connection |
with delinquent publications have ap-
peared at different times. We can, in
deed, discount by so per cent some of |
the alarming outcries of the Journal
in its recent campaign, and still show
conditions that are deserving of criti
cism. But as member of the Oregon
newspaper fraternity, we want to join
in hurling back at the Journal its mud |
ball, its charges of universal newspa.
per graft in Oregon. And Because of |
the viciousness of its purpose in trying |
to gain the lead of the rabble, we can
not help from smiling in our sleeves at |
the muss the Journal has made Of its |
campaign.
Because a man sincerely believes |
that delinquent taxes should not be |
published in the newspapers is not 60
ing to arouse our hostility against him. |
The Journal may now believe, really |
believe, in its campaign. 1t is said |
that man can tell some outlandish |
tale of adventure of his boyhood until |
he comes to really believe it.
/ All questions have at least two sides.
We believe in publication of delin-
quent taxes because we think the sys-
TEN the best that can be devised for
stimulating collections. 1t is very
natural for any good citizen, on first |
thought, to reach conclusion that the |
publication expense is one that might |
be done away with, but when those |
very citizens have the matter fully ex-
planned to them, when they realize
that the expense and the publicity is
an added penalty for delinquency, they |
see the efficiency of it.
The new law just adopted by the
Legislature removes some of the fea-
lures of the old bill and eliminates |
evils. 1t is an aid to the administra-
tion of Oregon governmental affairs |
and not the terrible, red-eyed, devour-
ing ogre the Journal would have Ore
gon citizens believe it.