Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-05-09
GOVERNORS TRICKERY EXPOSED
'The prison flax plant is a going concern"

NS HA0O~ ~NN RNNAN ~ - 6OAS OhSCAN"
1T is a success. All bills against the flax factory of
the Oregon State penitentiary up to May l are paid and
there is on hand $50, 27600.s There are also 80 tons of the
1916 crop yet to be treated and this is worth $4,000. The
1916 crop is as good as when first brought in; some ex-
perts say better"
The above statements are taken from a two column
editorial m the Sunday Statesman, which being especially
friendly to Governor Withycombe surely would not mis-
state the facts to the governors shame and hurt. More
than that the statement corresponds tOlerably well with
that made by Mr.. Crawford late superintendent of the
flax plant at the prison, when he 4 turned the same over to
his excellency, the governor. Mr.. Crawford housed the
crop of 1916 Of which the Statesman speaks and must
have done his work well since experts say it is in as good
shape as when harvested and some say in even better
shape.
weather conditions, and yet what there is of this is said
to be in good shape, and the Statesman says ut will be
worked up at a profit and probably considerable of a
profit. "This sounds good too. 1t is not a new story for
Superintendent Crawford filed with the governor a state
ment showing what had been done, the amount of money
expended, the repayment of the money advanced by the
state, the building OF retting tanks, the payment for ma
chinery ordered by Crawfords predecessor, and some
that was not needed either, the amount and value of the
finished fiber and tow on hand; in fact a complete show
ing of what had been done under Mr.. Crawford's man.
agement. The Capital Journal printed this statement of
Mr.. Crawfords and it also printed the story of how the.
board OF control had agreed to pay MIR. Crawford a bonus
of $50 d month If he made good, which term the board
said meant, If he showed a profit of even one dollar"
The Capital Journal also showed how the governor
through petty spite and narrow min6edness when he was
given entire control of the penitentiary and with it Of
the flax plant, stultified the balance of the board, and
shamed the people of the state by going deliberately back
on the boards agreement and refusing to pay Crawford
this bonus when he discharged him.
The governor not only refused to allow him the bonus
but declared he had not made good, and so had not
earned the bonus" AT the same time this careful and
economical governor after insisting Crawford had earned
no bonus offered to pay hin $500, half of the amount
claimed.
If Crawford had not earned the bonus why did the
governor offer to make him a present of $500 of the peo-
pies money? If he did earn it why did the governor
deliberately cheat him out of his money and make every
citizen of this great state a party to the petty robbery?
The Statesman which is friendly to the governor says the
fax industry is a success and has made a profit of above
$4,000. That is what Crawford claimed, and what the
governor denied, for he said Crawford had not made
good, or in the language of the board of control which
made the bargain with Crawford, and of which the gov
ern0r was the chairman, that "he had not made a profit
of one dollar Not only did the governor do this con-
~temptible little bit of pettiness but he dared not face the
man he denied justice to, in the courts, but when a man.
darius suit was brought against him to compel him to
audit the account, hid behind his prerogative as the chief
executive of the state and refused to allow the courts to
pass upon the matter by hiding behind his official skirts
and pleading that as governor he could not be the sub
Iect OF mandamus proceedings. We are glad to note
though that the Statesman which is friendly to the COVER
nor frankly admits that Crawford was right in his state
ments as to conditions at the prison flax plant and the
governor was wrong. The whole miserable business
shows the governor in the light of a petty tyrant taking
advantage OF his position to work an injustice on a citizen