Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-10
KINDLY TELL THE PUBLIC, GOVERNOR

The legislature three years ago appropriated S5OOOO
for the purpose of furnishing employment to the convcts
and of this 500 600 used in experimenting with
the growing of flax and the preparing the fibre for
market Since that time there have been all kinds Of con-
cng reports to the results of the experiments made
In view Of this and since the matter is entirely IN the
hands Of the governor would be an interesting bit OF
information for the people generally to learn Just what
the results were what is being done toward continuing
he work. what has been done, and whether not the
business has proved sefsustaining The governor in dis
charging Superintendent Crawford Of the prison flax
department said he had not made good and was not en-
titled to the bonus promised him in case he showed
profit While this statement was maze IN connection
with sort Of side question: coming from the governor
as did, and concerning public matter it is supposed to
be true At the same time short time before the primary
election newspaper especially friendly to the governor
and printed here in Salem stated the flax experiment was
a success that there than $4,000 worth OF
flax product on hand that all indebtedness had been
paid and that this largely due to the governors care
and management
1t is self evident that the statement Of the governor
and that Of the newspaper aforesaid cannot both be
wholly true. 1t is for this reason the Capital Journal
suggests the governor make statement of the facts The
people Of the state interested to the extent OF the
money put up if it has not been paid especially and the
residents of the Willamette valley and in fact OF all west
crn Oregon are profoundly interested in view OF the fact
that # IS hoped to make the flax industries the leading
ones Of the valley. i
The statistics from Ireland show the average value Of
an acre of flax when it has left the factories IN the shape
of the finished product ranges from Sl 100 to S25OO ts
importance as crop is shown by this With mills here
to do the manufacturing and they will come once the raw
material is assured the product OF 10000 acres would
he worth manufactured $200O0000 and half OF one
township with an average crop of flax made into linens
and other finished products would represent value OF
S22500O00 The product of section and nall wouldI
have value equal to the entire agricultural and orchard
uroducts of the county These things are mentioned to
products of the country These things are mentioned to
the people west Of the Cascades and to point out to the
governor that he can do nothing Of more real Importance
to the people than to give them the inside information as
to the flax plant at the prison. the states measure OF sue
cess in growing flax and the outlook for the industry be-
ing made permanent feature of the valleys products
This is asked simply matter of justice to the people
of the state They want know and having put up their
money have right to know what has become of it. and
what the results of the experiment are. The governor
has all the inside information and is the only person who
can make an absolutely correct statement 1t is up to
him to say whether he will take the people into his con-
dence and let them know about their own business or
will take the ground that they have right to know, or
that it is in fact "none of their business"