Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-04-16
To the Editor

To the Editor:
While passing through the city
today | had my attention called tt
an editorial appearing in a re-
cent issue of the Statesman, in
which the governor was taken tC
task for accepting courtesy
from an officer of the U. S. army
who, under it's direction of the
war department, was making a
flight between Portland and Sar
Francisco for the purpose of test,
ing the relative flying merits OF
the aeroplane and the carrier pige.
on.
Had my name not been coupled
with the governors, in the edi.
tortal, | would have considered il
no affair of mine, and left it tC
the governor to answer or ignore
as he saw fit. But as my name
was brought into the matter by
Mr.. Abrams, who, it is quite
| widely known, wrote the article
as no one else employed on the
paper could have been so con.
temptible, felt it my duty to
enlighten the public as to certain
matters which | had hoped might
be forgotten.
Having caught the spirit OF
Cleanup week. | have been clear
ing my attic at home of an ac-
emulation Of old records and pa
pers which, for the Repatriation
or many of our citizens, had bet
ter be burned than preserved.
Among them l found a pitiful ap-
peal from Bob Hendricks, who was
about to see close relative go ia
the federal penitentiary for a
period of years as a result of his
completely in land frauds.
Mr.. Hendricks had. through his
paper, been most unkind to ma
during my term as the political
wheel of fortune, but because of
my being in position to render
valuable aid in saving his rela-
i've from the prison stripes, he
was not backward in falling on
my neck and begging for helm.
Neither had he been kind to Oh
cott during his candidacy for sec
retary of state, yet he was promnt
TO crawl on his knees to him and
"hile shedding copious tears, i'm
pIored his help toward saving his
relatlVe from the disgrace of a
prison term. Olcott. being of a
SE mpathetic nature, and feeling
strongly the grief that it would
orlhs to the families concerned
came to me and made a strong
pea tor my assistance. and got il
was the only favor that Olcott
mas ever asked Of me during our
lohs and close association.
As a result of these appeals T
,uaue myself forget all of Bob
hendricks past unkindliness to
me- and put forth every effort T.,
save his friend and relative Nv,
etlortS played no small part in
bringing about a pardon from tho
president, and when the good
news reached Mr.. Hendricks he
te" on our necks and pledged
eternal friendship (which We botb
Ahe" at the time was bunk, ar5
assured US that as long as the snn
continued TO shine. and the ST.
20 punk, he would remember onr
NlnuheSS and stand ever ready >,
return IT, (more bunk.
MT. Abrams, who wrote tho ..
''c'e' prldes himself upon his wsr
record and uses it as a vard-sticl,
70 measure others.
LAere was no time duripg h,
war lhat Abrams was in anv 5s,
ser ot the enemy's bullets
Immediately after his conti,
eeu' '.i was landed in France bs
e''her from choice or beeauss n.
was lacking in qualifieatiops ~.
Seh' back to England. whera ~
was permitted to strut in uniform
upon the parade ground wbiIe
,ue rank and file of the br,vo
ooys OF the Oregon conttnsen,
"ere al the front, fighting tbs,s
Soua'ry's battles under the M,
. nell'Sh conditions. Upon his r.
turn 10 Salem he was upabIa :.
secure secure his old place upon the il
uuS'rial accident commission -
, ,ne reason that the governor dr.
ing MS absence had discovss.s
past attempts on his fAbr.m..,
pNrt TO loan Industrial accid..,
iunds to Bob Hendricks or SON. ~ !,
ms not air companies and f.I,
1oA' the fund was too sacred 70
trust to his guardianship.
OSWALD WEST.