East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-12-26

comes are organized and prepared to defend themselves. The :
car owner was looked upon as an easy victim. That is why he
chosen for ~plucking.
And the gasolene users of the state. which means most
everyone, would have been |plundered to the tune of ~S3.00O.,09
en Oregon senators. led By Roy W. RHner of Pendleton. You
can put that down in RE book for II isl the truth and it WI be
worth remembering.
In order to make out a false claim Of ngradtude against
Eastern Oregon various Portland orator, at Sa'er last week
pointed to duutreat tines IN the past when Portland has Sas-
tanned Eastern Oregon on certain issues. Let them tell that 10
the marines. The general attitude Of Portland toward' Eastern
Oregon has bctn one OF Indifference and neglect There IS.
amazing ign rance in Portland concerning this part 81 me state Il
and little desie, TO learn. IN recent months IL. official ATTITUDE
.of Portland businessmen rgvards Eastern Oregon has been one
of hostility that borders on brigandage. The Portland chamber
mas officially recommended that this part of the state be r0bbedk
of its federal road quota and that the money so stolen be used
in a scheme to cut the throat of Eastern Oregon with reference
to tourist business. Portland has reversed itself on the rate
principle for which it struggled so long and had Eastern Oregon
help in a fight Portland believed was Just. When interior people
ask for the same brand Of Justice for which Portland struggled
they laugh at Us, talk in terms of bald hypocrisy and support The
railroads in a move to force injustice upon our merchants and
farmers. If in such work P~ortlanders feel they are friends Of
Eastern Oregon then we may we'll ask God to save US from our
friends. We cannot afford friendship OF that stripe.
The facts are that Portland is provincial and smugly re
CARDS other sections Of the state as suburbs of the metropolis.
There are too many Ottenheimers and Swattenheimers down
there who would build up Portland by tearing down the rest Of
the state when Portland's true business is to serve itself by de-
veloping the state. When we tell them the truth they think we
are abusing them in a spirit of narrOwness. They think that il
they send forth a glad hand excursion party every five or 10
Iyears and give us a hasty handshake that they have performed
wonders and that we should be their servile subjects forever
and a day.
The best interests of the state and of Portland demanded
that there be an awakening. The special session of the legisla-
ture provided 4 fitting occasion. The calling Of that special ses-
sion for such a purpose and at such a time was an affr0nt not
only to Legislators but to the people. Portlanders could have
used the initiative for their fair measure and thereby saved tn
Taxpayers the cost of the special session. But they would not
spend the $4,000 or $1,000 necessary to get their measure on the
ballot by petition and 50 induced the governor to assemble the
lawmakers at a time when they wanted to be at their own fire
sides and 50 might swallow the program in order to get away,
But the Legislature rebelled and if the courts uphold the plain
meaning Of the constitution the fair measure will not be on the
ballot at the primary election. The special session was a fiasco
as far as the fair is concerned and the blame is upon the Cover
nor and his Portland friends. The one bright spot about it al
was the stand of the ii senators who refused to be bulldozed
into betrayal of their constituents. AS TO the claim that Port
land wont hold a fair unless the state bears half the expense,
that is baby talk and may be d|isregarded. Portland expects to
get several hundred million dollars out of the fair. If with such
hopes in sight it is unwilling to finance the fair it does not de
serve an exposition.