East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-12-10
Every Section of County Has
Delegates Here Advising
Against Radical Action.
HOME Demonstrators
ALSO HAS SUPPORTERS
Farmers From Fruit Section
Make Especial Showing of
Support for Fred Bennion.

stand pat on the budget as Il has
been drawn up il YOU think it is the
best thing for the county,"
That in substance was the message
borne to the hearing in the county
court chambers today from practical
~ every section of the county at the
informal meeting of that body to give
consideration to the budget as pro-
posed by the budget committee.
An overwhelming majority of those
who appeared before the court today
We're there with the avowed purpose
lof lending their influence to see that
lmatllla county retains the services
of the county agent and the home
demonstration agent, and the consId-
Grafton OF the items of $4,000 and s3.-
600 asked by these offices respectively
took up practically all of the time OF
1.-THE morning session.
Fruit Men Represented.
The fruit district of the Milton
Freewater country was particularly
well represented at the meeting. and
every member of the delegation who
spoke advocated the retention of the
two offices. NJ. l.. Watts and II. /.
Watts, both wheat growers of Athe-
ma, were the only speakers during the
morning who spoke in favor of abol-
ishing either office. NJ l.. Watts i'm
his talk declared that he thought the
home demonstration agent and the
prohibition enforcement agent Il. +.
B. Ridgway, should both be dispensed
with in making the budget.
! Watts did not make his recommen-
dation until he was invited TO Indicate
! specifically where a cut should be
made. The invitation was uttered by
Judge J. NJ. Schannep after the speak
er had declared that taxes should be
cut.
County Court Should Know
We'll, one thing we want 10 know
! is Just where we are asked to make
cut" Judge schannep insisted after
Watts had referred in a general way
/ to tax reductions. ION what items
shall we reduce?"
Il didn't come down here prepared
to make a speech on the subject, but
] am of the opinion that no provision
should be made for the home demon
lstration agent or the special prohihl-
tion agent Watts replied.
You realize, don't you, Mr.. Watts,
that there is no levy being made to
pay the special prohibition agent, but
that he Is paid out of fines?"
Yes, ] know that" Watts replied,
but ! take the stand that the sheriff
was elected for that work and he
should do It,"
After the county court had explain-
ed that the sheriff had refused to do
that enforcement work and is not
even getting liquor violators within
lclose range of Pendleton where he has
no expenses Watts declared that it
might be a good idea to get a new
sheriff. Some applause greeted this
remark. When he was asked to I'M
dicate what part Of the road work
should be cut out, In order to lower
expenses on this score. Watts declared
that he was not familiar with the sub
Ject.
The county court knows about that
work and It should be left to your
judgment" he replied. Just shave
where you cam
, Homer /. Watts followed his bro
I ther and opposed high taxes and voic-
ed Il demand that reductions be made.
Thompson Backs BenniOn.
Sam r. Thompson. president of the
Umatilla County Farm Bureau. spoke
Of the work done by Bennion as ooun-
~ agent in securing gasoline and dis
tillate at time when the Standard
: oil co. had refused to ship in distil-
late and was taking the position that
farmers could buy high-priced gaso.
: line 20 run their heavy tractorsior else
' do without fuel Of any Kind.
He presented petitions signed by
' more than 800 taxpayers in the coun
= Is asking that Bennion be retained
' and also letters from bankers OF ths
' county in which they asked that h'
= be kept.
= Thompson also called attention I,
: the work in getting seed wheat whicl
= Bennion has performed as well as hi