East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-10-14
Whitman President Urges
That Auditorium Subject
Not be Buried Too Long.
: PROPOSALS ON BALLOT
4" ENDORSED BY SPEAKER
Vision Of UmatiIIa Rapids
Development Held as Hope
by Man on Executive Board.

Though he did not question the
wisdom of local people in postponing
for the present any action on the sub
ject of a municipal auditorium DIR. s..
B. L. Penrose, president of Whitman
College implored local businessmen,
at the Commercial Association lunch
con today, not to leave the subject
buried too long.
Il challenge you to show faith in
the future of Pendleton" said the
speaker in the course of a wonderful
and inspiring address. lie held that
a growing western community such as
this needs common meeting place
where thousands may gather to hear
from noted men the principles of lib
erty on which Americanism rests.
DIR. Penrose was introduced by K.
d. Sayres. chairman of the day, who
referred to the speakers national dem
utation as a successful educator and
college president. DIR. Penrose quail
fled as q businessman by reciting the
growth of Whitman College from al
most nothing to an institution with
resources of o million and a half dol
lars and a steadily increasing patron
age. He declared it is a wholesome
sign of the times that taxpayers are
asserting themselves and are insisting
that public expenditures be carefully
guarded. He urged that such men be
given the consideration that Is due
them. on the other hand he pointed
out that life today is not what il was
In days of old nor will the children OF
the present be satisfied with condi-
tinns that now exist. We must go Off
ward If we are to make good on the
famous declaration about mans un-
alienable right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness"
improvements Favored.
Tho speaker had been asked to dis
cuss questions that will be submitted
to the voters on November II and he
did so, giving the careful views of an
outside man. With respect to the
proposition of a septic tank he saw lit
tie room for discussion inasmuch as
the subject involves the health of the
community. He failed TO see how
business men could view the matter
other than in favorable light, pro-
Ided the engineering features have
been well handled
The proposal to provide $25,000 for
park and auto camp ground purposes
he also strongly upheld, chiefly from
the viewpoint that to deny good ac-
commodations to tourists will mean to
drive their business to other towns
with more forethought. He favored
in a general way the plan for heating
the matatorium but insisted he was
not sufficiently informed on this sub
ject to give a specific opinion.
DIR. Penrose grew eloquent with re-
ference to the development of hydro
electric power on the Columbia and
particularly regarding the Umatilla
rapids project of which association
he is a director. He said he had in
formation showing that valuable sup
port not heretofore known of will be
given this project and painted a pic
ture of the increased prosperity that
will result to this entire section
through building the project.
President Penrose was repeatedly
cheered by the large number in at
tendance at the luncheon and at the
conclusion he was given a standing
vote of thanks for his address.