Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-15
PuYuyS CandidnCy

Among candidates filing for governor of Oregon is vii
E. Purdy of Salem, who seeks the democratic nomination
at the primaries next month The fact that Mr. Purdy
aspires to the highest office in the state makes careful
scrutiny of his public record necessary for the information
OF voters.
Mr. Purdy is proprietor of bath-house in Salem and
offers himself to cleanup the state probably figuring that
his occupation qualities him. His campaign slogan is Take
the kick out of moonshne and knock hell out of those draw
ing state money without first earning it, In his platform
he offers justification for his campaign the assertion
God the weak things of the earth to conound the
mighty"
Mr.. Purdy is publicly known in Oregon principally
through litigation carried through the highest courts
whereby he unsuccessuy sought to possession of
estate and through his election delegate to the
national democratic convention in 1920 and his actions
therein.
The story of the litigation given in the 63rd Oregon
reports and reads like plot from novel; Mr. Purdy pre-
ented deed alleged to have been signed by the late H.
D. Winters of Portland conveying to Purdy $65,000 pro-
pery Winters at the time of the deed n 78 years
DID, "a mser sordd and suspicious In character who had
accumulated the property in question from which he de-
rived income of $400 per month For several years
before May 1909 the date of the deed he had been
sociated with Purdy and M Evans in the Purdy In
vestment Co.. realty corporation In June July Evans
told Winters that Purdy had forged deed all of his
(WntersO property and that he had signed witness
upon promise of Purdy that he should receive $4,000 for
doing. This statement being published brought forth
PUBIC denla from Purdy SHORTY after the business
relations between Purdy and Winters ceased.
After Winters DEATH Purdy claimed possession of the
property offering alleged deed from Winters Purdys
story that Winters had for sometime intmaed that
he would give Purdy his property and that May l. 1902
Winters made the deed He declared that Winters at the
time owed him $11,300 tho he unable to produce
cords to substantiate his claims.
Purdy stated that he took the deed out to his place at
Buttevie and after keeping it for five six weeks put
1t in envelope and placed in glass jar which was
with tin ,,,riad aF tLoI
river two and half feet below the surface of the ground
The deed Purdy stated dug August 4th 1911 six
weeks after Winters DEATH that damp and mouldy
and the Of the witnesses almost oberaed that he
sent for the two witnesses who retraced their signatures
Purdys story dsbeeved by the courts and Purdys
claim for $11300 pronounced apocryphal Witnesses tes-
titled that Winters had declared before his death that
Purdy had deed it forgery The deed held to
have been docored in date and the supreme
court opinion concluded:
I'VE OF the opinion that
have been the genuine deed o Il Winter but that Is
affixed his name to the instrument In ignorance o Its real nature
account Of this transaction for us to accept it as true"
In the spring primaries Of 1920 Mr. Purdy elected
delegate to the San Francisco convention of the democratic
party instructed by the electorate to for McAdoo for
president In the official pamphlet Mr. Purdy stated
his signature: During all my life, have been democrat
and if elected will act such and obey the electors in
sructons to the letter. Purdys campaign slogan printed
the League of Nations"
When he arrived at the convention June 81, 1920 Mr.
Purdy speaking to the members of the Oregon delegation
and to the press, stated that he had "a confession to
make that he had followed President Wilson until he
to draft the peace treaty that he did not favor ratification
of the treaty opposed to the League of Nations
and objected to platform plank endorsing President Will
and the League He also declared his dislike for Nc
Adoo and promised to bolt at the first opportunity
Mr.. Purdy, proved by his record, professed to
believe thing before election to get the votes and after
election publicly and shameessy confessed his deception of
the voters thereby admitting that he elected false
pretenses. He repudiated his pledges and his platform
promises proved a scrap of paper, al
Id
What is there in Mr. Purdys public record to Justify So
his seeking the highest office in the gift of the people b
However, there is this much to be said in his favor he does
lot pretend that popular forces his candidacy
s many four-flushers eamoufage their candidates.
EE GILBERT ADDS and " wl A., care r,a,, ior an HaPngS