The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-08-25
PIERCE NOW LEADS
IN EASTERN OREGON
COUNTIES IS CLAIM

Hearty applause greeted the an
nouncement at a Pierce-for Governor
meeting at La Grande, that survey
of Eastern Oregon shows all coun-
ties in this section of the state will
probably return big majority for
Walter M. Pierce at the November
election. Four times in the past have
gubernatorial candidates from East
ern Oregon been nominated, only to
find that the votes in their part Of
the state rejected them, it was poin-
ted out at the meeting, and there
fore shows that the tax reduction
stand he is taking meets with great
favor.
The rally resulted in Pierce-for-
Governor club being organized, with
rs charter members, prospects being
that there will be 500 members from
all parts of Union county within a
few days. Judge 7. H. Crawford,
manager of the Pierce campaign,
acted as chairman of the meeting.
The membership of the club is COM
posed Of Republicans as well as DEM
ocrats, all drawn to the Democratic
nominee because of the hope he holds
out to the people of the state actually
to bring about tax reduction.
In ADDRESSING the meeting Pierce
said. amid many interruptions Of ap-
: plause.
"The sentiment is strong for tax re-
duction in all parts Of the state. l
will do all in my power to hold down
expenses.
Il will veto every bill carrying ap-
preparations that are unnecessary or
exorbitant.
"Can we afford it," will always be
uppermost in my mind when consid-
ering appropriations. The burden Of
taxation must be lessened and read
justed,"
Continuing, he pointed out how
state expenses had grown since he
first entered politics.
"Twenty years ago, when | was
first elected to the senate, expenses
were about $1,O0O,0OO," he said.
"When | was again elected to the
senate in 1916, this sum had grown
to $2,500,000 and now it is $14,OOO,OO0
Deducting the gasoline and automobile
taxes, the expenses are more than
100000 year.
every unnecessary official will be
eliminated if am elected, and wher-
ever extravaganza is found / will. see
that this condition is changed"
A resolution was passed by the
meeting by unanimous vote, putting
the members squarely behind Pierce.
The resolution says, in part:
"We, the members of the Union
County Pierce-for- Governor club, view
with alarm the rapid increase in the
rate of taxation for state, county and
municipal purposes. Already taxation
has almost reached the point of con-
fiscation, and many Of our taxpayers
are facing bankruptcy.
"We demand an economical bust
ness administration of governmental
affairs, both state, county and mum
icipal, limited to the necessities Of
good government. We demand that
appropriations by the legislature be
cut to the bone and limited to the
necessities of the state government
"We demand that taxes Of all kinds
be reduced to the lowest possible lin
1t. We believe that Walter Pierce as
governor of this state can and woulc
do much to carry out these demands
and reduce the tax burdens from
which the people are now suffering
BE it therefore resolved, that ths
members Of this club will each worl
and vote for Walter Pierce as gov
ernor at the November election, 1922
and that we will do all in our powel
to promote and further his election.
Reports were received from man!
parts Of Western Ore, showing tina
the interest in the Pierce campaign il
great there and that the candidatei
visits there during the campaign vii
be the occasion of enthusiastic meet
ings.