Evening star., 1923-07-03
President Lauds Initiative of
Men Who BIazed Trail
Eighty Years Ago.
DEDICATE MONUMENT
TO FIRST WAGON TRAIN
Pipe of Peace Smoked With In
dians at Powwow-Pitches
Horseshoes for Title.
BY the Associated Press.

MEACHAM, ore, July o-ITesi-
dent Harding stopped here today on
his western trip to pay homage to
the memory Of the sturdy pioneers
who founded Oregon and saved to
the nation the great northwest.
The President faced the most
strenuous days program of his west
ern trip in the smallest town he has
yet visited. The program had to do
with the Oregon trail celebration.
Meacham is ten miles from a rail-
road and has a population of fifty
one persons.
The population Of the little town.
however, was augmented greatly by
visitors from all parts of the state
and from adjoining states. who
joined in celebration of the eightieth
anniversary of the arrival of the
first wagon train in the Willamette
valley. BY the time the chief ex-
ecutive arrived the population had
Increased just about one thousand
times
Owe Debt to Pioneers.
Speaking at exercises commemorat-
ing the blazing of the oregon trail.
the executive declared the Ameri-
can people owe to those pioneers a
debt of gratitude which they never
can repay. Their victory. he asserted.
proclaimed the strength of resolute
purpose to do for themselves, not ask
ing the government to do, but for
government only to sanction or per-
nit.
day" he said, than rejoice in pos
session of the imperial domain which
they revealed, and the life they made
possible to the virile, aspiring and
confident northwest. I find new as
surances in recalling the heroism. the
resolution. the. VIII TO conquer OF
these pioneers
"I wish might more effectively
visualize them. Not very long ago I
saw the covered wagon in the moving
picture. l sat entranced. There was
more than the picturesque. more than
sorrow and encouragement. more
than appealing characters and en-
thralling heroism. There was more
than tha- revelation of the irresolute.
who failed in fitness to survive, NOR e
than ragedy and comedy in their in
separable blend.
Had UnaIternble Purpose.
There was more than the scouts
who surpassed our fancies. more than
natures relentless barriers revealed.
Everywhere afiame was the soul of
unalterable purpose and the COM
mauding sturdiness of elemental
greatness. Still more. there was de-
termination to do themselves, not
asking the government to do. but for
eoyernment only to sanction or per-
NIT.
/ Much the same spirit was re-
vealed in the making of the central
west. where the determined pioneers
builded in the confidence which they
had in themselves. They battled
with nature and every obstacle which
they encountered. Heroes perished d
conquered and wrote big their part
in the making OF the greater re-
public. Their victory proclaimed the
strength Of resolate purpose. and the
and eager to achieve on its own ac-
count.
THE lesson cannot fail to impress
itself. In this test of self-reliant
militant. wholesome west. Greater
things were wrought. larger accom-
plishment was recorded, greater VIC
tory was won in this wholesome. In
spring individualism than will ever
attend paternalism or government
assumption of the tasks which are
the natural inheritance Of the build
ers who may better serve for them
selves. Government may well pro-
vide opportunity, but the worth
while accomplishment Is the privilege
and the duty of men,"
Welcomed by Governor.
The program for the day follows:
Arrive Meacham am.
Presidential salute twenty-one
guns.
The President welcomed to Oregon
by reception committee, headed by
Gov. Pierce.
Escorted on Concord coaches to re-
viewing stand. on which will be
seated the Presidents party, gov
ernors and congressional representa-
tives of the northwest and pioneers
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