Evening star., 1933-07-02
Oregonians Are Battling
Over State Bone
Dry Clauses.
SPECIAL ELECTION
SET FOR JULY 81
Business Optimistic. With
Industrial Upswing
on the Way.
BY RALPH WATSON.

PORTLAND. Oreg., July What
Oregon folk are worrying about just at
this time is whether the State is to join
the wet column on July 81 newt, vote
to repeal the eighteenth amendment
and at the same time wipe the two
bone dry sections Of the State Constitu-
| ton off the books, or stay officially dry,
as it has been for the past fifteen years
or so.
The State went absolutely dry long
! front pages It wrote into its consti-
tuition an absolute barrier against
! liquor of all kinds. In November, 1882,
it repealed the enforcement act. On
July 81, at a special election set to pass
on the repeal OF the eighteenth amend
ment it also will vote for and against
the repeal of the State constitutional
dry amendments.
AS things now stand beer is sold in
practically every grocery, drug store,
restaurant and even by the service
stations along the highways. The Legis,
lature, in January last, fixed July 81
as the date for a special election at
which the electorate will vote not only
against or for the eighteenth amend
ment. but will elect 116 delegates to
| constitutional convention to be held
! within 30 days from the date of the
election. The candidates for delegates
are required to pledge themselves to
vote for or against repeal in accord
ance with the votes of the majority OF
the county from which they seek elec-
ton. This pledge has resulted in the
dry leaders finding much difficulty in
! Inducing ConHiSQtoc fn flo cf
peal most of those sought out to run
not wanting to run the chance of be-
ing compelled to vote against their con-
victionS in event their county votes
preponderantly wet Many of the dry
delegates say candidly that in such an
event they will not attend the conven-
tion, even should they be elected. The
general assumption is that the State
will go wet though the drys have i'm
ported "Pussyfoot" johnson and other
nationally known campaigners to the
State and are putting up desperate
battle.
Largest Hop Crop.
Oregon incidentally is the largest hop
producing center in the United States
and stands third in world production.
The bulk Of the production Is centered
| in Marion, Polk and Yamhill Counties,
| in the heart Of the Willamette Valley.
Salem, the State capital, Is in Marion
County and yet. strange to say, was
the last major city in the State to per-
init the sale of beer. On the other
hand, Mount Angel, but few miles
away, has voted to open a municipal
beer garden.
The average production is around
100000 bales of an average of l80
pounds each. Before beer was legal
lied as a notwithstanding beverage hops
were quoted around 8 to 10 cents
pound. Now they are selling for rs
cents. Hop men Of the State, most of
whom were broke short time ago, are
nearly all now out OF the red and
busy planting more hop vines.
Business men in the State generally
are commencing to show more optimism
than for q long time past. Hops have
been q cheering factor, for the hop
fields employ many helpers. Lumber
seems on the up grade, with mills and
camps opening and adding shifts where
| they have been yun1ing on part time.