The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-05-01
Dean Of State Legislature
Hears Adelphians' Concert
Cherries w. Baldwin. Stote Resident
For IS Yeors. Hos Hod Eventful Coreer

Banker did not have much chance
IN the Legislature but worked with
Republicans on important state
measures and always brought
down the house when ne spoke ION
behalf Of the minority party"
Killed School Project
One legislative accomplishment
If which the venerable legislator
speaks with some pride was killing
the proposal 10 permit some Of the
members of the legislature and
other state officials 10 pay their
political debts BY establishing a
state normal school at centralia-
The project had been authorized
at a previous session and its spon-
sors declared that It could not be
blocked. but Baldwin organized
the group that killed 1t. much to
the qualification Of representatives
Of the states educational interests.
Baldwin's family came to WASH
ington In 1878, settling on a farm
in the wide open spaces near what
Is now Pomeroy and has lived
there continuously. During that
time. without moving. he has lived
in three counties. First. II was
Walla Walla county, Washington
territory. Then Walla walla coun-
" was divided and without moving
q fence the Baldwin homestead
was in Columbia and then Garfield
county.
Odd Boundary Changes
Mrs. A. d. Mendsnhall. another
pioneer and an interested member
of the Adelphisn audience at
Pomeroy. tells a better story than
Mr.. Baldwin about the shift IN
county boundaries. Two OF her
five children were born in Walla
Walla county. two in Columbia and
one In Asotin, but all in the same
house and on the original home
stead.
From Pomeroy TO Charleston, the
road follows the general line of
the trail over which the Indian
woman, sacajawea, led Lewis and
Clark when they went through here
in 1906 on the exploration for
which they had been commissioned
by President jefferson. As the
road winds about in an ascent of
about $500 feet and then drops
down to the level OF the Clear
water river it can well be believed
that at least part of the road fol-
lows the original trail.
About halfway between Pome-
roy and Charleston we just missed
another sheep blockade. A drove
Of approximately a thousand that
had been bedded down for the
night was starting for the high
way where the road dips down to
the Clearwater river and the site
Of one Of the Lewis and Clark
camps With the narrow road and
frequent sharp curves, no telling
how long we would have been get
ting through a thousand sheep.
Wonderful Dinner
Charleston, on the Washington
side Of the Clearwater river, where
the Adelphians put on a sacred
concert Sunday morning, is one of
the spots that has a big place in
the hearts of the Puget Sound
singers. The dinner those people
serve after Sunday morning con-
cert is something to be remem-
bered. This time the entire was
"smothered chicken" served family
style with all that goes with 1t,
including big hunks of apple pie
and lemon pie.
When the Adelphian date for
Charleston is fixed the members of
the women's society begin To get
ready for the dinner. The town
folks start planning on what they
are going to provide and out in the
country the farmers wives pick
out their best chickens and save
them for the great day. The re-
suits are astounding - almost as
astounding as the quantity of food
that can be disposed of.
Near-Tragedies Occur
During the dinner hour there
were some near tragedies. includ-
Ing several cases OF "gapitis." A
bowl of chicken gravy, too hot to
1 hold, came within a hair of going
into the lamp of The Times repre-
sentative. At the next table John
Paul Bennett let a great bowl Of
escalloped corn slip out of his
hands. The dish smashed and
escalloped corn spread over quite
an area but fortunately didn't do
any real damage.
The ladies serving the dinner
rushed to assure Prof. Bennett
that ne needn't let a little thing
like that worry him.
I'm not worried" replied Ben
nett only embarrassed"
Now on the way to Lewiston
Idaho. another bright spot on
Adelphian itinerary for IL years