Page:History of Oregon Literature.djvu/490

 of the street, who howl for free Anarchy, free land, and free speech.

All of which shows Colonel Wood an unusually versatile man. It is a rare make-up of person who can flatter such far flung elements of the social body at the same time. The question "Whose man is he?" is out of order each time it is asked whether in high places or low places. . ..

He did indeed appear rather ambidextrous but whose man he was he made clear enough later, as has been pointed out. He was nobody's but his own.

Ten years later the Reverend Albert Ehrgott came to town, with sensational reproval not only of this error of Anarchy but of another error in the poet's ways. He apparently let it be known beforehand that words would not be minced, so that a stenographer was there to take down what he said. This only gave flambuoyancy and confidence to his indictment. The following is part of a report of the meeting given in the Oregonian of May 30, 1919:

"In a slashing attack upon the social evil and the cult of free love, Albert Ehrgott, former pastor of the East Side Baptist church, speaking last night to 300 auditors at Christensen's hall, specifically named Colonel C. E. S. Wood, Portland attorney and poet, ....

"While there are others guilty in this respect," he continued, "still pampered and condoned by society in this city, but unworthy of the association of decent folk, the outstanding character in Portland is the self-confessed Anarchist and practicer of free love, C. E. S. Wood."

He folded the paper and spoke to the stenographer again.

"Write that down," commanded Mr. Ehrgott. "I said C.—E.—S. Wood!""

The evangelist's vainglorious indignation, in exploitation of a technicality, was something like the