Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/123

114  of the times to convert a few dollars to himself by LEGAL SWINDLING. The public can readily see what it costs to have such tenants."

Neither was the old Oregon Statesman lacking in frankness in its advertising columns. There was that time when the disgusted publisher, under the heading "Poor Property," ran the names of five of his debtors, whose bills, running from $10 to $80, aggregated $223, and announced:

"We will sell the following demands for the cost of the have used in making out the bills and writing dunning letters upon them. . . . We have a lot more of the same sort, and some rather better ones, which we will offer paper we for sale when we get tired of waiting to have them paid. —OREGON STATESMAN."

This advertisement was published March 27, 1855, at a time when the editorial column had a somewhat similar tone, reflecting the mood of the famous Asahel Bush.

One more paid notice, in the Statesman, under date of January 12, 1858, (Bush still at the helm):

"He left us in a fit of absent-mindedness owing the "Gem" small sum. Unless the "Prof." sends the proprietor of the "Gem" said bill, he must be permitted to consider him a liar and a scoundrel, as well as a humbug. Do you cumtux gin, cocktails, and cigars, Prof?

Salem, January 6, 1858.1 w 44"

The first editor of the Morning Oregonian was Simeon Francis, who had come out from Springfield, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln's home city (How often the name of Lincoln enters early Oregon history!) for the purpose of starting a newspaper. David Watson Craig, also formerly of Springfield, who had read law in the office of Lincoln and Herndon, had written him that there seemed to be an opportunity for a good daily paper in Portland. Craig had worked for Francis for four years as a printer while the future Oregonian editor was editing the Illinois State Journal. Finding the field occupied on his arrival in 1860, Francis went to work for Pittock as a printer on the Oregonian. For a time no name appeared as editor.