Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/103

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P. G. Stewart, Osborn Russell and W. J. Bailey were chosen executive committee at the election held May 14 1844.

Prohibition Law. Upon assuming charge of the Hudson's Bay Company interests, Doctor McLoughlin, who favored prohibition as a wise economic measure in transacting business with the Indians, ordered that no intoxicating liquors be sold to them. Later, when Nathaniel Wyeth brought liquors to trade to the Indians, Doctor McLoughlin at once made known to him the Company's policy on this point in such a way that Wyeth acquiesced with the Doctor's views. As soon as the Methodist Mission opened a school a temperance society was organized, which many of the whites joined through the influence of Doctor McLoughlin Therefore, since the settlers were greatly outnumbered by the Indians most of whom were subject to whiskey-craze, the legislative committee passed a law (June 1844) prohibiting the sale of ardent spirits.