Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/304

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Oswald West was born in Ontario, Canada, May 20, 1873 and came to Oregon with his parents when a small child. His boyhood was one of struggles and hardship. At fifteen years of age he was given a position with the Ladd & Bush Bank, in Salem, where he rose from office boy to cashier. Later he was cashier in an Astoria bank. In his youth he earned a reputation for high integrity, determined character, and originality. Upon the ascension of Governor Chamberlain to the executive office in 1903, Mr. West was appointed State Land Agent, and afterwards was assigned to a place on the State Railway Commission. In 1910 he was elected Governor, and January 11, 1911, was inaugurated. Although his administration was notably eventful he declined to be renominated.



Honor System for Convicts. Perhaps the Most Notable Feature of the administration of Governor West was his radical change in the manner or conducting the affairs of the State Penitentiary. He inaugurated what was known as the Honor System of managing prisoners, appealing to their honor as a basis for giving them