100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Nov. 16, 1913

Pity the promoter!

It was only after a great deal of consideration that The Bulletin decided to publish Judge Springer’s letter, in which he so maliciously attacks J.F. Morson of La Pine. The hesitation was due not entirely to a weariness on the part of editor and readers for Mr. Springer’s effusions, but chiefly because it seemed unjust to give publicity to matter apparently so libelous and certainly so gratuitously insulting.

However, The Bulletin had pledged itself to print what the judge sent it, regardless of whom it is, for Mr. Springer had complained that he could get no hearing in the county press. And, out of justice, submitting the communication to Mr. Morson, it is evident that while he far from relishes publication of such material, he is well prepared to retaliate. Indeed, there seems excellent reason to suppose that a handsome libel suit will result immediately.

Regarding the letter itself, its last paragraph alone merits comment. It is hard to comprehend why it took the form it did, for so far as The Bulletin is aware, there is no reason at all why Mr. Morson’s name should have been dragged in. Springer’s most characteristic statement is that he “defies all promoters.” Good enough; after all, the farmers are the backbone of the community. But how many powerful forces for the development of the county incur the judicial wrath? Pity the poor promoters! Sympathize with the railroad promoters who have opened up Central Oregon; with the promoters (including some of Prineville’s best citizenship) who are endeavoring to get a railway for the county seat; with them miserable wretches who have promoted the electrical development of Deschutes water power; with the misguided capitalists who have promoted Crook County’s irrigation enterprises; and, indeed, with each and every individual who is aware that the war’s over and that the only way to develop a great country is to create great enterprises.

Got there just the same

“I built that jail and you can’t lock me in it.”

So said George Gottlieb to Chief of Police S.E. Roberts Friday night, when the chief started to “jug” him after Gottlieb had made trouble of several varieties about town. Gottlieb “mixed it” with Roberts, but was finally landed in the new jail, his statement to the contrary notwithstanding. The next morning he was fined $25 in Recorder Elis’s court.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Nov. 16, 1938

Thousands of Jews jailed as hostages

Berlin — Fifty thousand Jews have been arrested throughout the Reich in the last few days, reliable sources estimated today.

Many of those arrested are influential or wealthy Jews held as hostages.

As Hugh Wilson, United States ambassador, prepared to leave for Paris, the press sternly warned America that agitation against Nazism would be reflected in further ill-treatment of Jews here.

The newspaper Schwarze Korps of the elite SS guards, declared that “we shall use Jewish hostages systematically no matter how shocking some people may find it.” The paper went on to declare that using the Jewish principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” the Nazis will take a thousand eyes and a thousand teeth for every German eye or tooth.

Ghetto-like measures were being formulated in Nazi government bureaus. Panic-stricken Jews in increasing numbers besieged the American and other foreign consulates.

Despite repercussions on the German course it was indicated there would be no recession in the drive which has swept the Jews from the financial business and cultural life of Germany.

Hull recalls U.S. envoy to Nazi Germany

President Roosevelt in forceful language today condemned Germany’s attack on the Jewish population.

Roosevelt, departing from White House custom, allowed the direct quotation of his views.

He made his statement less than 24 hours after American Ambassador Hugh Wilson was ordered back to Washington from Berlin for consultation.

Roosevelt said: “The news of the past few days from Germany has deeply shocked public opinion in the United States. Such news from any part of the world would inevitably produce a similar profound reaction among American people in every part of the nation.

“I myself could scarcely believe that such things could occur in a 20th century civilization.

“With a view to gaining a first hand picture of the situation in Germany, I asked the secretary of state to order our ambassador in Berlin to return at once for report and consultation.”

Roosevelt, in response to questions for an elaboration of his views, said that the statement speaks for itself.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Nov, 16, 1963

No draft yet: ‘I’ll be there,’ Clay tells fans

Heavyweight challenger Cassius Clay fears not champion Sonny Liston nor an upcoming appointment for his Army draft board physical examination.

“I’ll be there,” said Clay in commenting on an announcement from his hometown, Louisville, Ky., that he has been ordered to report for his initial pre-induction Nov. 21.

The call to the colors could deliver a knockout sock to Clay’s fabulously rich title fight with Liston in February.

Clay and his entourage, traveling in the challenger’s private bus, spent Friday night at a motel on Chicago’s South Side en route to New York.

“I ain’t worried about nothing until I get the official greetings from the draft board,” he said. “I haven’t got them yet.”

Then, in more typical Clay style he wisecracked: “Looks like Uncle Sam wants to miss out on the tax money from 15 million dollars, don’t it? Well that’s his lookout.”

At Baltimore, Md., Bob Nilon, executive vice-president of Intercontinental Promotions Inc., said plans for the championship match are moving apace.

“We are going right ahead with hot plans because we are confident that the United States government is too beneficent to grant a four-months’ deferment so he can make the most of the greatest opportunity in his life — to fight for the world heavyweight crown and the wealth that goes with it,” Nilon said.

Clay and Liston signed for the match Tuesday. The site was not designated and it was anybody’s guess where it would be held.

Bend’s community tree put in place at Wall and Oregon

A stately blue-green fir, its tip decked with tiny brown cones, was moved into place on Oregon Avenue at the Wall Street intersection this morning, to serve as Bend’s 1963 Christmas Tree. It will later be decorated and illuminated after Thanksgiving.

Donors of the tree were Mr. and Mrs. Seaton H. Smith. For the past 26 years, it grew at the rear of Smith’s Riverside Apartments facing Drake Park.

Smith recalls that he obtained the tree as a seedling in 1937.

Transplanted to the Riverside Apartment yard, the tree flourished, but it became evident in recent years, it was too close to a building. The tree was cut and erected this morning in downtown Bend.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Nov. 16, 1988

Store owner’s living out a fantasy

If he never wrote another word, Duncan McGeary would still be a writer. But like the cowboy whose legs bow at the sound of creaking saddle leather, he can’t stay away from words any more than the cowboy can stay away from horses.

McGeary, with his wife Linda, owns and operates Pegasus books in downtown Bend and writes fantasy fiction in his spare time.

During a slump in employment he started writing a fantasy book. He sold the book, Star Axe, to the first publisher he sent it to. Star Axe was followed soon after by Snowcastles and Ice Towers, a sequel.

In Bend, McGeary was led by his interest in fantasy and science fiction to a part-time job in Pegasus under the former owner.

He met Linda at a local writers group and with his new bride bought the bookstore.

Since his early successes in getting his books published, he has published several other books.

Though the science fiction and fantasy books sold in Pegasus are the McGearys’ “first love.” A strong-selling secondary item is the baseball cards they brought in as a sideline.

“Many customers who collect the baseball cards and read the comic books are adults who’ve kept the kid in themselves,” says McGeary.

Superhero comic books though still account for the majority of comic books Pegasus sells.

“Most people — adults — aren’t going to pick up a comic book,” McGeary says. “We’re not going to ever be like Europe or Japan where comic books aren’t looked down on. In Japan, comics are used to teach.”

“When I used to write,” he says, “writing was number one on my list. Now I’m married and with a family and owning a business and both of those are full-time deals. Now writing is number three on my list.”

Even though McGeary’s writing has slowed down some since his early years, he’s still working at it.

“I always wanted to be a writer,” he says happily, “and I always wanted to own a bookstore.”