acceptable to all, of whatever political or sectarian preference. By this time the
rule of the Printing Association had been modified to some extent. Mr. Wait
edited a democratic paper in Michigan in 1844, during the exciting political cam-
paign of that year, and had the power of quickly adapting himself to circum-
stances — an indespensable requirement in newspaper work. The first news from
the democratic national convention in that eventful year gave the names of Hon.
Mr. Blank, and Hon. Mr. Blank as the successful nominees. Mr. Wait wrote
the accustomed editorial congratulating the people upon the ability of the chosen
standard bearers, and promising his heartiest support and placing the names at
the masthead. After the paper had gone to press the news came that Polk and
Dallas had secured the nominations. Mr. Wait hurried to the office, caused the
latter named to be inserted, and the press was started again. What he had written
in the first place answered for the last candidates as well.
In those early days it was common to slur Oregon weather as it is nowadays, for on December 14th, Editor Wait takes exception to it, and among other things, says : "For the year ending November 30th, there have been 240 clear days, 25 days on which it rained or snowed all day, and lOi days on which it rained, hailed, snowed, or was cloudy part of the day."
The only exchanges of the Spectator at this time were one at Honolulu, and two small papers in California, one in San Francisco and the other at Monterey, which were brought semi-occasionally by vessels. Papers and letters arrived from the "States" once a year. Thus, it may be seen, that an editor in those days must have been a man of resources.
On September 7, 1848, the Spectator suspended, the printer, John Fleming, going to the mines. Publication was resumed on October 12th, with S. Bentley, printer. At this date the editor apologizes as follows :
"The Spectator, after a temporary sickness, greets its patrons, and hopes to serve them faithful, and as heretofore, regularly. That 'gold fever' which has swept about three thousand of the officers, lawyers, physicians, farmers and mechanics of Oregon, from the plains of Oregon, into the mines of California, took away our printer also — hence the temporary non-appearance of the Spec- tator."
In 1848 Judge Wait drew the deed by which Francis W. Pettygrove conveyed the Portland townsite of six hundred and forty acres to Daniel H. Lownsdale, the consideration being $5,000 in leather.
With the issue of February 22, 1849, Mr. Wait's connection with the paper ceased. During the Cayuse war, 1847-48, Wait was assistant commissary general. Prior to leaving Massachusetts he had studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Michigan, in 1841. At the first election after Oregon became a state — 1859 — he was elected one of the judges of the supreme court, and was chief justice for four years. At the close of his official career he resumed his law practice and continued until he acquired a competency, when he retired, although still retaining an active interest in public affiairs, and frequently contributing to the press. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-five and died in 1898.
Soon after Mr. Wait's connection with the Spectator was ended, it suspended publication. On October 4, 1849, it again appeared with Rev. Wilson Blain, a clergyman of the United Presbyterian church, as editor, and George B. Goudy printer. On February 7, 1850, the paper was reduced to sixteen columns on account of a shortage in the paper supply. On April 18, 1850, Robert Moore, then proprietor of Linn City, opposite Oregon City, became owner, Blain being retained as editor. In this issue he says:
"We find the opinion that Oregon should be immediately erected into a state much more prevalent than we had anticipated — and we feel impelled to warmly urge it on public attention. — Time was when Oregon enjoyed a large share of public attention — but things have greatly changed in the last two years. Oregon has passed almost entirely into the shade. We rarely see Oregon men
