Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 2.djvu/38

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

32 THE CITY OF PORTLAND every energetic and forceful man in a community hears enough ; of commenda- tion very little. "When such a man has lived his three score and ten and his twilight shadows lengthen, it is proper to record a just estimate of him. Henry Pittock has the finest perception of a newspaper's relation to its readers and to the common- wealth whose voice it is. No one within or without the field of journalism in Oregon could have a nicer sense of a newspaper's duties to the public. From the time, fifty years ago, when the daily Oregonian was a doubtful enterprise, financially a weakling and its roots barely set, until to-day when it is rich beyond its founder's dreams, influential and powerful — Henry Pittock lent it freely and generously to every cause that made for material and spiritual advancement. In the early days of his paper and after it had been firmly established, he encoun- tered very strong and at times, unscruplous opposition, backed by practically unlimited money. Almost alone and unaided he defeated every combination that was made to kill oft" his paper. He carried it at various times, through three crises that would have unner'ed, if indeed they would not have bank- rupted an ordinary man. Always imperturbable, he seemed calmer in great stress than under ordinary conditions. He is fair minded. He weighs men and things judicially. Slow in his judgment, having formed it, he never wavers. "His success was due largely to his acute knowledge of the value of news. During the Civil war his expenditures for telegrams, considering the income of his paper, were enormous. The policy he inaugurated of securing important news at any cost, has prevailed to this day. After all is said, the Oregonian is the biggest institution in Oregon. Mr. Pittock laid its foundations and for fifty years upbuilded, hand in hand with its great editor. He has created his own monument." ARTHUR CHAMPLIN SPENCER. Arthur Champlin Spencer, a member of the Portland bar who is now acting as attorney for the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, was born at Suffield, Connecticut, October 17, 1872, his parents being George Francis and Martha (Champlin) Spencer. He pursued his early education in the public schools of Deep River, Connecticut, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from high school at that place with the class of June, 18S9. His more specifically literary course was received in the Connecticut Literary Institution at Suffield, Connecticut, and in the Vermont Academy at Saxton's River, Vermont, com- pleting the course in the latter institution in June, 1891. Mr. Spencer made his initial step in the business world as a clerk in a general merchandise store at Deep River, and after being thus employed for a time, be- gan clerking in the Deep River National Bank. He came to the west in 1893 and after thorough preparation for the bar, his studies being pursued in the University of Oregon, he was admitted to practice before the Oregon courts in June, 1895. He has since followed this calling in Portland and while advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He soon became estab- lished in a successful law practice that has connected him with much important litigation work in the courts and he was deputy district attorney for the fourth judicial district of Oregon from 1900 until 1904. He never fails to give a thor- ough preparation and his close and careful analysis of a case enables him to as- semble his points with regard to their due relative value, never for a moment losing sight of the important point upon which the decision of every case finally depends. After engaging- for several years in general practice he was appointed six years ago as attorney for the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company which he now represents in a legal capacity. I