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Mail Tribune 100, Aug. 19, 1922 continued By Alissa Corman Aug 20, 2022 12:00 AM A A News from 100 years ago The following news items were drawn from the archives of the Mail Tribune 100 years ago Aug. 19, 1922, continued *Note: This is a continuation of the article which ran on Aug. 19* EXPOSITION ENDORSED AT BIG MEETING (continued) Scenery is Praised The next speaker on the program was George L. Rauch, president of the Portland Ad club. He praised the scenery of the valley and stated that he wished that the people of Oregon could divide the pleasures of living in Oregon with the people of other states. He stated that the exposition had been planned for the purpose of bringing people here from other states to share in the pleasures. Mr. Rauch praised the people of Medford for their selection of a mayor such as “Pop” Gates, whom he described as a man of young ideas, backed by energy and pep. The speaker implied that our mayor was similar to Portland’s mayor, Geo. L. Baker. Mayor Baker Speaks Mayor George L. Baker of Portland was the next speaker. His unique and appropriate opening remarks amused and pleased the crowd. He said: “Ladies and gentlemen of Jackson County, citizens of Medford. Isn’t this a wonderful night? Isn’t it wonderful? Just look up at the sky and see those wonderful stars. It is certainly a privilege to live in this county. Let us draw a picture of the crowded tenement housed in New York, Chicago, Boston, and other cities of the United States. Let us picture the dirty streets where diseases lurk and where crowds of little children use the streets as playgrounds. Think of the people who live in these dirty districts with fire escapes for their backyards. Think of the awful heat or the extreme cold. That’s the picture of the far east and the crowded western cities of the west ... While we in the great state of Oregon, sitting as we are tonight, under this great blue canopy, enjoying all that the great God has given us. Our Oregon. Your Oregon. My Oregon. Not Medford’s, not Ashland’s, not Grants Pass’, or Klamath falls’ or any other cities alone, but Our Oregon! “We have traveled, as has been already told you over 1000 miles in this state before coming to your city. We have traveled over roads that were almost impassable; we have traveled over graveled roads, good enough for anyone. We have traveled over hard surfaced roads. We were at what Ashland people are pleased to call the gateway to Oregon, and I am thinking of the wonderful privilege you people have to be on a hard surfaced highway leading in every way to the wonderful things God could give to people, and still there are complaints among you people, but if you could see some the districts through which we have gone the condition under which they are living, you would feel fortunate in living in a paradise such as this county is and which they are building of the entire state of Oregon.” — Alissa Corman; [email protected]