Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/211

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
202
HISTORY OF OREGON NEWSPAPERS

were, besides Mr. Piper and Mr. Callvert, L. K. Hodges, W. J. Cuddy, Albert Hawkins, and Ben Lampman. Ten years before that the editorial writers had been, besides Mr. Scott, Charles H. Chapman, W. J. Cuddy, E. W. Wright, and Leslie M. Scott. Mr. Hodges is a man Mr. Scott would have particularly prized; his editorials dealt with the development of the port and of the Oregon country which is building a greater Portland. He is the author of "Twenty Eventful Years," a record of the development of Portland and Oregon through editorials he wrote for the Oregonian from the begin ning of the Wilson administration until his retirement. W. J. Cuddy was "Uncle Bill," a Puckish wag of a paragrapher. Albert Hawkins, who had married Ada Coburn, daughter of Mrs. Catharine Amanda Scott Coburn and niece of Harvey Scott, was another all-around newspaper man, like Piper, Callvert, and Kelty. He had been an exceptional copy-editor until his transfer to the editorial page. He brought to the page a knowledge of history and an intelligent interest in things scientific which brought him alike the respect of historians, in whose work he frequently collaborated, and of scientists. Dr. Edmund S. Conklin, former head of the psychology department at the University of Oregon, regarded him as the best and most intelligent popularizer of psychological matters of any newspaper writer he had come across. Albert liked to reason things out and delighted to argue —with anybody. Ben Lampman had been the city editor's pride as a reporter, and Horace Thomas, then on the desk, was far from delighted to lose him, though glad for his advancement, when the editorial page took him over after about two years on the news end. Ben has a wide range of subjects; but it is usually easy to pick out his matter from its decidedly human touch, its whimsical note, its leisurely tempo, its feeling for the living things in the outdoors, which combines friendly appreciation with scientific knowledge of any kind of animal you want to name, including cats. Not enough space to do justice to Ben, who, besides all this, is a real poet. Phil Parrish, most recent acquisition to the editorial writers, is supplying the historical understanding lost at Albert Hawkins' death. Phil, with broad newspaper training, just has the habit of writing history, all the way from editorials to books. He is a recognized authority on the history of the Northwest. Mr. Parrish, Mr. Callvert, and Mr. Lampman are all designated associate editors.

On the death of Henry L. Pittock in 1919 C. A. Morden became manager of the paper, with Edgar B. Piper continuing in editorial charge. Ten years later Mr. Morden was succeeded by O. L. Price, formerly Mr. Pittock's secretary and business adviser. Mr. Price continued in active charge of the business end of the newspaper until the end of the 20-year period provided in the Pittock will, when reorganization was to be effected. Mr. Price was succeeded as manager by Palmer Hoyt, who under the reorganization was made publisher,