by Sue McCreary, Stevensville
In 1953 I was 10 years old. Some time ago my first cousin gave me some 1953 newspapers from her parent’s estate. Just recently I got them out and began looking through them. The July 12, 1953 edition of the Ellensburg (WA) Daily Record marked the Centennial separation of that part of Oregon Territory North of the Columbia River into a new Territory of Washington. It was also the Sesquicentennial (150 years) of the Louisiana Purchase from France, which also included part of Washington, and still further marked the 70th. Anniversary of the Kittitas Localizer (first published July 12, 1883, and the predecessor to the Daily Record), and the 44th. Anniversary of the Daily Record itself ( first published July 1, 1909). Clifford Kaynor was the Publisher and Owner of the Ellensburg Daily Record in 1953.
I was born and raised in Ellensburg, WA, being the 5th generation of ancestors who migrated across the Plains in 1851 to settle in Oregon Territory, who later in 1871 moved into Washington Territory and homesteaded in the Kittitas Valley nine miles NE of Ellensburg, WA.
In 1953 the word Conservative meant each landowner took care of their property and valuable irrigation water in such a way as to live on and maintain what they owned. A Constitutionist was someone who had gone through at least 8th grade and had a working knowledge of the Constitution of the U.S.A.; lived freely under The Bill of Rights; loved and honored law and order. Children were brought up to respect their parents and the elderly, taught to love their neighbor as themselves, and knew right from wrong. The Bible was understood to be the Truth and infallible Word of God. And The Constitution of the U.S.A. had been built on the 2000+ year old Bible.
When Ronald Reagan became President of the U.S.A. in 1981, we still lived under the “Old School” of what it meant to be American. President Reagan was a man of what was called the Big Tent of Real Republicans. And I repeat, REAL Republicans. There were no “moderates”, “rhinos”, etc. All worked together for the good of the county, state and nation to make sure all people were kept safe, which is what the local, state and federal Governments are to do!!! We have elected Representatives (Representative Republic) to represent the people, not to get elected to further their own agendas or to line their pockets with taxpayers’ money.
If any of this letter resonates with any of you readers, please come to the next meeting of the Reagan Republican Club where we have civil and respectful conversations. For more info call 406-369-1965.