Miss Bertha Nosebody of Women’s Organization and Reform Movement (W.O.R.M) With Portland Police Department after confiscating liquor from a speakeasy near Brown Stadium.
Portland, OR. June 15,1916 report by Dick McVicker of Morning Oregonian
It’s a warm summer day at Brown Stadium, Ballplayers on the field and Fans in the stands but one thing is missing the cries of beer and wine vendors. On January 2nd the Oregon legislature temperance law took effect. While most of Oregon have complied with the new law their many people in the Rose City that are less than enthusiastic. Along the Portland waterfront and around Brown Stadium have sprung up illegal booze joints and bootleggers. So far the Portland police has made valiant efforts to stem the tide of spiritous drink but wide variety of liquor still gets through.
There are two areas where the booze business is booming, at the Waterfront and around Brown Stadium. On game days business is brisk, local speakeasies and small time bootleggers selling the forbidden drinks. Some of the favorites include Canadian Whiskey, Californian Wines, Locally made Gin, Beer and of course Moonshine. There are rumors of young scalawags selling bottles of booze hidden under the bleacher section of Brown Stadium. There have also been a report of fans at game’s end leaving Brown Stadium completely blotto. Also visiting teams are also reported to making extra greenbacks by smuggling booze from Washington state.
One person that has a strong opinion on this issue is, the local president of Women’s Organization and Reform Movement, Miss Bertha Nosebody. ” These baseball parks are centers of moral turpitude… goldbrickers, bootleggers, foreigners, and loose women are there every game.. It is the goal of the Women’s Organization and Reform Movement, to go to the state house in Salem and appeal to Governor and the state legislature, to ban the team and tear down the stadium, and remove this blight from the fair city of Portland.”
Most Oregonian are appalled by the idea of Rosebuds being sent to dustbin of history. State Representative for Portland, and former ballplayer J. Gaylord Redfield replied : “I have much respect for W.O.R.M and the work they do, but I disagree that Baseball should be banned in the Rose City… Baseball provides a good wholesome leisure activity for hard working people of Portland. Baseball represents all the great American values of hard work, teamwork, determination and skill. the baseball player is the model of mind and body melted into a perfect union. The manly bearing of the ballplayer is an inspiration to men and women alike. The conduct of a few hooligans should not mean the banning of this great sport.”
So what will happen, to Portland Rosebuds and their fans? only time will tell.