Dr. Smith, one of Oregon's best known citizens, was born near Columbus, Ohio. In 1864 when he was 16 he taught a country school at $28 a month and for three years divided his time between teaching and attending the Ada Normal School, now Northwestern University. Through persuasion of a teacher he decided to become a doctor and later graduated from the University of Ohio and in 1888 from Bellevue Hopsital Medical College. He settled first in Walla Walla, Washington where he practiced under Dr. N.G. Blalock and later was sent by him to Pendleton. There in 1890 he began his own practice. He had the first X-ray machine in Eastern Oregon. In 1898 Dr. Smith was elected Pendleton's mayor. His term was noteworthy for its reforms. Saloons which had been running unrestricted were put under strict regulation. Wide open gambling, which had flourished, was closed down, and the system of levying monthy fines on fallen women was stopped. Umatilla County, normally one of the strongest Republican Counties in the State, elected Dr. Smith to the state senate in 1902. He carried every precinct in the county but two and in 1906 was re-elected. In the Oregon Senate Dr. Smith showed that he was truly a man of the people. He was a leader in the fight for popular government - the foremost issue of those days. The direct primary, initiative and referendum, recall and direct election of senators had no stauncher advocate.
Dr. Smith, one of Oregon's best known citizens, was born near Columbus, Ohio. In 1864 when he was 16 he taught a country school at $28 a month and for three years divided his time between teaching and attending the Ada Normal School, now Northwestern University. Through persuasion of a teacher he decided to become a doctor and later graduated from the University of Ohio and in 1888 from Bellevue Hopsital Medical College. He settled first in Walla Walla, Washington where he practiced under Dr. N.G. Blalock and later was sent by him to Pendleton. There in 1890 he began his own practice. He had the first X-ray machine in Eastern Oregon. In 1898 Dr. Smith was elected Pendleton's mayor. His term was noteworthy for its reforms. Saloons which had been running unrestricted were put under strict regulation. Wide open gambling, which had flourished, was closed down, and the system of levying monthy fines on fallen women was stopped. Umatilla County, normally one of the strongest Republican Counties in the State, elected Dr. Smith to the state senate in 1902. He carried every precinct in the county but two and in 1906 was re-elected. In the Oregon Senate Dr. Smith showed that he was truly a man of the people. He was a leader in the fight for popular government - the foremost issue of those days. The direct primary, initiative and referendum, recall and direct election of senators had no stauncher advocate.
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