Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-30
The Mayors letter.
Little Falls, Aug. 81, 1901.

Littlp Falls, Aug. II, 19Ul.
70 the Transcript:
Inyouris issue Of June H.. you in
serted q communication contain
ng nothing to show when or where
written, signed ''Yours very truly,
NJ. Martinson,'' But without hav.
Ing to inquire, learned that MIR.
Martinson was a SWede student
who has been living in our city, for
some time and has had nominal
charge OF a church organization
composed of fifty-two Swedish
members, which, I suppose, embraces
the persons referred to when he
says "My people," 1t may be, how.
ever, that he claims all of the
Swedes in the city and county to be
his people. While I, as matter of
curiosity, should be pleased to see
the document under which he claims
title to his people, I will not ask
him to show it. Mr.. Martinson
asks to be informed as to who the
prominent church people were that I
consulted prior to fixing my Sunday
policy. have told some of them of
Mr.. Martinson's inquiry and they
can do as they please about posting
him.
But it would seem that what MIR.
Martinson was especially anxious
to know was If any that he had on
his church book were consulted by
me and If SO, If they approved of my
my policy. If , peradventure, he
should find out that any of them
had been so ungodly as to approve
of a saloon being kept open on any
part OF Sunday he would take oc-
casion to give them a church mall
ing, and If, peradventure, the Offend
ers should escape expulsion from
the church, it would be by the skin
of their teeth.
Now I am credibly informed that
Mr.. Martinson labored insdiously
to secure the ffty-two names that
he has got enrolled as members OF
this Swedish-American church over
which he poses as supreme ruler.
That in order to secure some of them
he gave them to understand that
moderate drinking would be
tolerated by him. And hear that
it is fact that many Of the mem
bers OF that church frequently go to
saloons and indulge in drinking
with the common people, and that
some of them avail themselves of
the opportunity and go to the sa-
looms in the afternoon on Sundays.
But l apprehend that even they
are in no danger Of getting expelled
if they pay their church dues
promptly.
That may be perhaps better un-
der stood by those who think they
are prominent church members,
which likely includes all OF them, I
will further explain that I really did
not go and hunt up any OF them. l
only consulted with such Of them
as felt enough interest to call and
consult with me as to the policy I
proposed to adopt, and depended
upon them to ascertain how the
church people generally felt, and be-
fore finally concluding to adopt the
pledge I did, was assured by them
that it would at least be generally
satisfactory to the church going
people. Those who did not take
sufficient interest to come and
see me, supposed cared little about
what policy should adopt as to
allowing the saloons to keep open
on Sunday. Even Mr.. Martinson
himself was as silent as a grave
yard until. l said that I consulted
the prominent church members In
the city when all at once it seems to
have dawned upon his Opaque INTEL
lect that he was one of the most
prominent church members in the
city, and that by emitting to con.
suit him or any OF his people, as he
called them, had committed an un-
pardonable sin. Now, 1T IL possible
for a man to overrate himself
as to his Importance and in
tleuence in a church or state.
Personally know but very little of
Mr.. Martinson. When I have met
him he has been very courteous and
pleasant Were he a m0rOse appear
ing man l would not be greatly sur
prised at his action. BUT for a man
that appears so pleasant to write
such an incoherent and venomous
onslaught upon me as mayor as
that recently appearing in the Tran
script fairly nonplused me. Had I
made an attempt to assasinate him
he could hardly become more enragec
than he seemed to be at the idea
that should claim to consult the
prominent church members and fail
to consult him. His action in this
matter to me strongly indicates q