The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-11-20
Hurruh for Paw Paw.

Editorial from Detroit Evening News
To the village public a county seat
war is what line fence dispute is TO the
rural individual. In struggles for the 10
cents worth of ground that marked the
difference between where the fence was
and where the landowners thought it
ought to be, there have been murders,
riots, duels and fist fights; fathers have
been turned against sons and brothers
against brothers; the courts have been
kept busy and settlement of the differ
ences has been followed by feuds which
endured even to the third generation.
So in the struggles between communities
to secure the coveted honor of having
the county seat There have been times
when the trouble was equal to three
South American revolutions, and the
settlement of it in fact has never been a
settlement in the fancy of either the vic
tors or the vanquished.
Once there was such struggle between
South Haven and Paw Paw to determine
which should be the capital of Van Blu
rem county. 1t was inevitable that Paw
Paw should win, and Paw Paw did win;
but South Haven is irreconcilable. 1t
has sought consolation in its commercial
superiority and its industrial significance
II has flouted its growth in Paw Paws
face; it has boosted of its advantages; it
has made odious comparisons between
its own intelligence and culture and re-
finement and Paw Paws intellectual
stagnation and medieval crudeness. To
none of these arguments did Paw Paw
care to make reply. 1t has kept silent
and with calmness born of the possess
sion of the county records, it has made
preparations to saw wood. 1t has Just
begun saving
AS the guardian of the morals of Van
Buren, county, Paw Paw felt called upon
to look into the condition of affairs in
South Haven and reported that there
was deal of gambling, Illicit whisky
selling and other corruption there which
perverted the welfare and threatened the
peace Of the whole county. \ grand jury
was called and the conditions in South
Haven are to be investigated in Paw
Paw. To the charges South Haven has
CbbtiOI a Etutidl Dlbd VI bOl ulllN dDu
retorted by asserting that Paw Paw
wants to gather in South Ravens wealth.
1t was asserted in effect that the board
and keep of 300 witnesses summoned
from South Haven TO testify before the
grand jury in Paw Paw was to 90 to
bolster up Paw Paws crumbling institu.
tons and revive her wasted industries.
Other saucy things were said and to
keep her money at home South Haven
has chartered a special train with dining
cars, cooks, bullets, and, if we may be-
lieve Paw Paws insinuations, poker lay
outs. On this train the South Haven
witnesses will live in Paw Paw, travelling
thither every morning and returning
home every night.
We would think less of this circum-
stance if it were not for the remarkable
presumption of the people of South Ha-
ven in thinking that they can cope with
Paw Paw. What has South Haven to
make; it famous? Nothing. 1t may be
all that it claims to be, and still wsmust
decide in favor of Paw Paws pre- emf
hence. Here is town with a name. 1t
is bound to rank up with Kalamazoo
Hackensack, Kokomo, Kankakee and
Oshkosh. Its reduplicated title is com
polling. 1t has a succulent suggestion
1t tickles the fancy as well as the palate.
1t will live and be known afar when
South Haven has become deserted viii
lage. 1t may not get South Ravens
dollars, but it will retain its own fame
ard in American Technology it will stand
forever as a mark of the excellent taste
of its founders and the patriotism of its
people. Hurrah for Paw Paw.