The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-10-14

The Duluth Papers Begin to "Smell Mice
and are Afraid of the Result.
Duuth's Political Prospects Rather Slim
Without the Ranges.

sentatiyes in the Forty-ninth district
and Duluth has been busy talking
independent candidates ever since to
defeat the range men.
In the matter of county Offices
we'll. what is the use harping on this
subject. Didn't they give US the
register of deeds office and have not
the West Duluth Scandinayians been
'bucking" ever since. If it could
possibly be done, the registers Office
would also be taken from US. Then
there are about sixty or seventy dep
utieS in the court house and how
many range men are employed there?
At the last primaries the ranges had
man up for coroner and what did
Duluth do but come out body and
soul against him.
The Tribune also states that the
movement to divide cannot be sue
cessful because the larger part of the
people on the range are against the
move. If the Tribune had a chance
to see the people of the ranges and
talk with them, it would soon learn
otherwise. -Four years ago the ranges
were divided on the county seat ques-
tion it is true, but with this phase
eliminated, they will stand as unit
for division. 1t stands to reason
that Duluth, being now so exclusive,
will hail with delight the prospect
of being rid Of the expensive incubus,
known as the ranges.
This matter will be discussed from
| now on and if we are wrong, we will
be pleased to set the affair right in
as far as the figures go. The equit-
able part Of the discussion stands
however. feel that with a divis-
ion. the new county can give st.
Louis cards and spades and still
| ''skin" them to finish. AT any
rate, we cannot lose anything but
have everything to gain. Even if we
receive no recognition politically
from the state, we would be nothing
out, as at present what we deserve,
goes TO Duluth, One thing we would
gain would be independence and we
could spend our money as we saw fit.
We could buildroads for our settlers
and make other improvements. Sup
posing the taxes were a few cents
higher, we would be using our own
money for our own good and not for
the benefit of Duluth and the few
struggling agricultural districts in
its immediate vicinity, Divide, and
the new county will still be one of
the richest and most influential in
the state.
The Tribune editorial was as fol.
lows:
GA Hibbing correspondent of the
Sunday News Tribune, in an article
published yesterday morning, says
that there is revival of the move
ment Of four years ago looking to q
division of st. Louis county; this di
vision to make of the Vermiion anC
Mesaba ranges, and the country nortl
of them separate county. The ar
ticle reviews the history of the county
division project in 1900, and state!
some of the reasons that resulted in
it's failure, and asserts that the plar
for a revival of the scheme contem
plates amendments to the statutes al
the coming legislative session intend
, | ed to unite in favor of the new count,
| inns ion oil of ha
1.-The several range towns, it il
claimed were jealous of one another
over the location of the county seat
, and because of this jealousy, it is as
serted by the promoters that til,
division failed. The proposition re
,, ported now is to eliminate this diff
ticulty by amending the law so tina
5 it will be possible to fix the count,
seat temporarily, leaving permanen
, location to future election. Tt
still further insure unity of action OF
the part of rival range towns, it il
e proposed that the election of officer
f for the new county shall take plac,
f simultaneously with that on th,
question of division. thus bringin,
into line localities not likely to b.
: chosen for the county seat by givin,
4 them the pick of the offices.
: "The division scheme failed in 1900
, In 1901 the legislature amended TIL
: law governing commissioner districts
to make it possible for the ranges t.
: have better representation on TIL
D county board, giving them three on
of the seven districts. There ha
been no complaint since then thatth
range districts are not given full an
| fair consideration In the matter o
. public improvements.
/, 1.-THE influence of st. Louis count
in state affairs are second to none
: It's ability to obtain advantages TO