The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-18
GANNON'S DEATH
+. LAID TO JACKS
NEW THEORY OF MOTIVE FOR
TRAGEDY ON THE BORDER.
Revenge Sought by Woodsmen for
Robberies in Resorts on the American
Side-Laxity in Enforcement ~ Law
and Social System Prevailing Blamed
for the Killing.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Fort Frances, Ont. April 1s,-The real cause
of the Cannon tragedy at Besudette Is not
of recent brewing, nor is Matt Cannon the only
victim. The newspaper correspondents have
placed the blame entirely upon Americans liv-
ing in the border towns, but thoe living Oh
the Canadian side Of the border are by no means
guiltless-in fact, they are equally guilty with
the Americans. -" .'
TO understand thoroly the reasons that led up
to the killing Of Matt Cannon, must know
many of the ms and outs Of the life that exists
on both sides of the Rainy river. The great
source of trouble Is the American license laws.
In the United States all licensed liquor places
must obtain two licenses one from the federal
government, internal revenue license and
the other from the local state or county authori-
ties But all the places where liquor is sold
in the border towns do not have the latter; the
former they must have.
Laxity prevails in the administration of the
state license law in northern regions Of Mime
sofa, and the inhabitants have taken advantage
Of it. On the Canadian side the law is more
vigorously enforced, and nothing but fully
licensed hotels allowed to operate, there being
such thing as saloon. There are many
mills and numbering camps on the Canadian side
of the Rainy river, and there is a much
better opportunity Of running the dives which
the men working in these places usually fire.
quent on the American side. it is only natural
that many such places have been started there
and catering to this traffic.
In fact, every night swarms of men from the
Canadian mills and camps cross the river and
haunts. Under these circumstances it is only
natural to suppose that many crimes are COM
mitted and that no one can be found upon whom
to place the guilt.
1t is stated by many who were in the vicinity
Of Beaudette that the men who are responsible
for the death Of Cannon hailed from the Cana
dian side. 1t Is known that Cannon was deeply
hated by many of the 1umberjacks working in
the Canadian camps, and of this he was we'll
aware. for he never dared cross the river into
Canadian territory except in broad daylight when
the men were at work and there very little
danger. Many Of the lunberjacks had been held
up the American side in some Of the resorts.
and Matt Cannon suspected of having a
hand in the affairs. However that may be- these
places Of vice. secure from federal interference,
have become hel-holes Of immortality.
Spooner consists only Of saloons and, as a
man who is acquainted there remarked. 'other
houses Across the river from Emo is another
place called Indus. made up entirely of saloons
and other Places with special Inducements to
the lumberjacks of Canada. These some of
the social conditions along the border between
Beaudette and international Falls. and the muir
der Of Matt Cannon is simply the result Of the
| system that prevails in that district