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-Iaxity in Enforcement II Law
and Social System Prevailing Blamed
for the Killing. -

Special to The Journal
Fort Frances, Ont, April 1s.-The real cause
of the Cannon tragedy at Beaudette Is not one
of recent brewing nor is Matt Cannon the only
victim. The newspaper correspondents have
placed the blame entirely upon Americans Iy-
ing in the border towns; but tho-e 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
the other from the local state or county author-
ties. But all the places where liquor Is sold
in the border towns do not have the latter; the
former they must have.
La1ty prevails in the administration of the
state license law in northern regions of Mime
sota and the inhabitants have taken advantage
vigorously enforced, and nothing but fully
licensed hotels are allowed to operate, there being
no such thing as saloon. There are many
mills and numbering camps on the Canadian side
of the Rainy river, and as there is much
better opportunity Of running the dives which
the men working in these places usually fire.
quent the American side, it is only natural
that many such places have been started there
and are catering to this traffic.
In fact, every night swarms of men from the
Canadian mills and camps cross the river and
engage in the coarse revelry usual in such
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 lumberjacks working in
the Canadian camps, and of this he was well
aware. for he never dared cross the river Into
Canadian territory except in broad daylight whe1
the men were at work and there was very little
danger. Many Of the Undertakes had been hello
up the American side in some Of the resorts
and Matt Cannon was suspected of having 8
| hand in the affairs However that may be, these
places Of vice, secure from federal interference
have become hell-holes Of immortality.
Spooner consists only of saloons and, {
| man who is acquainted there remarked. ''othel
| houses Across the river from Emo is another
place called INDUS made up entirely of saloons
and ''other places" with special Inducements t.
| the 1umberjacks Of Canada. These some O.
the social conditions along the border between
| Beaudette and International Falls. and the muir
| der Of Matt Cannon is simply the result of tn,
| system that prevails in that district.