The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-11-03
HOW JOHNSON
STANDS AT HOME
Sam Clark Of the Minot Daily Be
porter on His Record as Mayor
JOHNSON ALLOWED OPEN
SALOONS TO RUN IN CITY

"ASAA VIZ SoiSOs W SSuC 4luCS
evidently conceived from a
speech made by J NJ. Devine in
that city short time ago. Mr.,
Devine-gave forth the impres
sion that the only reason for
the Reporters opposition to c.
A. johnson in this campaign
arises from the fact that Mr.
Johnson has alway stood for
cleanliness in city affairs at
Ninot and that he was one OF
the principal forces in the move
ment, which changed the form
Of city government in Minot
and thereby ousted the Report
er editor from the executive
chair. The Times has laid grea.
stress on this statement and
the continual harping of the
state press on. this one theme
calls for plain statement of
tact from the Reporter.
This claim that CA. Johnson
has stood for cleanliness in the
city administration of Minot is
very much Of a joke to the peo.
pie of this city who know. We
call particular attention of Mr..
Devine and the Grand Forks
Times and all other gang pap
ers of the state to the simple
fact that while Mr.. Johnson was
mayor Of Minot, open saloons
and gambling dens flourished
on Main street, while soiled
doves frequented the hollow
and there was no attempt on
the part of MIR. johnson to sup.
press these evils We state as
a positive f a c that several
saloons, with complete bar fix.
lures and equipin mt and gam.
bling dens with every conceiv.
able device for Fleeing the pub
lie were in daily operation on
the main thoroughfare of the
city, and Mr.. Johnson was well
aware of the facts. Wien i.
comes to a com parison of adj
ministration either the Green,
leaf or the succeeding admins
tration which was cut short by
the change to the commission
form of government.were clean
er morally than CA. Johnson g
administration. The open gam
bling dens continued in opera
tion until the beginning of the
Clark administration when
they were wiped out.
And here is another fact
which might be recorded: in
this connectipn-the Reporter
and the entire Clark following
4 supported Mr.. LeSuer for pres.
ident of the commission sys.
tenn, while Mr.. Johnson did not
openly support Mr.. LeSuer.
If Mr.. Divine and the Grand
Forks Times want q verified
list Of the more prominent sal
oons and gambling dens and
their exact locations as they
existed during the Johnson ad
ministration. the Reporter will
be glad to publish the list, and,
further,we will give the names
of those Who operated the
joints.
Mr.. Johnson 9 influence in the
commission fight did not
amount to anytl ing, for the
simple reason that he did not
have any influence. The oppo-
eition to johnson is even
stronger in Mlnot today than il
was two years ago, and he will
lose the city ia the coming
election just the same az he
did before. Il
Why Mr.. Devine and the
gang press of the state should
mention the administration Of
MI. johnson. while he waa
mayor Of Minot, we cannot an
derttand, for from q moral
standpoint Mr. Johnson's ad-
ministration was 40 immoral aa
any the city ever had, and the
fact can be easily proved.
The Reporters opposition to
Mr.. Johnson in this campaigr
II not from personal motives
We sincerely appreciate the
fact that he 10 q plant tool
audshaG hcen5 tf1o tool forsss 1
number Of yearsof the. Nc
Kenzie gang, and we recall
that his election will throw