University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-02
lens K. Grondahl


metropolitan papers. A million read
ers may not accept ideas of reform as
readily as a few thousand. The work
of country editor who fights fearless.
ly for municipal betterment and who
has never suffered defeat speaks for
Itself and the achievements of Jens
X. Grondhal of the Red Wing, MIMI.
Republican.
Red Wing is town OF ten thousand
on the Mississippi river. Like most
Iriver towns, it bears reputation OF
Having a few lawless citizens who
are at the bottom of most crimes and
who are opposed to law and order
These men control the election. of
public officials often because of gener-
al Indifference on political subjects
They controlled the part of Red Wing
which was VIGOROUSLY bad. 1t was
the task of Grondahl to clean out the
den.
He made his plans slowly and sure
ly. He collected evidence of hidden
crimes and carefully studied the situa
ton. He knew that he was right, and
he then proceeded to stir up public
sentiment. The quiet and respectable
part of Red Wing took notice. Ban,
kers and laborers got behind the Nor
wegian editor, who was holding in re-
serve the big idea-the blow that
would put law and order in place of
depredations and crimes.
| An island connected with Red Wing
by suspension bridge was the scene
of law violation. Because of the ma
tural barrier made by the river and of
the continued lawlessness, it was
difficult task TO get the real criminals.
Telephone connection with Red Wing
made it pOssibles for spies on the pO-
lice to acquaint those on the island of
impending danger. Policemen on the
island belonged to the gang.
Grondahl planned a raid by citizens.
He studied every detail and did not
leave anything undone. He got in
fluential men into the scheme and all
were pledged to secrecy. Even some
of the men on the office force did not
know of the plan. A misstep meant
failure. The editor knew that a sur
prise was the only way to catch the
offenders red-handed.
Fortunately the night set for the
raid was intensely dark. Each man
wal heavily armed. and was provided
with a powerful electric flashlight.
Telephone wires running across the
bridge were cut. The self-appOinted
vigilance committee was not slow in
beginning its work. Grondahl, seated
in a boat in the river. directed the
movements of the men.
The criminals were caught without
a struggle They were handcuffed and
taken to Red Wing. Then the houses
of i'll fame were destroyed. Little
trace of vice and crime remained after
the raid The entire tract of land
was decided to the city for park as
q result of the raid.
The chief criminal was taken to the
office of the Republican handcuffed.
He could not be taken to the Jail be-
cause the story of the raid would leak
out An extra was put to press early
in the morning. The managing editor
of the staff read of the account for
the first time in the extra as he went
to the office. 1t was a great scoop" |
for the afternoon paper; too good a |
story to have held for the regular |
edition
The prosecutions following the raid |
resulted in penitentiary sentences Tor |
the chief offenders. One of the men |
who escaped a sentence swOre he
would get even" with Grondahl. He |
even made the remark a subject for
conversation. On one occasion, he ats
tended a public meeting. Grondahi
left a group of friends. walked over to
him and slapped him on the leg with
this greeting:
Tom, how are you?"
No answer. Tom did not like the
humiliation of the situation. Grondahl
was unusually affable. Another friend
ly slap on the leg.
whats the matter, Tom?" he in
quired.
"Jens." came the explosion. ''If had
seen you last week, would have kill
ed you; yes, | would have killed you"
Why, what would you have killed
me for? That wouldn't have done you
any good?' came from the presisten.
Jens.
Tom cooled down, and latter be.
came one of the best supporters Gron-