The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-12-07
Schemes Of Varied Hues Put
Before the Public
WAR. Benefit SWINDLES
New York Story Has W. R,
Hearst Going to Presidency
Via Albany
Especial to Free Press.1

From Mondays Daily.
New York, December 3.-More thar
million dollars has been grated in
war benefit swindles here within the
last six months, according to investi-
gators from the district attorneys Of
flee, who have today completed pre-
liminary probe into this meanest form
of fake soliciting, that has beer
worked to the limit by an expert band
of confidence crooks during the past
year. Not only have scores of the
most wealthy citizens of the down
town districts been conned into con-
tributing thousands of dollars each
to these thieves, on the understanding
that they were helping the boys
abroad, but thousands of poorer peo-
pie have been robbed of dollar dona-
tions all over town on this patriotic
pretext. Until the authorities can
trail and bring to trial the criminal
gangs that have used American spirit
to cover up and expedite their rob-
berry, it is now promised that neither
police nor prosecutor will rest in
their wide drive for the clever cul-
prits.
The Political Plot.
That William Randolph Hearst has
determined to be governor of the
Empire state IN 1919 and president of
the United States in 1921, is now ad
mitted by political leaders in this
city, who have just learned of the lat
est course to be steered by this en-
ergetic editor. With Tammany be-
hind him below the Bronx and the bulk
of the labor, socialist and suffrage
strength throughout the state in SYM
pathy with his radical reforms,
Hearst as gubernatorial prospect
next fall is being treated very seri-
ously by the politicians who are most
closely in toutaa svtith the latest devel-
opments Since this man, who just
helped Murphy make mayor here, is
already beginning to tilt with Whit
man for the evident purpose of dis
crediting or removing him as a rival
candidate, no one now doubts his de-
sire to head for the White House by
way of Albany.
Welding the Workers.
To rule New York in state and city
by combination of it's farmers and
paign of canvassing both these classes
by agents of the Farmers Nom Parti-
son league, who have just come here
for this purpose. If every element of
the granger's strength can be united
with the power of the labor organiza-
lions in the city centers, it is cOnced-
ed by every authority that this state
can be run almost absolutely by any
one who effects such combination.
Nevertheless, so delicate is the prob
lem of uniting the workers at field
and bench that no one is expecting
that any result of these new negotia
tons will be apparent, in the imme-
date future at least.
The Women Working.
With twenty per cent of the jobs
now filled by women workers and
crowds of female applicants for the
rest pressing for all sorts of such en-
ployment, the big business enterprises
hereabouts are just beginning to feel
that the industrial undertakings of the
nation need not be halted for lack of
help. From porters, car guards and
day laborers up to the highest grade
of office executives is the range of
mems work that the women are now
filling in on successfully. While the
present lack Of man power in bust
ness would have staggered and stag
mated all activities few years ago.
the development of the women work
ers is now promising to pull through
every enterprise essential to the in
dustrial backing of the war.
Those Society Spurs.
Whether the jingle and Jagged
menace of military spurs will break
up or brighten the ball rooms of this
metropolis in the future, is a prob
lem that the proprietors of all the
public dance halls are now puzzled to
solve. Though many a costly gown
may be ripped and ruined by the row.
els of social cavalry officers, it has
just been discovered that an army
regulation compels them to be worn
at every public function To leave it
to the ladies, is the present inclination
of the hotel hosts, and it is expected
that the verdict will favor the officers
unanimously, spurs or no spurs