The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-05-05


cutor, was re-appointed by the
Dauntless Three one week and
then summarily fired on the next
blue Monday,
It was the scream of the new
regime. Gonska, incidentally, de-
clares that he was made the
"goat' because commissioner Sill
bernstein feared a recall if some
thing was not done to appease
some of the Dries, socialists, law
yers, and prominent citizens who
felt that a revision of the city's
legal department was highly ad-
visable.
incidentally, Mr.. Silberstein
seems to have alienated all Of Mr..
Gonska's friends, which means at
least SO per cent Of his personal
support. The real politicians con-
slider it highly a tactical error
to re-appoint man and then dis
charge him almost Immediately
to save the personal faces Of COM
missioner and city attorney. To-
day, it would be as easy to re-
call commissioner Silberstein as
it would to make a duck swim.
Mr.. Gonska promptly came out
with a vigorous statement OF his
side of the matter, Tuesday eve
ming, April "a, as follows:
In reference to an account pub
lished in the extra edition OF The Du-
luth Herald this evening I wish to
submit to you true statement of the
facts in reference to my discharge.
Last Thursday afternoon I was
called into conference with the Hon.
B. Silberstein, commissioner of public
safety, and John E. Samuelson, city
attorney, about one hour after I had
flied my oath Of office as special
counsel of the city Of Duluth for the
ensuing term. At this conference
Commissioner Silberstein requested
my resignation for the reason that he
was threatened with a recall by the
dry leaders.
The honorable commissioner In
formed me further that If he could
perfect my removal from office, the
aforementioned dry leaders would be
willing to allow him to remain. was
further requested to state in such
resignation that the grounds for my
resigning be an increased amount OF
private business. then informed the
honorable commissioner that had no
reason for resigning, and that under
no consideration would I resign,
whereupon he informed Mr.. Samuel
son and myself that the only course
open to him would be to join Com
missioners Magney and Phillips in the
selection of new city attorney, as he
was unwilling to face recall.
Mr.. Silberstein then referred me to
Mr.. Samuelson, who endeavored to
impress upon me the fact that If my
RESIGNATION was not forthcoming, the
same would undoubtedly mean his re-
moval from office, as we'll as the re-
moval of the other two assistants. Al
this time I promised Mr.. Samuelson
to think the matter over, and while
attending to my duties in the police
court this morning received word
that Mr.. Samuelson desired to have
an interview with me.
"After finishing my work in police
court this morning I called upon Mr.
Samuelson and was again asked tc
tender my resignation. Informed
him that I had absolutely no reason
to resign. Mr.. Samuelson then stated
that he couldn't afford to lose out and
the only course open to him was that
be discharged, and that my dis
charge take effect May 1, 1917. ther
asked Mr.. Samuelson to advise me
what the grounds of my discharge
were, and was informed by him that
his only ground for discharging me
was for the purpose of creating har'
mony among the commissioners.
The truth of the matter is that
was discharged by Mr.. Samuelson ir
order to prevent q recall Of Commits.
sioner of Public Safety Silberstein
who couldn't afford to allow the ISL.
berstein prestige" to suffer any. and
to prevent the removal of the Hon
]. E. Samuelson as city attorney.
These are the facts.
It now appears that three com:
missioners-Voss, Farrell and
Silberstein-had entered into a
compact to put the skids under
city assessor Scott, instead Of re,
appointing him.
The boys who know, say that
commissioner Voss had a dinner
at his home, where the decision
made. News of the intrigue
slipped out and the Scott sup
porters-all- the jobbers, big re.
tail merchants along Superior St..
and the real estate exchange, In
particular, began to lombard the
Dauntless Three.
Commissioner Silberstein was
the first to strike his flag 81 can.
not vote against Scott; it will