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

railroads. He either has fish to
fry that the people know not Of
or else he enjoys the sensation of
humping along on the plush cush-
ions. One day he will be in Eve
leth. On another day he will visit
Duluth and his king in the mar
ble-lined courthouse. The next
day he may show up in Chicago.
Later, still, he will be reported
as on a visit to his big ranch in
the Bitter Root valley, Montana.
During the last session Of the
legislature, commissioner Penttila
spent much time around the capi-
tol building. His presence became
so noticeable that one of Duluth 8
lawmakers asked a friend what
the county commissioner from
Eveleth was doing so much Of the
time around the halls of legisla-
ton. ''He is here almost as much
as I am," was the remark.
No one seems to have found out.
Hc might have been there on Sc
cret orders from auditor Halden !;
he might have had fish of his own
to fry; he might have been there
as matter of education; to
round out his political education !;
to keep tab on this man or that
man-no one can safely and
surely say.
| Mr.. Pentilla originally con-
Quoted a little grocery in Eve
leth. He faired lily in his ven
ture, therefore took to politics.
He was anti-Halden for a long
time but finally became en-
meshed in the spidery web. Some
say that enmeshment was volun-
tsry and others say it was be-
cause he could not help himself.
| Some of the wise boys assert
that Mr.. Penttila bought too
many road graders in 1915 from
the Russell Grader Manufacture
ing Company; that he made
heavy purchases Of those ma
chimes without first getting legal
authority from the board of
Ecounty commissioners !; that audi
ter Halden used that fact to
scare the commissioner into his
spiders web. Another tale has
it that Mr.. Penttila heavily over
drew his road fund; that auditor
Halden impressed him. with the
il!egality Of that condition Of af-
fairs and got the commissioner on
his side by promising to prevent
any serious consequences from
spending the county's money be-
fore it was allotted and appro-
priated.
Still another SOURCE yields in
formation to the effect that Pent-
tia eagerly sought the Halden
camp, believing that the Halden
fcrces were getting stronger in
the Sixth district and his own
weaker, therefore the necessity
for an alliance if he desired elec-
ton, which was the case.
| There are growlings at Eveleth
over some Of Mr.. Penttila's acts.
Some find fault because Mr..
Penttila had a county road built
out to his own farm but they
fail to show what good a farm is
to a county commissioner if he
cannot have a road by which to
reach it. There are kickers al.
most anywhere or everywhere in
st. Louis county, thanks to King
Odin's Thirty Years in the court
house.
Fred B. Myers, bosom friend Of
Odin Halden and Walter j.
Smith, trinity formerly known
as The Thnss Guardsmen, picked
a plum oa two through Mr..
Penttila 8 .amenability to persua-
sion.
] Mr.. Myers at that time was a
banker, bond broker, automobile
agent and local poobah at BIZ
wabik. Mr.. Penttila had no au-
tomobile but yearned for one. A.
that time, the county commits
sioners had not acquired the
habit Of buying automobiles like
American beauty roses-half a
dozen in a bunch, therefore COM
missioner Penttila feared that be
would not sit on the soft cushions
end 60 flying up and down st.
Louis county in a gasoline char
lot. Over in the old country, ali
OK team or a fishing boat beat
walkino all fo nieces hnt an an.