The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-01-05

straw posses, TIE cOHlulSSlOuefS,
and his masters, the people. He
hid himself in his office and sent
a written communication to the
council meeting by his gentle Sec
rotary. Even that much was IS
gall and wormwood to the Big
Chiefs sensitive soul,
The people fain mould have
had the Big Chief present at the
council meeting in person, wear
ing full uniform, ready and will.
ing to face the entire world and
directly answer several peril
nent questions. He not only
J failed to appear personally, but
he failed to back up and corrob-
crate his written appearance
with testimony by material wit
nesscs.
Chief McKercher sent along a
couple of cancelled checks, AZ
gregating $500. His masters,
the people, would like some testi-
mony as to where, why and how,
a moderate salaried servant like
him got 81, 500 in real money
with which to buy so expensive
a car.
Since the Big Chief submitted
only cancelled checks, why did
he not submit bank deposit slips
for about that time?
The people would like to know
how a public servant, drawing
only $4,000 a year, can afford
to buy and keep up so e. ensive
a car as the mammoth Mar
mon.
The people fain would know
how much that mammoth Mar
mon originally cost. They also
fain would know what he was al
lowed on the old Hupmobile
he turned in.
If, as reports indicated, the
Big Chief was allowed $500 or
$500 for the old Hupmobile,
where, how and when did he pay
the remainder of the purchase
price Of that car?
l. When the mammoth Marmon
was prchased it's list price was
$2,750 as against nearly So, 200
later on and nearly $4,000 today.
The difference between the
$4,000 paid-$1, 500 in cash and
$500 in old CARS at least $3.50.
What about that?
Did Uncle John Armstead,
with his we'll known generosity
and public spirit, knock off the
commission of Is per cent?
Some testimony from Uncle John
supporting the Big Chiefs un-
sworn letter, would have been
pertinent, enlightening ard even
convincing.
!. Had Chief McKercher faced
his masters, the people, as any
man with clean hands and coura-
geous heart would have had no
fear of doing, he could have told
his straw bosses, the commits
sioners, and his real bosses, the
people, what has become Of the
equity of 1910 that the dear old
city had in the old Hupmobile.
He could have told why the gas
oline bills Of the police depart
ment were more for the first
nine months Of 1917 than for the
entire IL months Of 1916. He
could have told what excuse he
had in calling the mammoth
Marmon to St. Paul, when he
was on his way to Lacrosse, as a
government witness, and why
Bailey, driver Of the police pa
troll, was required to take the car
down to St. Paul at the expense
of the dear old city treasury. He
could have told his straw bosses
and his real masters if he ex-
poets the taxpayers Of Duluth to
furish him time and gasoline to
scout all over st. Louis county in
search of a nomination for sher-
Tiff. He could have told his mas
tiers whether he considers his job
a public trust or a private snap.
We greatly fear that the Big
Chiefs case is hopeless. He
seems to be riding to a fall, just
as did Chief Hansen and Chief
Cyrus T. Crandall. We near the
conclusion that not even a night
school course under Prof, Scott
Nearing can save him.
An TTNpD nrTmA DIT rNv