The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-11-02

or, Hon. Bert F'esler, the tall bass
wood from the Wabash, shows
that he believes in at least paying
his private, personal, political
debts.
This former high priest Of mu-
nicipal ownership Of public utili-
ties camoufages his reactionary
movements by the allegation that
Halden has been so exceedingly
! efficient.
If the dignified occupant Of a
seat on the district bench refers
to Halden's work in getting him
onto the woolsack, no one will
dispute his allegations in the mat
ter.
Some men are born politicians
and some men become politicians
by stress of circumstances. Born
an humble Hoosier, Bert, natural
ly, was born . politician.
Working his way through col
lege by splitting rails, picking
pawpaws and harvesting buck
eyes, the natural born politician
eventually secured admission to
the bar and hung out his single
in Duluth.
Pickings in the panic were not
good, therefore Bert whooped it
up for Bryan. AS his own select
line, he also whooped it up for mu-
nicipal ownership of public utili-
ties, particularly the old gas and
water company and the local cleo
trio light plant.
Under Truelson, the people
| picked up the gas and water
plant at a lesser price than orig
inally demanded. That took one
string away from the Fesler fiddle.
Removal to healthier chimes by
several prominent redlight lady
clients, such as Madame Wolfe,
snapped other strings, leaving
only the &c" string, on which
| the natural born politician played
persistent and seductive tunes in
favor Of a municipal electrical
plant.
To further the cause Of munich
pal ownership of an electric light
and power plant, Hon. Bert A.
Fesler also consented to accept
the city attorneyship at remun-
erative salary.
That Fesler fiddle, saving out
seductive tunes in favor of mu-
nicipal ownership of an electric
light and power plant, made the
Eastern bond-holders Of the local
Duluth Edison Company very
nervous, especially after the peo-
pie refused to vote to buy that
plant at a fat figure, but insisted
on requirement by condemnation
proceedings or even the independ-
ent construction Of an entirely
new plant.
"These Fesler tunes must be
stopped" was the word from
New York. So wise doctors were
called in. County auditor Halden
consented to come over to the con-
ference from the Wolvin build
ing. The outcome was that the
Old Spider agreed to get the gov
ernor, with whom he stood ace
high at that time, to appoint Hon.
Bert A. Fesler to a place on the
district bench, an additional
judge having been authorized by
the legislature.
The people were not consulted.
No choice was expressed by means
of a nomination and election. BY
a stroke of his pen, the governor
turned long, canny, clever law
yer, with radical proclivities, into
a dignified, frigid, conservative
district judge.
By virtue of his seat on the
woolsack, Hon. Bert was in posi-.
ton where he could wrap his err
mine around him and pass up any
call for boosting municipal owner
ship of public utilities.
Since sliding onto the district
bench, Hon. Bert A. Fesler smokes
25-cent Havana cigars and lets mu-
nicipal ownership shift for itself.
His only political activity seems
to be in connection with the
Father and Son Movement in the
marble-lined courthouse, whereby
tenure Of office by all present in
cumbents is strengthened and a
Pro German probation officer is
made guard over the youthful
Yankee incorrigibles.
Disciples Of the godly cause Of