The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-04-12

to be a veritable April Fools Day to
many citizens of this city.
AS most of the Rip-saw readers
already know, James A. Farrell was
! elected commissioner by plurality
| of 1853 over W.. A. Hicken, man
many wanted elected and whom
many of his opponents fully expect
ed to pull through.
William F. Murnian, the favored
candidate Of organized labor, greatly
surprised himself, if not his many
hackers, in winning an election by
vote only 60 behind Farrell.
| There were four candidates on the
ticket and the vote stood as fol-
lows, viz:
James A. Farrell, 1888; William
F. Murnian, 1888; William A.
Hicken, 6,045; Guy Warren, 1902.
There were many cross-currents
in the campaign and many contra
ries. One of the Rip-saw's contem-
poraries advances the idea that
even religion got into the campaign.
If so, it had a strange way of show
ing itself. Many a devout Irish
Catholic worked hard and voted
against Bert Farrell. Protestant
preachers and strict Protestant cit
liens supported him.
The great subject of discussion
the past week has been that of how
the new commission will organize
and who will be the next chief of
police. That very important matter
of who will be the next city attorney
does not seem to hold nearly so
much interest for the Intelligent
electorate.
The chances are entirely in favor
of commissioner Murnian being as
signed to the department Of public
safety. That will give him control
of the police and fire departments
as we'll as the bulge in picking the
city attorney and his staff.
Neither commissioner Farrell nor
commissioner Voss could be forced
to take, the safety department.
Mayor Magney rather wanted it at
one time but he now prefers to fin
ish some of the big tasks that have
developed in the department of pub
lie affairs, such as the erection of
the A. M. Miller public hospital.
At one time, commissioner Phil
lips rather thought he would like to
talk turkey to the policemen and
fremen. Today, however, he says
that he is so deeply in the water
and light department that he cannot
back out, or does not wish to do so.
The conclusion is, therefore, that
Mr.. Murnian will be assigned the
department Of public safety without
any real discussion or hesitation.
The identity Of the next chief of
police is about as much Of problem
as that of whether or not Mars Is
inhabited. Of course there are thou
sands in this city who would like
very much to see Gus Lahti made
chief of police, instead of acting
chief, as now, and given full author
ity to show what he can do. 1t is
believed that he would make good
in an effective, satisfactory and quiet
way. Mr.. Lahti's appointment
would also please the many who feel
that a chief should be appointed
from the department. Perhaps more
would be displeased over that right
in the department than outside Of 1T.
There is considerable departm entail
politics and less of it would be good
for the good of the service.
If Mr.. Murnian should appoint
Mr.. Lahti, therefore, he would give
! 30 co{scfo ofinn on1
ceive very small minimum OF crit
icism, even from friends of other
aspirants. He would have logic,
good sense and popular approval or
his side.
There is an expression by some
that Mr.. Murnian should appoint nc
one chief who does not carry a union
card. If he looks on that as good
policy, then Walter Johnson is about
the most eligible of the many pos
sibilities. He carries card, worked
for Murnian and has barely missed
shaking a big plum tree couple Of
! times.
Tuesday afternoon, a former
} union man and old personal friend
Of Mr.. Murnian expressed the opin-
/ ion that the selection probably laid
between Lahti and Johnson. Bu
the man did not claim to have real
: inside information.
John Murphy, the former employe
! of the N. P. R., who has been crowd
ing towards the political pie-counter
for half a dozen years or more, Is
credited with having aspirations and
hopes.
: Eddie Whalen is frequently men
toned. The fact that he now holds
a government job would not, it IL
believed, deter him from DOMINIC
the golden star If the position were
offered him.
OF course Frank Schultz would
not feel insulted If he were selected
He formerly was a union man. HI
secured his place on the force, ir
, fact, as a sort of salve for being ar
rested during the Truelson admins
tration while picketing the boycott
ted Lyceum theater. Lieut.. Schultz
is believed to have been thrown
down four years ago by Mr.. SLIDER
stein and, If so, he very likely would
consider an appointment at this time
as a belated gift from the gods and
even a sort of visitation of justice.
H. w. Toewe, an old-time member
of the department, and now member