The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-03-29

may be issued If the petition is en-
dorsed by the voters.
It is quite certain that the bust
ness men are opposed to the. return
of the saloon, as it has been demon
strated that business is better and
bills are paid more promptly than
ever before in the history of Supe-
rior. North Tower avenue, which
has been saloon headquarters, Is now
equipped with a white way, but the
merchants could never raise suffi-
cient funds for the improvement un-
til after the town went dry. And
the cause is easily found-after the
disappearance of the saloons, the
streets became safer and women
dared to venture north Of the tracks
without fear of collision with drunk
en- individuals and, once in that Sec
ton, they found many bargains.
Merchants got trade which they had
never been able to get before and
they prospered.
Would Cheat Uncle Sam.
Wet prophets even are declared
not to be espe Tally anxious to have
licenses issued if they win out at the
polls, as they are satisfied with the
profits they rake in on their pigging
at present. r.. .-..s, ...,.
Well, then, what's the idea?
Yes, just this, that If the city
votes wet, the blind-piggers and
boot-leggers can get a government
license for $25, while If the city re-
mains in the dry column, they would
have to pay $1,000 to keep out of
trouble with United States revenue
men.
If they violate the. city liquor ordi-
nance, they can get away by simply
paying a fine, but If they are not
provided with a federal license and
! are caught at it, they will be taking
trip to Fort Leavenworth for a
considerable term.
So they want to keep Uncle Sam
from getting the 1915 for each IL
cense.
Who Supplies the Funds?
The wet campaign is of the gum
shoe variety and very little money
has been expended openly. It Is
said, however, that the silent work
ers have plenty of funds available
and people are wondering who Is sup
| plying the cash.
A little incident may throw some
light on the subject. The vets had
! bill Introduced in the legislature
! to make it lawful for the city coun-
! Gil to allow paper ballots to be used
for the license question. This bill
was drafted by Attorney G. w. Frid-
ley, who is also attorney for Duluth
! Street Railway company. Superior
citizens are now asking themselves
if this means that the public service
i corporations are furnishing the sa-
loon men with funds.
The city wants to buy the water,
! light and gas plants and the street
railway company wants increased
fares and privilege to curtail the ser
vice. Many persons believe that
both concerns gladly welcome hght
on the license question, as that may
lessen the interest in the utilities
purchase, for which the electors will
have three different votes to cast,
and if the city should lose in the
fight against the Water, Light &
Power company, it would be a moral
help for the street railway company
Law and Order.
In introducing his petition,
Paine made a plea for law and or.
der. Undoubtedly he means 1t, but
he is in bad company. 1t is whis-
pered on the street corners that the
blind pig element, consisting chiefly
of former saloon men who have no
taste for honest work, could give
information regarding the death OF
man whose body was recently
found in the rear of a downtown
hostelry. But that is another story.
It is not considered possible that
the voters Of Superior will try to
secure better observance of the laws
and ordinances by following the ad-
vice of professional law breakers.
Drys Are Campaigning.
The drys are putting up a snappy
and clean campaign. They have
their No Waste league, which did
such effective work last year, in good
running order, and the personnel of
their leaders is sufficient to COM
mand respect.
|. Of the mercantile fraternity no
one is more fearless in his cam
paigning than T. ]. Roth, the well
known department store proprietor,
and he is af1y assisted by such men
as attorneys Louis Hanitch. w. B.