The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-08-23

If You don't sign the petition to
recall Mayor Baxter and to change
back to the rotten old ward system
Of municipal government in Superior,
"Chet" Bell may take. notion to
choke you, knock off your block Or
even shoot you through the gizxard
with that big gun he carries when the
boys shoot craps in his. Sunday school
rooms on Tower avenue. t4'H - e.1"f'
stChet" Bell aims to do just as he
pleases in Superior and, so. far, he has
avoided getting caught at it. When
some of his disciples got caught last
winter, he declared that he would
shoot anyone who testified in court
against his wife or the "Yellow Kid"
But that's another story. |'.s.'
Last Monday, "Chet" Bell got SO
angry because Tower avenue bust
ness man would not sign the petition
that is being backed by the under.
world that he sternly threatened to
visit physical violence on the citizen:
This shows to what straits the out.
laws, underworlds felix, - aefew'. lame
ducks and the Superior Water, Light
& Power Co. have come in their des-
perate, illy-timed undertaking to get
rid of the most faithful mayor Su-
perior ever has had and to get back
to the loose, inefficient, suspicious
and unsatisfactory old ward system OF
government. ''.',a'.r >'. |...'}
Outside of the outlaws and under.
world folks, hardly q man in legitl-
mate business is in favor OF the
scheme. A few who thought they saw
real merit in the idea at first have
zone over to the other side or else
climbed high upon the fence. A cou-
Die Of lame political ducks are still in
! line but they may get blisters on their
feet and drop out almost any day.
The daily Telegram refuses to root
for the turning back Of the hands OF
progress. The Leader is strong for it
but the editor Of that publication is
q politician who is outside the fence
and who wishes to get back at the
trough within. The paper has only
few hundred circulation, therefore
exerts no influence, granting that it is
ably edited. -. 49,. e.. ....
There was a meeting last week to
organize the circulation Of the petit
lions. Just seventeen voters were
present, including -four reporters. One
Of the men favoring the change back
to the ward system in an L. W. W.
organizer and, Of course, he was there
with the other disciples of lawless'
ness. It is alleged that he Is getting
$40 day for circulating petition.
OF course good old Ed. Halton, the
night school friend Of the late John
Barleycorn, was present. If Roy Hill
HChet" Bell, "Jack" Mcdonald
Grandma Mark Paine or the executive
agent Of the Superior Water, Light
3 Power Co. were present, ne one saw
them and no record was made Of it..
Hans johnson, alleged labor leader
was elected chairman Of the meeting
Re must be one Of the most lonesome
men in Superior Tor, TO date; he b
about the only anien man who seems
really in earnest in advocacy Of thu
proposed change. - @f:"tr'3s ',' "a"
Mr.. johnson likes to- talk, however
and there. WAS very little opposition
at the limited gathering. The few
who wore qualified sto talk understand
able English were too sad and de
pressed over the outlook to say any
thing with effect. Signatures wer'
coming onto that petition most slowly
and at great cost. i No one could talk
to say nothing Of enthusipg, under thl
circumstances. ~; -. -. -,
: Frank Mcdonald, editor Of tn
| Leader, was elected as secretary o,
the committee in charge Of circula
ton of the petitions and to keel
Chairman johnson from. getting tn
blues from, lonesomeness. i. $50 -
Even Chairman Hans, johnson coult
find nothing to say against Baxte
and others present hardly dared to 80.
anything against him. :, Mr.. johnson
admitted that he voted for Mayo
S Baxter and declared that he has beef
% nearly q fair official a. the; cit.
has had for some time. b.. - - 80. =
In reply to . question by John A
Wernig, it was admitted that tn
movement was started by Ed. Halton
for many years tho piHch hitter 70
the Northern Brewing Co., and ma,
whose life work has been to spread
the sale and use Of heof and booze.
When it came Col. Hanton g turn Il
say something for the good Of tn
order, he said that he could not blam
Mayor Baxter for opposing tn,
change in government. r Il Is Gus
pected that, way down in the bottom
Of his bibulous old heart, Col. Hantol
thinks that Fred a. y Baxter b SOM
mayor, but his business interests d
not permit him to sayhso out loud. ?
That was about an the aenemic Lit
tie gathering accomplished. Ever since
persuasion and threatsJ Il not tho u.s.
.sf money, have been used to- got sign
ESQ y aaiq b,ts tdn;a 4i4es
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