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 gizzard
with that big gun he carries when the
boys shoot craps in his Sunday school
rooms on Tower avenue. g..
"Chet" 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. So,
Last Monday, "Chet" Bell got so
angry because a 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, underworld folk, few lame
ducks and the Superior Water, Light
6 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.
( Outside of the outlaws and under
world folks, hardly a man In legltl-
mate business is in favor of the
ssc1ems.sAAs faW4who thought they saF
al merit in t hs iasa Ct frs ira } sss
III nbed high upon the fence. A cop.
pie Of lame political ducks aretstill "
line but they may get blisters on theil
feet and drop out almost any day.
The daily Telegram refuses to roo,
for the turning back Of the hands OF
progress. The Leader is strong for Il
but the editor of that publication il
a politician who is outside the fence
and who wishes to get back at th'
trough within. The paper has only
a few hundred circulation, therefor'
exerts. no influence, granting that 1t Ii
ably edited. .'t,
There was a meeting last week t,
organize the circulation OF the petl
tions. Just seventeen voters wer
present, including four reporters. . on
of the men fayoring the change, bacl
to the ward system in an l. W.: W
organizer and, Of course, he was Their
with the other disciples of lawless
ness. 1t is alleged that he is getting
$40 a day for circulating a petition.
Of course good old Ed. Hanton, tn
night school friend. Of the late Johl
Barleycorn, was present. If Roy Hill
UChetn Bell, "Jack" Mcdonald
Grandma Mark Paine or the executive
agent of the Superior Water, Ligh
& Power Co. were present, no one saw
them and no record was made of it.
Hans johnson, alleged labor leader
was elected chairman Of the meeting
He must be one of the most lonesom
men in Superior for. to date, he i
about the only union man who seem
really in earnest in advocacy of tn
proposed change. " 2e>2,.
Mr.. johnson likes to talk, however
and there was very little opposition
at the limited gathering. The. fey
who were qualified to 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 slowl!
and at great cost. No one could talk
to say nothing of enthusing, under tn
circumstances. O.:
Frank Mcdonald, editor Of tn
Leader, was elected as secretary o
the committee in charge of circula
tion of the petitions and to keel
Chairman johnson from. getting tn
blues from lonesomeness. , go. -.
Even Chairman Hans johnson coul
find nothing to say against Baxte
and others present hardly dared to 50,
anything against him. q Mr.. Johnso
admitted that he voted for Mayo
Baxter and declared that he has bee
as nearly a fair official as the cit
has had for some time.
In reply to question by John A
Wernig, it was admitted that tn
movement was started by Ed. Hantol
for many years the pinch hitter fo
the Northern Brewing Co., and 8 ma
whose life work has been to sprea
the sale and use of beer and booze.
When it came Col. Hanton's turn t
say something for the good Of tn
order, he said that he could not blam
Mayor Baxter for opposing tn
change in government. It is su.
pected that, way down in the bottor
of his bibulous old heart, Col. Hanto
thinks that Fred A. Baxter is som
mayor, but his business interests d
not permit him to say so out loud.
That was about all the aenemic Lit
tie gathering accomplished. Ever since
persuasion and threats, If not the US
Of money! have been used to get sign