The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-11-01

7,OOO-mile system of paved roads.
Charles M. Babcock, commissioner
of highways, is father of the so-called
"Babcoek amendment" an addition
to the state constitution, on which the
people will vote a year from this
month and which, if adopted, will make
it legally possible to spend the said
sum of $1O0,O00,O00 for the paving of
state highways.
Bonds to meet the cost of construct
i"~ hard hi"hwavs in St. Louis county
were voted last July, in the sum
o. S1,5Uv,vvO. III salu bonds are sold
and issued and the Babcock amend
ment then fails Of passage, the tax
payers Of the county will be under
strict legal obligation to pay the bonds
instead Of being reimbursed by the
state of Minnesota, as the Babcock
plan provides.
Many sections Of Minnesota are not
at all friendly to the passage Of this
amendment. All sorts of arguments
are being used To arouse opposition and
secure its defeat.
To combat prejudice and opposition.
clever propaganda is being carried on.
The Minnesota Highway association is
an organization existing especially for
that purpose. It is conducted by a
president, vice-president, secretary and
board Of directors.
H. G. Davis. was the first secretary
Of the association and William E.
Verify, country editor and standpat
politician, served as vice-president.
The secretary received 1925 a month,
out of which he was expected to pay
his travelling expenses. The vice-pres-
ident received $500 month, $4,000
year.
Some time ago both Davis and Yer
ity were quite summarily bounced from
the executive offices they held in the
Minnesota Highway association. Fig
uratively speaking, the two pie-counter
boys lost out because they "sucked
eggs' without the knowledge and con-
sent of the board of directors and,
possibly, shadowy Big Boys in the
background of the association.
Col. Verify is editor and publisher
of the Wadena Pioneer-J Journal. He
was charged with letting substantial
printing contracts to his printing house
at fatty profitable figures. Davis, as
secretary, did not advertise for bids,
it is alleged, therefore Verify had it
all his own way. Eli Warner, who
holds a monopoly in state printing as a
sort of vested right, is alleged to have
yelled murder and, thereby, killed Ver-
ity's little snap. In the windup, Yer
ity found himself out of a $4,000 a
year snap and hitting the unpaved
highways for Wadena.
Davis claims that he was let out be-
cause he would not work with the Big
Interests to build up a political ma
chine. L. H. Nord, who succeeded
Davis as secretary, alleges that his
predecessor was let out because he
sought to conceal on the books of the
association the handsome contribution
of the cement interests. Davis, too,
must have been implicated in throw
ing the fat printing snaps Of the asso-
citation to Verify.
In circular letter, stating their side
of the mixup, Verify and Davis in part
say, viz:
"We have felt - that it is
mistake to have these contributions
appear on the books of the Portland
Cement Manufacturers association, or
any other, because the sentiment
against the steel corporation, agra
waited by present labor troubles, and
the recent fight over the tonnage tax
bill, would make publicity of this con-
tribution, and the fact that it was be.
ing received with the knowledge of the
two chief officials of the state high.
way department, great menace to
amendment No. /.
"You no doubt recall the charges
printed in the Townley organs last
winter, while the 'McGarry bill was
pending before the legislature, that
road material interests were behind the
Babcock plan. Publicity Of this con-
tribution would be in the nature of a
confirmation of these charges, and, we
believe, would be extremely detrimen-
tai to this campaign"
After being caught at "sucking
eggs" without proper permission, Da-
Wis and Verify are alleged to- have
begged like whipped puppies not to be
driven away from the pie-counter.
They are said to have promised to be
good Injuns and not to say anything
about the contribution of 81 500 to the
Minnesota Highway association by the
cement trust, through the Universal
Portland Cement company.
The g.ng turned down the pleadings
of Davis and Verify, therefore the two
blabbed all they knew about the &C.
ment trust boosting the cause Of hard
roads in Minnesota.
According to Verity's squeal, the
Portland Cement Manufacturers asso-
citation arranged through George H.
Bartlett, Of the. Universal Cement COM
pany, for a contribution Of $500 to
the Minnesota Highway association,
payable $3.50 a month for ten months.
After very turbulent meeting Of
the board of directors Of the associa-
ton, Sen. L. II. Nord, Of International