davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

embargo on shipping any more sugar
abroad while the price at home is al
most prohibitive and profiteering in
sugar is so disgraceful and general.
"In the United States we normally
consume SO pounds of sugar per cap
tia. An increase Of a cent a pound in
the price means $91, 100000 a year ad-
ditional profit for the sugar barons.
"With big business doing it's best to
make this country a fertile soil for
bolshevist propagandists, little business
is helpless to do much better. What
tempts our great corporations to prof
iteer, is easy money-legitimatized
graft. I earnestly urge as remedy to
meet this emergency an active prose.
cution of profiteers, followed by their
Imprisonment, and a law requiring
every manufacturer to print, engrave,
weave or stamp on every article he
produces, along with his trademark,
the exact price he receives for it.
"I am convinced this would do much
to put business and industry back on
a legitimate profit basis. The pfofit.
eers are making it harder and harder
for the dealer who is trying to do a
square business and to charge the GUS
toner reasonable profit to make a
living.
"There is indisputable proof Of
widespread profiteering to be found in
official records in Washington. It is
unfortunate, but true, that as long as
this orgy of profit-taking goes on, the
honest merchant will be under suspi.
cion as we'll as the dishonest dealer.
Many merchants who do not make a
cent out Of this unholy traffic are
compelled to be party to it or go
out of business.
"The best that can happen to us is
to get down to a legitimate basis
of profit, be that basis high or low
as compared with pre-war values. The
point has now been reached where le.
gitimate business is being seriously in
jured by the profit-takers, who ulti-
mately will, themselves, have to pay
the fiddler if the dance goes on"
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

RAINIER, Feb. 2.-(Special to the
Rip-saw.)-Bold robbers stole $4,000
worth Of grain alcohol from a Cana
dian Northern freight train at Rainier
Junction week before last. The stimu-
liant was being shipped from st. Louis,
Mo-, to Winnipeg. To date, no arrests
have been made. It is believed that
the authorities are awaiting opportunity
to bag the entire gang of thieves who
have been robbing the Canadian
Northern freight trains on a wholesale
scale for many months.
Before the alcohol robbery, a big
consignment of hams disappeared be-
tween Virginia and Rainier. Merchan-
disc has been stolen in quantity. These
thefts amount to huge sum, yet the
secret agents of the government and
the company have utterly failed to
catch the gang in the act or with the
goods.
Detectives have been slyly concealed
in a freight car and it's contents came
through to the border unmolested. The
next time, when no agent was hidden
with the shipment, freight cars would
be found fairly Quilted Of their con-
tents.
All these losses undoubtedly are the
work of an organized gang of clever
crooks and, to date, no one has been
able to run them to earth. Following
the bold and sensational theft of $780,
600 worth Of alcohol, John F. Faytle,
Of st. Paul, acting state prohibition
director, suddenly appeared on the Dor.
der with his "flying squadron" of spe-
cial agents Of the internal revenue de-
partment.
The "flying squadron d" went through
Rainier like hot knife through butter.
They raided several alleged blind-pigs
and poured the stimulating slops into
the northern snow. Places found with
a supply Of illicit booze were closed
up. Much evidence of law violation
was picked up and it is believed that
arrests eventually will follow.
Incidentally, there was hurried ex-
odus of panderers, blind-piggers and
redlight ladies into Canada, when the
"flying squadron" actually got to
work.
Much Canadian rye whisky is filter
ing into Minnesota from Ontario. That
Canadian rye not only is seductive and
grateful stuff for an old boozer suf-
fering with "hot coppers," but it is
much cheaper than bourbon. In Ft.
Frances, for example, there is no dearth
Of good rye whisky at prices ranging
from 81 to 81 a quart.
This good and cheap liquor is a great
temptation to trainmen running be-
tween Winnipeg and Duluth. A few
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
RABBIT TALES FOR TEACHERS
Wobby School Superintendent Denies Teachers and Pupils
Many Very Essential Things and Thrusts Them
Many Other Things Futile and Even Frivolous.

to tell rabbit stories to the teachers.
"What will it cost,s" asked direc'
tor Firoved.
"Miss Finch's fee is $75 an eve.
ming" replied director Barnes.
"This board has very little money,
even for essentials" remarked the
Little Commoner with grave shake
of his head.
Director Barnes thought the sum a
small one and that the teachers would
appreciate some rabbit stories, there.
fore the gallant wasters Of the people IS
school money fell in with her ideas.
There is a rumor that the teachers
now think of requesting that the blow
out be held on All-Fools Day, in special
honor of Doctah Hoke.
1t will be a sight worth going miles
to see to watch veteran teachers like
Belle Calverly, Eleanor Thomson,
Frances Elgar, Susan Brooks, Misses
Downs, Porter and Milne, dressed in
their Immaculate pinafores and seated
at the feet of the, pulchritudinous
Miss Finch, listening with bated
breath and wide-open eyes to her thrill
ing rabbit stories at $75 an evening.
1t has been suggested, too, that local
color and touch of nature be added
to the telling Of the rabbit stories by
having Doc. Hoke chase a swarm of
big, white rabbits, with pink eyes,
around the back stage, while the win
some Miss French springs her rabbit
tales on the assembled teachers.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

Our selfish, grasping, greedy friends,
the Food Hogs, are seeking the city
dump again, for the purpose of chuck
ing food products that have value to
poor people, at least.
Wednesday, January %, 300 cases of
big pears were thrown on the dump
by Michigan street firm, alleged to
have been the cocky Fitzsimmons-
Palmer company.
A farmer got about so cases which
he took home for hog feed but, other
wise, the big pears were a, total loss
to both the firm and the public.
A Rip-saw inspector, who is regu-
larly stationed nearby, declares that
some potatoes have been dumped re.
Gently that had excellent salvage value,
if put in the hands of thrifty and dis
eliminating consumers. Even if bit
more defective than desirable for hui.
man use, they had high value as hog
and cow feed.
Some cabbage has been dumped that
had excellent food value if picked
over properly. Some of the outside
leaves were specked, but the inside
was sound and usable.
1t further is reported by this in
spector that some onions have gone
onto the dump that had high salvage
value if in the right hands.
Not very long ago, two cases Of
spoiled eggs fell off truck that was
taking ruined hen fruit to the dump
or the incinerator. They fell on Rail-
road street and were personally seen
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

Owing to the needless extravaganza
of the vague, indefinite and incompe-
tent Hoke, the school board treasury
faces bankruptcy. Some very small
but really very important matters are
being turned down and put off because
of the desperate situation in school
finances.
For some time, the music room has
been too small for requirements at the
Central high school. Finally, some one
with eyes and ideas proposed plan
whereby the museum space could be
decreased bit, a partition pushed
over and the music room materially
enlarged.
It was estimated that the slight i'm
provement, promising really very i'm
portant benefits, would cost the small
sum of $75. When the matter
came before the proper committee for
approval, it was decided that the con-
dition of the treasury would not per-
init of the expense.
At about the same time, eight out
of nine members Of the board boldly
voted to increase the wobbly Hoke s
salary $500 next year and $1,000 a
year for the two succeeding years.
At the meeting of the board of edu-
cation on January 9, the committee
on schools reported that plans had
been made to hold an informal con-
ference and social gathering of the
teachers on March 26 at 7:30 p. m.
The committee also favored hiring one
Miss Finch, a lady easy to gaze upon,
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

A ray Of hope comes from Washing.
ton that the government will take
some definite steps to remunerate the
forest fire victims Of October IL, 1918,
for losses from flames that had their
origin from locomotives, railroad en-
ployes and carelessness Of any or all
corporate agencies.
The roads involved embrace the Du-
luth, Missabe & Northern, the Great
Northern and the 500 Line.
It is estimated that damage claims
by farmers and residents of villages
will aggregate $25,000,OO0. Some es-
innate that the total damage was as
much as $50,000,O0O, but the railroad
corporations probably cannot be held
responsible, even by allegation, for all
of the losses. The lumber barons may
have to face charges Of liability, be-
cause of criminal neglect to clean up
slashings and employ other protective
measures.
In the beginning, charitable people
at the head Of the lakes and from all
contributed to the relief of the suf-
ferers.
Next came state relief, the state au.
thorities taking certain responsibilities
and the legislature concurring and even
doing more, later on.
Despite Gov. Burnquis 8 pre-elec-
tion promises that the fire victims
where they were before the fire." re-
lief was inadequate to real needs and
there was much fault found with its
administration by Col. Hubert V. Eva.
About year ago, the Rip-saw wrote
congressman Carss a letter, replete
with facts and figures, telling him that
at least $20,OO0,OO0 seemed necessary
for truly substantial restoration Of
the devastated hinterland and that he
could do great work and make a
great name by getting congress to ap.
propriate about $4,000, 900 for that
purpose. 1t also was suggested that,
as last resort, such an appropriation
might be made conditional on one of
similar size by the Minnesota legisla-
ture.
Temporary relief, instead of SUBJ
stantial restoration, seemed as far as
the legislature would 60, despite siren.
uous efforts to arouse that body to the
great need. Congressman Carss did his
best, but congress was in an econom-
zeal mood and he was unable to get
his proposed measure through the COM
mittee, to say nothing Of congress.
Then the Northern Minnesota Fire
Sufferers Association was organized.
Each member paid in small fee, the
considerable aggregate being used in
making expert surveys, fixing origins
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
RAILWAY ROBBERY IN RAINIER

The chief drawback to this wave Of
reform is the fact that editor Walter
B. Brown is pining away from Lack Of
exercise. When the slot machines were
running, Bro. Brown had great habit
Of playing the machines with nickels
that he received on subscription. He
would feed fistful of small coins into
one machine, then he would amble
across the room and feed the nimble
nickels into another machine with a
big and hungry tummy. In that way,
Bro. Brown got needed exercise, pro-
noted good digestion and maintained
that sunny face for which he is ia
nous.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

able representative in Washington, per-
haps on other business. It was ex.
pected that he would be at the confer
ence last Monday.
Hugh J. McClearn left for Washing.
ton last Friday and George Schlecht,
chief executive Of the Northern Min.
nesota Fire Sufferers Association, left
last Saturday. He went especially well
primed with facts, figures and argu.
ments in favor Of admitting liability
by the government as against the three
roads, under federal control.
It has been difficult to get much of
line on this matter, for nothing is
being noised from the housetops. But
such information as is available has
been gathered by the ever awake and
dependable Rip-saw and not the som
nolent daily papers.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

Where the good people formerly cried
"What shall we do to be savedS''
they now wall "Where can we get a
pound of sugar."
This sugar problem is becoming most
serious and there is no relief in sight
The candy manufacturers seem to
have no lack Of sugar. Local jobbers
have no lack Of sugar for making
"Nujell," not an essential product, al
though one highly profitable to the
manufacturers.
AS these lines are written, many a
local grocer is utterly without sugar
and his customers wall accordingly
Others dole out a pound at a time al
about 25 cents a pound. Still others
are charged with asking as high al
30 cents. From the Mesaba range
come stories Of sugar selling at 81
cents pound.
Sugar is as necessary in a well bal.
anced ration as is fat or even bread
If this blockade in getting sugar to
the masses, at price possible to meet
is not broken soon, then there will be
impairment in the health of the rising
generation.
As these lines are written, a prom.
inent local sugar broker states that
beet sugar, Of which there is limited
production, should sell at 1872 to Is
cents at wholesale and not to- exceed
IS cents at retail, in this territory.
Cane sugar, which has not commenced
to arrive, should sell locally at whole
sale for liz to Is cents and at 20
to % cents pound at retail.
This local broker also talks about
an increase of 16 per cent in consump-
tion Last year and decrease Of or
per cent in production as heavily af-
fecting the situation; also the chang
ing from governmental control to pri.
vate control as being another impor-
tant factor.
Excuses, explanations and many sta
tistical facts and figures do not sat.
isfy the people who have to go sugar
less. The unsweetened condition of the
average mans daily diet puts him se-
riously in danger Of development of
super-acidity in his milk of human
RlnuneSS. many years ago, candidate
for congress was cunningly defeated by
making his constituents think that an
excessively high price on pearl but
tons was due to the action of his ma
tional party. Sugar, it's high price and
its lack, very easily can become vi
tai issue in the coming campaign.
When it comes to facts and figures,
there are some very wise, learned and
experienced doctors in these United
States. They do not come from Can
ada, the British Isles, Greece, the Bal
kans or even China. They are native
born, therefore do not .mutter when
they talk. Their ideas and their meth
DDS of expression are distinctively
American.
One of the men of this nation who
has understanding, knowledge and
power of expression, also who does not
stammer when he speaks, is U. 8. sem
ator Arthur Capper, of the highly
American state of Kansas. Under date
of January 10, senator Capper writes
as follows on the sugar situation, viz:
"Just now, the greatest get-rich-
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
CHISHOLM BANISHES
ALL SLOT MACHINES
Probation Officer Everett Says
Gambling Devices Badly
Influence the Boys.

CHISHOLM, Feb. 2,-(Special to the
Rip-saw.)-In response to request
from G. E. Everett, range probation
officer, chief of police Cloutier recent
ly ordered the removal Of punchboards
and all other gambling devices from
business places in >the village Of CHS
holm. Probation officer Everett states
that punchboards are proving a big
factor in contributing to the delin-
quency of minors and, as a result of
that enlightening and overdue infor-
nation, the Chisholm police department
proposes to assist probation officer Ev-
erett in every way.
Chisholm is making slow but steady
progress up the road Of high moral
endeavor. Some time ago, mayor Joe
Austin suspected that some frisky and
lawless stunts were being pulled off
in his village. He. was so busily en-
gagged in playing billiards, however,
that he did not see just what the
stunts were, nor where they were
pulled off.
Then along came the Great Family
Journal, giving names, places and de.
tails as to lawlessness. Mayor Austin
woke up and gave orders to chief
Cloutier, which resulted in the closing
of poker games, slot machines and the
soft pedal for dumps Of ill shape.
Such respect for the law has not been
known in Chisholm since the days
when Rev. Mr.. Leech had a habit of
dropping in here from Virginia and
Juggling a few thousand dollars worth
of slot machines down to the police
station, where they were broken up.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
|SUCARLESS SITUATION IS SERIOUS
ot Swening While Others Dole Out Pound
Packages Profteeng Pces-Governmen Permitted Americans
Suffer By Letting the Cuban Crop Go to Europe ~x

quick game in America is gouging in
sugar. It is a mighty sweet and rich
business for profit cormorants. The
Equalization Board held the refiners
down as to price. So, in the name Of
Great Britain and France, they bought
up the Cuban sugar crop and exported
it to those countries at higher figure
than the board would allow these men
to sell it in the United States. And
this Government let them do It. As a
result, the increase in the price Of su-
gar will add almost a billion dollars
to the burdens now being borne by the
American people.
"Although our exports Of sugar to
Great Britain, alone, have jumped 200
per cent, and we have, in recent
months, shipped more than 3O0,00O,000
pounds Of it to the United Kingdom,
there are fairly well authenticated re-
ports Of vast hordes Of sugar in New
York and New Jersey. One recent deal
reported is the sale, through brokers,
Of $4,000 worth Of sugar by New
York packing company to a Jersey
City merchant for 20A cents a pound,
the sugar to be sold at % cents retail.
"The hoarders are holding up East
ern wholesalers and retailers, who in
turn must hold up the consumer. Su-
gar at II cents-the war price-is tre-
mendously scarce in these localities.
But sugar at % and % cents a pound
is as plentiful as ever.
"Under the circumstances, the least
this Government can do is to put an
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

bottles smuggled through mean more
than a mans wages for q week. It
was only recently that q member Of a
Canadian Northern train crew was ar.
rested in Duluth for smuggling whisky
across the border into the arid Land
of Uncle Samuel.
Ranier's suburb, International Falls.
is all torn up over the effort recently
made to remove sheriff Hugh T. Nc.
Intosh from office.
A petition, signed by about twenty
individuals, was filed with the COVER
nor. Allegations of malfeasance and
nonfeasance of office were made.
Of course this move must have been
actuated by Baron Backus, the un-
tanned Bolshevist Of the borderland.
The petition was headed by B. G..
Dahlberg, vice-president of the M. D.
& W. railway, jealous lieutenant Of
Baron Backus.
Another shining name On the petition
was that of "Big Bill" Adams, a for
mer underworld champion in Duluth,
who promoted a booze bungalow at
Clifton, east Of the Zenith City. "Big
Bill' some time ago brought gang
Of gunmen to Baron Backus from Chi
cago and, at present, he is pulling down
$40 day as manager of the "Green
Onion," the boarding camp where
Baron Backus' gunner and strike
breakers are housed and fed.
Only short time ago, "Big Bill"
Adams was arrested for interfering
with a deputy sheriff. Two big guns
and slingshot were found on his per-
son. At present, he is under $500
bonds to await the action Of the grand
jury.
Two of the petitioners for McIn-
tosh's removal were actual citizens Of
the county. The others were non-res-
ident gunner, strike-breakers or other
retainers of Baron Backus.
Incidentally, Gov. Burnquist might
make no mistake by ordering the sher-
iff to search certain island in Rainy
Lake, where Col. Dahlberg has sum-
mer house. It is alleged that, before
the nation went dry, Dahlbreg planted
about $4,000 worth Of superfine booze
on that island. Absorbing stories are
told Of Sunday drunks pulled off on
that very same island.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
DULuTH's NEW POSTMASTER.

President Wilson has sent to the
senate the nomination of Thomas E.
Considine as postmaster for Duluth.
Joe Tumulty no longer is president,
it seems, and Duluth no longer is a
postmasterless city. Civil service also
is given a boost after being held in
allegiance for an undue length of time.
Mr.. Considine has been connected
with the local postoffice for a quarter
Of a century. He has worked his way
up and knows well every rung Of the
ladder. The appointment gives great
satisfaction to the substantial business
interests Of the city.
At last Duluth's postoffice is looked
upon as business institution, to be
administered as such, and not made a
political plum for hungry politicians
Incidentally, thanks are due VIM. F.
Henry for able service as acting post.
master during the interregnum.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

GETTING HIM ACCUSTOMED.
"My dear, isn't that dress trifls
extreme7" queried an indulgent hus-
band.
"This dress, darling! Why, put
this on merely that you may become
accustomed to the one I am having
made.-Boston Transcript.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07

NIGHT SUITED HIM.
"Now, there's some talk of Faith
er's Day."
"Oh, father doesn't want a day
Give him a night off. ''-Ex.
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
GOVERNMENT MAY SETTLE
HINTERLAND FIRE LOSSES
REPRESENTATIVES OF CLAIMANTS SUMMONED TO
WASHINGTON FOR CONFERENCE WITH OFFICIALS.

Claims Against Railroads in Fire Belt May Aggregate $25
00O OO0-Federal Authorities and the Railroads Have
Bitterly Fought Damage Actions Suits Recently Won
May Influence Director General Of Railroads to Admit
Liability Representatives Of Northern Minnesota Fire
Sufferers Association Conferrmg With Solicitor Brown
The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-02-07
CAR AT RAINIER JUNCTION
RELIEVED OF HICH-WllES
THEFT OF PROPERTY VALUED AT FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS INDICATES CLEVER GANG OF OUTLAWS.

Canadian Northern Officials Unable to Catch Gang That
Persistently Robs Freight CarsFedera Officers Raid
Blind Pigs at Ranier-Discples Of Low Moral Endeavor
Flee to Canada Canadian Whisky Filters Into
Minnesota Baron Backus Seeks Sheriff McIntoshs
Scalp-Tale of Dahberg's Booze Island.
The Nenana daily news., 1920-04-24
|CE POOL WINNER
 10 GET INCREASE

Those who are in charge of the baseball consolation ice pool have announced that the winner of the pool will receive sixty percent of the pool, instead of half as original ly announced. This, it is believed. will prove sufficiently attractive to insure the rapid disposal of the re- maining tickets, and will still leave sufficient for the needs of the base ball committee, who plan to use the money for the improvement of the local ball park.
 The pool will close on Wednesday night of next week, at midnight.