The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1928-12-14
On This
Occasion
Just few thoughts by the Editor on things
Material and Immaterial

means nothing to those who know E.
w. Backus or the writer's of the pro-
paganda There is not an argument on
the personality of the gentlemanly,
vigorous, go-getter, E. w. Backus, and
his past achievements in the line of
industry. All admit that he is all that
is said of him, besides being very
pleasant person to meet and talk to.
The people of the northern section
of the state-and in fact the people of
the entire state and the larger part
of the nation however take exception
TO Mr.. Backus' dam project. What the
people of the state and country want
to know is why it is necessary 20 raise
the water levels on the boundary
lakes and flood thousands of acres of
fine shore line in anticipation of an
unknown demand in Canada for water
power in the far distant future? The
applied for, raise and dam permits,
would throw the entire border water
shed into one vast reservoir, drown
out islands galore, devastate the shore
lines and ruin millions of feet of grow
llS 1IOW ~ bdN1g AICCOSos AL
this, not to supply an industrial de-
mand for power and electricity, but to
secure control of this immense pro-
ject for future exploitation.
And; the two governments, the
United States and Canada, are to pay
the cost of constructing the dams: pay
all damages accruing from the flood
ing of the lands and receive in return
for their hundreds of millions invested,
so per cent of the cost in proportion
to the amount of power used in the
far distant advance of industry.
It is for this reason that the propa-
ganda being so discriminatory dis
tributed among prominent people and
those who have openly opposed the
project, does not set well with the peo-
pie of the state and other states and
particularly the northwest. AS man,
Backus has many friends but as the
promoter and immediate beneficiary in
the dam matter at the expense of the
people of this country and Canada, he
does not stand so good. This has been
clearly and Enthusiastically indicated in
the resolutions of protest passed by
every civic organization N the north
west and national conservation organ
izationS throughout the country. Even
the Shipstead- Newton bills in the
Senate and House were built to curb
Backus and his pet ocean project
We wish to compliment the Munich
pal Band on the quality of their free
Sunday concerts at the Washington
Auditorium We also wish to state that
the attendance at these concerts is
not what it should be. Last Sunday
less than 300 people were in the Audi
forum to listen to a program that
compared most favorably with pro-
grams for which from so cents to
dollar admission is asked in cities
larger than Ely. These concerts are
put on by the city in the program of
entertainment for the people and are
appreciated by those who attend. More
should avail themselves of the oppor-
tunity of listening to the excellent
concerts for which the band boys and
GIlGH IL IL. 4NOoAi, AAcfO
spent much time in rehearsal and
preparation. The auditorium will seat
1900 people and the larger part of the
seats should be filled every Sunday on
which concerts are given.
We have always maintained that
what you get for nothing is valued
hit hof
the band concerts do not come under
this class. Try the next one and be
prepared for pleasant surprise. While
the attendance is not to be sneezed
at, it nevertheless remains a fact that
more should attend and by their pres
ence lend encouragement to a group
that is furnishing good and wholesome
entertainment.
A few weeks ago the Miner asked
the Legionnaires to interview the con-
gressional candidates and ascertain
from them how they stood on the
Universal Draft Bill" Since then we
have been informed that the bill as
drawn was not universal" bill and
that capital and industry could not
be drafted under it's provisions In an
other place in this paper will be found
a story which tells the side of the I'M
ion worker and army and navy Off
Gals If this is the case, we take it
all back and would recommend the
redrafting of a bill which will con-
script every phase of capital and labor
in case of war, fully believing that
were this done, war would be thing
of the past. In the meantime however,
we believe that preparedness of the
nation would cause other nations to
sit up and take notice most thoroughly
before they would knock the chip from
our shoulder. The Legion boys are
working for the good of the country
and if the universal draft bill is not
the proper measure as at present
drawn, make one that is. They are
numerically strong enough to make
their recommendations stick. We are
for the American Legion, first, last
and all the time.
An exchange says "that your bank
er may be like cold-blooded propo-
sition at times" eve wish to put In
kind word for Leonard Slabodnik
and Lew White in this connecticut
HE may seem to be all interest, dis
count and exchange. You may get
the notion that he is shylock and
would grind you for your last cent
&c xz1f I,,,f hot &c q