Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-08-13

preciate service or efficiency from
any office except themselves. 1 have
lived in hopes that they would work
old grudges out of their system, but
| it has been in vain.
Now, as far as Harry is concerned
his troubles seem to be that he is too
much controlled by and for Frank
Stepan. or perhaps Harry is only try
ing to cover up some bad administra-
tive work on their part in the past
land in the future) by yelling wolf!
Wolf" Where is the real wolf?
Ii Harry could tell me what kind
of looking animals "henchmen" are,
l perhaps could locate them and get
some help in this great hour of dark
ness"
! AS for the other statements in his
letter last week, they need no reply
except that he knows as we'll as most
everyone else should know that he
never even attempted to tell the truth
or the whole truth in any part of his
letter. l cannot find one entirely
truthful statement in his whole chap
ter. However, contrary to the wishes
of some of my closest friends, | will
answer briefly few of his remarks:
| called the attention of the county
board to the state law and attorney
generals opinion regarding the mini
mum salary allowed by law. Lead by
Frank and Harry. they ignored the
law and acted unlawfully. Harry and
Frank also gave me plenty of abuse.
To avoid any trouble l dropped the
matter. l refused to go to court to
get justice as two other Pine county
officials were forced to do in similar
cases.
Some time ago, at my request. my
assistant spent day looking up the
facts in regard to the expenses of your
county superintendent. The auditors
records show that all costs Except
pOstage) have been reduced this past
year, and the net savings is about
$500 annually. l did not take any
credit for this. l was only showing
up the untruthfulness of the Wolf
stories and whispering propaganda.
Harry knows that these figures are
true. Why not have a committee of
impartial citizens check up on the
figures? The whole trouble is these
facts and figures upset the whispering
! campaign of Wolf stories that have
been going around and around"
Harry thinks that l can visit five to
ten schools each day and at the same
time electiOneer against certain coun-
ty board members. Perhaps their own
records did the damage. He should
not blame me for it; l am innocent.
l am not to blame for the drouth in II
states this summer, either. I'll stand
on my record of efficient service and
Harry should stand on his.
Yes, we used a few more stamps.
l told that fact in one of my news
items in my rural school news column
some time ago. The teachers, l am
sure, can give many reasons for that.
So could Harry if he wished to be
fair about it. Harry also says that
Mr.. Miller received up to "a cents per
mile. think heis mistaken, but that
rate would surely help buy new car
every year. My mileage is only five
cents and has been laid on the table
for political purposes.
Harry mentioned something about
books. He knows that the schools
all furnish their own books. Those
samples on exhibit in our office are
free and belong to book companies.
Some have been there for years. Per-
| "a n hnnkS
These have for many years been fur
nished to all Pine county schools free
and therefore legal. That is the rule
! in all other counties too. Why pick
on me? Why does Harry always want
to twist the truth? Another point is
l changed to a five in one" record
system to save buying several books
for each school. This will make an
average saving of about $40 per year
each year in the future. Harry ought
to smile at this instead of having a
sour stomach.
| AS a matter. of fact, it can be shown
that the total savings made to various
school districts that l have helped to
accomplish during the past year and a
half amount to over $4,000. This
would pay my salary for about IA
years, if Harry and Frank allow me
to work here that long.
l made many trips to the cities at
my own expense in order to help
swing one state aid deal that saves
thousands of dollars annually for Pine
county. l would suggest that another
neutral committee be allowed to check
up on all of these facts If there seems
to be any doubt in the minds of the
honest public. While they are about
it, why not check many. other things
of vital interest to all? 1t would be
very interesting, l am sure. Do not
expect me to say any more In reply
to these or any other Wolf stories
My reply will always be: Continued,
efficient, impartial service to ALL
There has long been movement
Throughout the State of Minnesota to
take the county superintendent OF
schools office entirely out of the
hands and clutches of corrupt county
commissioner politics.