davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09

One of MinneSota's classics of states
manShip is the draining and refilling
of Thief Lake in Marshall county. The
draining cost several hundred thousand
dollars; the refilling cost other hundreds
of thousands.
When Thief Lake was nicely drained
by virtue of bonds which the state has
now been compelled to assume, it was
discovered that the lake bottom is no
good for farming, so The state decided
to fill the lake up again Like the King
of France with full 10000 men, the state
marched up the hill and then marched
down again!
Thief Lake having been drained, the
laws of the state gave the reclaimed
land to farmers whose holdings bor-
dered the lake bed; when the state re-
filled the lake, it had to buy back that
bottom land from the farmers. This
brilliant maneuver is a proud exhibit
for the records and archives of Mime
sofa Statecraft
A by-product of all this political
wizardry was that little fur bearing
animal the muskrat. In the fall of 1884
the refilling of Thief Lake had pro-
ceeded to a depth of about eight inches.
Muskrats came trooping back to the re-
stored water haven by the thousands,
but the water level was too low to af-
ford them protection. They infested
the country side, overran the farms and
persisted by the thousands.
Muskrats invaded Farmer Henning's
barnyard, snapped at the Henning
children, drove the Henning dogs to
cover and made the watering and care
of the Henning stock difficult and
dangerous. When they died Farmer
Henning sacked the bodies and piled
them in heaps.
The Minnesota state game and fish
department displayed a mastery mac
tivity. While muskrats were frantically
fighting for life and might have been
transferred to an adequate water haven,
the game wardens on the ground
twiddled their thumbs and the depart
ment in st. Paul looked the other way.
When the muSkratS' dead bodies Uttered
the shore of Thief Lake and covered
the nearby fields, the Thief Lake far
mers might have reaped a rich harvest
from their pelts but that the laws and
the game wardens sternly forbade them
The muskrats rotted where they lay.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09

A WPA project that has been over
looked is the employment of bards to
sing the Saga of Thief Lake and the
MuSkrats.
An exceedingly practical issue in the
state campaign in Minnesota this year
is Constitutional Amendment No. / on
the November ballot. The sole object
CT this proposed amendment is to re-
duce the tax burden on real and per-
Sonal property, particularly on farms
and homes. If the people approve the
amendment next November it will be
unlawful for the legislature on and
after January l, 1897, to levy a tax paid
on all farms and homes.
The mill rate for state purposes this
year is 1887 and the amount of money
which this rate will raise is some
SIC 100000. Not all of this, however,
will be saved to property owners, for
the proposed constitutional amendment
specifically excerpts two items: Cd the
one-mill road tax which is levied by
the state but the entire proceeds of
which are distributed to the counties,
and CD levies for debts already con-
tracted by the state. There are a num-
Der of debts for the gradual payment
of which annual levieS are made and
must continue to be made until the
debts are completely liquidated. Among
these are borrowings for the construc-
ton of the state office building, for the
payment of the Spanish American vet
Grams bonus, for the Red Lake game
reserve, etc.
If the proposed constitutional amend
ment is approved in November, no levy
will thereafter be made for the state
revenue fund. This levy for this year
is 81 mills, producing a little more than
SIC, 900, 900.
The people in their local communities
have already reduced their property tax
about 100000 900. The state during the
last five years has refused to cooperate
with them. They now have the op-
portunity to take the matter in their
own hands and still further reduce their
property tax by more than $4,000 600.
The farmer-labor party. whose five
year record for spending beats all
MASTERS and squanderers in Minnesota
history, is already out campaigning
against the proposed amendment.
In the st. Louis county farmer-labor
convention demand was voiced for the
resignation of Senator Patrick L. Farm
and of Hibbing on the ground that he
had changed his residence 20 Mime
apoliS. There is nothing in the con-
stitution or in any law which requires
member CT the legislature CIR a men,
Der of congress to live in the district
he represents. Besides, no proof has
been produced that Senator Farnand
has changed his legal residence II he
wants to, the senator will probably serve
out the term for which he was elected.
A collection of $62 was taken up at
the Hennepin county farmer-labor con-
vention for the StrutWear workers. This
will be a great help to the LOO Strut
wear workers who have been denied
since last August by farmer-labor poll
cies the opportunity to earn their living.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09
Mercy Plane Wrecked;
Farmers Fight Drifts.

Sanborn-An airplane called from
Minneapolis to transport a Sanborn
farm girl over impossible roads to a
hospital for an immediate operation
cracked up near Springfield, and it was
necessary to call out dozens of farmers
who fought drifts for three hours to
get the girl into town for treatment
The plane, piloted by Elmer Hinck and
equipped with skis, missed its way,
passed over Sanborn, and flew to Lam
berton. Regaining his bearings, the
pilot followed the road back TO San
born, but in landing failed to note a
telephone pole and wires. The plane
had its right wing torn half of. and
the propeller broken. Notified Of the
loss Of the plane, farmers turned out
to open the road for Miss Viola Panko-
min, suffering with appendicitis. They
succeeded in battling their way through
the roads to Sanborn, where a car wait
ed to take her to New Ulm. She i'm
mediately submitted to an operation
there, and is making rapid recovery.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09
Minnesota NeWs and
Comment

BY r. w. HITCHCOCK

One of the planks of the farmer
labor state platform of 1884 contained
this declaration on behalf of farmers:
Legislation extending the present
mosatorium two years from the date of
expiration and that no action may be
brought within the two years on any
obligation secured by a mortgage"
That is what farmer-labor leaders
said. Here is what one Of them did.
Elmer Z. Benson, now the banker-candi-
date of the farmer-labor party for gov
ernOr, in his capacity of farmer-labor
banking commissioner, pursued Farmer
Henry R. Schemes of WabaSha county
with cold relentleSSness, refused to allow
him to accept federal loan that would
have saved his farm, threw into jail
a friend who ill-adviSedly came to
SchoneS' aid and threatened to put
SchoneS himself in the same Jail, fore
closed the mortgage which he held in
his capacity of head of the banking
department, and finally evicted SchoneS
having stripped him of all he possessed,
from his farm.
Doubtless banker-candidate Benson
can cite the sculpture of the law to
justify all that he did in this matter,
but he politically promised the exact
opposite of what he later did.
When this banker candidate became
a United States senator by appointment,
his first official act was the introduc-
ton of a bill which fairly dripped
sweetness and sympathy for the youth
Of the land. This sweetness and SYM
pathy that drooled from his mouth for
the farmer turned suddenly to worm
wood and to gall when he got an actual
farmer in his grip. Instead Of bringing
no action within two years as he had
protested should be done, he squeezed
the helpless farmer dry and kicked him
OFF his land. If youth puts its trust in
banker-candidate Benson'S youth bill, it
should remember that once also he
spoke the farmer exceedingly fair, and
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09
No Exceptions to
Load Restrictions.

Load restrictions placed on trunk
highways during the spring breakup
must be enforced against school buses
and all other vehicles without exception,
according to an announcement by w. F.
Rosenwald, chief maintenance engineer
of the Minnesota highway department
I'VE are beseiged with requests to
exempt certain vehicles from the posted
load limits on restricted highways" Mr..
Rosewood said. This we cannot do
Load limits are put in effect at this
season to prevent roads from becoming
absolutely impossible and to guard
against tremendous damage to the high
way system.
"A few weeks inconvenience results
for trucks and buses, but this is neces-
Sary in the public interest. Hundreds
of thousands of dollars damage to our
highways would result without the re-
strictions. We make the load limits as
high as possible without sacrificing pro-
lection of the road. Since no ex-
ceptions can be made to the restrictions,
we ask the cooperation of everyone in
this effort to protect the highways"
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09

1885 resulted. This act allows tax
payers delinquent for taxes of 1888 and
prior years to confess judgment" and
to pay such delinquent taxes, less pen
altieS and interest, over a period of ten
years, providing all current taxes are
paid at the same time. The confession
of judgment" may be made at any time
prior to November l, 1887.
Although the law had been in force
less than two months prior to March l
of this year, the stream of back taxes
pouring into the 81 counties of the
state has county auditors all over the
state sitting up and taking notice. The
results thus far are surprising even to
the authors of the law.
Up to March 26th, a total of Al
counties had reported to the state as
to the March settlement" that is, the
collection of taxes for the period from
November l, 1885 to March l, 1886
Everyone of these fl counties reported
substantial collections of delinquent
taxes. The March settlement is the
Nevertheless Hennepin county reports
the collection of $1,168, $1,000 in de-
linquent taxes for the period, Ramsey
S427, 693 SO, Isanti $19,057.75, Blue Earth
$28,132!O5, Carver $13,O13.32, Chippewa
$4S,054.27, Dakota $28,O99.45, Mile Laos
$16,895.07, Morrison $20,650.79, Sher-
burne $14,454.21, LIE Sueur $16,574.03,
Goodhue S12,O2999 and so on. These
reports forecast very large delinquent
collection for the March settlement and
total of several millions in delinquent
collections for the year.
AS further indication of the stream
of delinquent dollars pouring into school
district, town, village, city, county and
state treasures under the stimulus of
this law, consider the reports of Al
counties to the state auditor. These re-
ports show the states share only of de-
linquent collections for the March
settlement from Al counties to be
$145, 66125.
Minnesota's total tax delinquency is
about $85 900 900. If the new law, over
period of ten years, can bring in a
substantial portion of this delinquency,
it will be a tremendous help to the state
and to every one of its political sub
divisions. 1t is a distinct relief to find,
for once, a cheering note in the tax
situation.
The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-04-09

A WPA project that has been over
looked is the employment of bards to
sing the Saga of Thief Lake and the
Muskrats.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02

such response, the problems caused by the perse-
cution of the Jews and non-Aryans will not be
solved by philanthropc action, but will continue -
constitute danger of international peace and a
source of injury to the legitimate interests of other
states'
Italy has been declared an outlaw nation by the
league because of war of aggression in Africa.
Without a formal declaration of hostities and in
violation of league covenants it set out up war
of conquest and the league has established sane
tions intended to block the sources of war supplies
and bring the invading nation to a realization of
it's obligation to the society of nations.
In Germany a war of stranguaton, war
against the right of large part of the people to
live in security and peace and enjoy the fruits of
labor, education and culture, is being waged Ac-
cording to Mr.. Mcdonald it is war as cruel and
relentless as that being waged by Italy and Eth
Opia.
1t is indeed problem for the nations to deal
with and one which cannot be permanently solved
by philanthropic action Mr.. Mcdonald accurately
states the case when he says nothing less Is IN
volved in this tragedy than principles basic to CIVIL
cation ITSELF "-Spartanburg Herald.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
! NEWSPAPERS OPINION
8 SPEAKING FOR THE UTILITIES

Wendell L. Willkie speaks for the utilities IN
The Magazine of Wall Street. He holds that We
nom and caIumuy have had their full day and that
common sense should have its time.
In its essence the present holding company law
provides that any company owning more tnan one
syste1 located in different parts of the country no
matterehow small such systems may De, must d.
the Uncontrolled discretion of federal commas
sion prepare to dispose of all but of such sys-
TENS Shortly after January l, 1888. What sane
holding company official can afford under such cir
cumstances to expand capital funds on the expan-
sion Of such properties when he knows that their
dispostion will occur in market glutted by similar
forced sales?"
Mr. Wiukie holds that this law has no more
constitutional economic or social base than to say
that President Roosevelt should not be permitted
to owa.one landed estate in New York and another
in Georgia AS matter of fact, the widespread
creation of tenant farming through the scattered
ownership of lands by Eastern capital is infinitely
more sdeeterious socially than can possibly be the
ownership by industrial and utility companies Of
labor Employing plants in various parts of the coun
try. %
ThSNews and Courier holds no brief for any Of
the utilities companies They employ learned coun-
sci an Scan state their cases completely before the
courts, Some of the holding companies have gwen
the ministry bad name. They have done foolish
thingsa trying to comsat politicians Their strong
est position is in carrying their story to the people
The coufts represent the people well as the peo-
pies Experiment. Under the American scheme the
utilitiv accompanies have greatly expanded and they
have made cheap power available in all parts OF
the cSEhtry Not everything about the utilities IS
as ba4us some of the politicians have tried to make
il see Charleston News and Courier.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
ANYTHING'S A "GADGET"

When most persons are writing or taking ABOUT
certain continuance, object or method and cannot
recall at once the particular name of the thing they
usually designate the same by the slang term
gatIge and let it go at that. In spite OF the 1acc
that "gadget" is classified slang 1t is IN common
usage wherever the English language is spoken
Because it is such handy word it really deserves
a better fate than to remain forever under thaC
classification.
"Gadget'' is really synonymous with "thlngum-
bob" or. "thingumajig." 1t is employed as con-
venient name for anything novel or as SUBSTITUTE
word when the speaker cannot recall the right name
Of almost ANYTHING 1t is supposed to have orig
mated among sailors and it is applied by them TO
oil sorts of small tools and mechanical aeVlces.
When a sailor or mechanic says give me that
cadget, he may mean anything from nau 10
monkev-wrench. He generally employs the word
only when the correct name OF the article uoes
not readily occur to him, just as landsnah niis"'
say give me that thngumbob.
Two theories have been advanced for the derlVa-
t;on of the word "gadget" Neither is supported oy
evidence According to one theory, 'gadget' IS de-
rived from French "gachette," dmlnutlVe OF!
nsocba - a catch or staple. The other derives 1t
froro "oadeen an obsolete Scotch word meaning
o.oroo Rut no matter what the derivation or Gas
si6cat;on NAV be, "gadget" is a good word and
n,os+ accommodating one, too. Its usefulness Is IN
some danger of being ruined, because 1t IS Delhs
overdone Even when really GOOD Woro VI piii" '7
becomes too hackneyed and trite, through oVeruse'
II loses caste and is liable to be dropped from use
and become obsolete.-Pathtnder
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
No CHILD TO BE FORGOTTEN AT CHRISTMAS
TIME

A splendid work again this year brings forth the
prais of The Tribune because there will be no 1or
rotten children in this community at Christmas
time.
Under the direction of Mrs. Belle Abbot KoHoy
over three hundred and fifty toys have been gain
cred and repaired, ready to present to chllareh
both white and colored, in the community Christ
mas eve night The toys will be distributed unaer
the direction of O. L. Bosom, who in the past lie"
wears undertook the repairing of toys and distriou
tion of them with cheerful help given him.
The Tribune appreciates the response given Vhe
apueals for discarded OF broken toys, Many OF
them were brought to this office and many were
carried to Mrs Roxbys on Peachtree street.
There were two cash donations OF five dollars
each from people who had no toys to give but VINO
wished to give their part in making happy Christ
mas for the children. The money we understand
will be used in purchasing candies, nuts, fruit, etc.
to be distributed along with the toys.
There will be no forgotten children in the COM
munitv this year at Christmas time. That's gooa
and joy to us all.
Mrs. Roxby and her corps of assistants have the
thanks of the community for their work.-Cocoa'
Fla, Tribune.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
SOBER RUSSIA-DRUNKEN
UNITED STATES

Walter Duranty (who is not a dry IN
The New York Times (Which is not dry
newspaper writes at length about I'M
proved conditions in Russia, due to the de-
creased consumption of vodka, or Russian
booze.
The population of Russia has increased
by forty million persons since 1913 and the
consumption of vodka has decreased by
43.2pe cent. in the same period. The av-
erage consumption of Russian booze IS
now%S.6 liters per capita, according to Mr..
Duranty; whereas, the consumption III
1918 was 81 liters per capita. Evidently,
the Russians are drinking per person less
than one-half of the former amount OF
liquor. -.
M. Duranty's conclusion is that great
Improvement in conditions in Russia have
resulted from the partial SOLDERING up OF
the nation, which was formerly known as
one of the heaviest alcohol drinking coun-
triesof the world He finds the Russian
people are much happier" now, than they
were-when vodka was being consumed IN
sucff.large quantities. -.
This is a strange story, in truth, when
Walter Duranty sends out of Russia. Is II
possible that the ignorant, not to say tooi-
ish, Russians, are wiser than the cltlzens
of the worlds greatest and smartest coun-
trv, the United States? The Russians are
seeking and finding better conditions by
SOLDERING up; the people of this country are
sensing themselves in booze-for what rea-
son nobody knows-for, certainly, the most
ignorant and foolish persons in the country
do not believe that any social, economic OF
moral improvement comes from swlgglng
alcohol.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
MILLS RIVER

M
MILLS RIVER, Jan. 2.-Mr.
Eugene Powell who has been IN
school in Georgetown, KY, is very
i'll at the home Of his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. jim Powell.
Mr.. and Mrs. D. c. Pruitt and
family of this section have moved
to Salamanca. The Fruits have
been residents Of this community
for nine years and will be. greatly
missed.
Mrs. Frank Farnsworth and
daughter, Virginia, are planning
to move to Whitevillc in few
days.
Joe Britain entertained q group
of friends Christmas night with
square dance. Those present re-
ported a good time.
Those returning from the
Christmas holidays to Brcvard
college are: Helen billiard, Earl
Fowler, Houston Kitchln, 81!
Osborne, Joe Lee Hefner, and
Gene billiard.
Mr.. Randall Fowler made a
business trip to Canton last Mon
day.
Mr.Laylor Byrd Of Brevard col
lege, nephew of Mrs. John Os-
borne, spent the Christmas holi-
days with relatives in Tennessee.
Mr.. Hardy Barnett, who has
employment in Ashevillc, is home
for the Christmas season.
DR.. and Mrs. Walton Kitchin
spent Christmas day with the for
mer's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. J. H..
Kitchin.
Miss Edna billiard has been IN
Sylvia for the past week.
The opening date of Mills Riv-
er school was postponed from De-
cember 80 to January 6 because
of the cold weather and snowy
roads.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
rEBENEZER

ERENEZER, Jan. M
Alice Vaughn has the gyuao,
of the community in the dcs-h
her sister, Mrs. Hattie Hen
Pisgah Forest. Mrs. Head .
buried at Mcore's Grove ca.a
She leaves a husband and -,..
children. q
Miss Maude Saarcy of Na~m
vile is spending the holiday
her mother, Mrs. John Scar.
Mary Seagle of New Y,rs
spending a few weeks at he. To
with her mother and familv.
Mrs. Eliza Gibbs, who ha* 3.
an. invalid for q long time,
improving.
Mr.. and Mrs. Herman IL. =
tied relatives at Canton dM
the Christmas week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Miles Gibbs
Gastonia visited the former D
erts, Mr.. and MIS-; P. b. Gia
and Mrs. Collins Christmas o&
Mr.. and Mrs. James Corn .
baby, Mr.. and Mrs. Creigh
Vaughn and baby, Ray, and 6.
Corn have returned from Cons
and Myrtle Beach, where Il
visited relatives and m .
friends.
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02
BEHIND THE SCENES
IN WASHINGTON
az RODNEY BUTCHER.

incoming Ine messiah OIL ms
marty and it is possible to
imagine him darne6 near wreck
ing it.
1t is also possible to imagine
him fading right out of the pic
ture and having no influence al
all on the political events OF
1886.
Uncertainty here as to just
what the Republicans will do has
been both demonstrated and in
creased as result of Borah's
entry.
TOURING around among re-
l. turning senators the Other
day, this writer found several
conceding Borah a fairly good
chance-which may be significant
in view of the fact that Washing
ton generally had been thinking
Borah was more radical than any
man the East would accept.
But most of those who see
Borah as strong possibility say
that his nomination would require
either the overthrow of the
G.. O. P.'s titular bosses on the
no tional committee, a sudden con-
viction among party leaders tina.
Borah is virtually their only hope
of beating Roosevelt, or a dis
tincS understanding b W e e n
Borah and the party's conserva'
tive leaders.
Borah's so-called economic
heresies--his yen for initiation
and alleged flirtations with the
Townsendites, plus his support OF
most of the big New Deal legis-
lation-hardly qualities him as q
buddy of the Liberty Leaguers,
the power trust" group, the big
industrialists and financiers and
others who will provide most OF
the party's sinews of war and
much of the noise during the
campaign.
| fCnnrri"ht 1895. NEA Service. In"
The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-02

progress of mankind is dependent
on the improved behavior of man
kind, brought about through the
improved thought of mankind: 4.
No criminal at the bar of JUS
tice could be disciplined if the
verdict against him had to be
reached by jury of persons who
had never done wrong; and no
convicted person could be SEN
fenced if the sentence had to be
pronounced by a judge who had
never committed misdeed.
If parents should countenance
in their children the sins of which
thew themselves have been guilty,
the course of human life would
not be upward.
1t is the duty of persons and
nations that have received the
light, to give of that light to the
rest of mankind.