The producers news. [volume], November 01, 1918, Page 6, Image 6

About The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
Authoritles ew at uea 0 Days
Before Calaea ty s 4 Failed to
Take Necesiwry Steps to Pr.ve.t
IF.--Governor e~aus Extra Sca
s10n.
State officials, including, it must be
presumed, Governor Burnquist and
the public safety comnission, had at
least 10 days' notice of the existence
of the fires in northern Minnesota
which, on October 11, got beyond
control of the inadequate fire-fighting
force provided and swept over two
and a half million acres, rendering
15,000 to 20,090 people homeless, de
stroying several towns and hundreds
of millions worth of property AND
BURNING TO DEATH OVER 1,000
PERSONS.
This, Minnesota's greatest disas
ter, could have been prevented. It
was the result, purely and simply, of
gross and perhaps criminal neglect
on the part of the state government.
Just where the blame should be
placed, just who and what was re
sponsible for a calamity that has tak
en more Manne so lives than have
yet been lost an the battle front in
France, should be the subject of a
searching investigation, yet Govern
or Burnquaist, up to this writing, has
flatly refused to tall a session of the
legislature to fix the blame, to take
steps to prevent future calamities of
the kind and to appropriate money
to rehabilitate the greswept district
and its homeless citizens.
Fourteen towns of northern Minne
sota- and many of the newspapers of
the state, as well as the people in
general, have requested the govern
or to call an extra legislative session,
and he has turned a deaf ear to the
plea. Why? What is he afraid of?
HAD NOTICE OF IT
Howver, much evidence of a damn
ing nature, indicating that the state
government was officially aware of
the existence of fires and failed to
take proper steps to put them out
TEN DAYS BEFORE THEY GOT
BEYOND CONTROL, has come to
light.
On October 2, 10 days before the
state was startled by news of the
terrible disaster-10 days before the
fires got out of control-District For
est Ranger P. W. Swedberg of Moose
Lake, northern Minnesota, officially
demanded assistance and predicted
the impending calamity if assistance
was not forthcoming.
Following is his official report, dat
ed October 2t
"One thing that discourages me
most is the fact that the Soo line is
setting fires a great deal faster than
I can get to them, and their attitude
seems to be confined to a mere de
sire to protect the railroad and let
the farmers take care of themselves.
The co-operation of this railroad has c
been reasosably fair until this
year. About all the satisfaction I j
am able to get, reads about like this:
" 'Have taken the matter up and
will alway be glad to co-operate with
you, etm,, etc.'
"Monday they set a fire in two
places'nar Kettle River and yester
day they set another near Automba. t
In neither case did they offer to
try and put them out. The fire
which has done practically all the
damage at McGregor is a Soo fire al
so. U
PREDICTED DISASTER
"I would suggest that you write
a letter to the president of the com
pany explainlan the situation just as
it is.
"If we permit, or if nothing is done
to compel them to take care of fires
they set, we may as well quit fight.
ing fires, because, as I have already
stated, they set them much faster
than we can #pt at them.
"In view of the existing conditions
along their Uae from the Wisconsin
state line we het & inues, I consider
it now necessary to ask that the Min
nesota Commission of Public Safety
stop the Soo .from rumbig their
small standard. engis the
balance of tUW*,
"If the pýr e tE continues
tefire~qso ~Pooh be beyoid
alustwl o ,f'4~s ~re 'con.,
corned, u1ýH Sk - S RAILROAD
CAN BR MUlaLI)E.i
"1 A
D 1YTe
cb + '.
fores sUo9ad t to have put out the
free. Why was not the reager's re
co m a about the S o e *l
coWotives carried eat? Be said the
type of lboiostil. used was s '
more ame. thi. the smalnaiene of
fire fighters ' could put out. HE
PLEADED FOR ACTION AGAINST
THE RAILROAD. Why the fatal
delay which cost 1;0 lives? Does
the railroad,have a stead4a with the
state administration!
These are questions the people are
asking, and the governor apparent c
is afraid to call an extra session of
the legislature to get to the bottom
of it. But there is another just as
important reason for a special sea.,
sion. The state is responsible for the
calamity. You and 1 are responsible.
We elected a legislature and a state
administration which failed to do its
duty. Twenty thousand are home
less because of the calamity-twenty
thousand who settled in northers
Minnesota on the assumption that the
state would protect their homes by
adequate policing of the forest dis
trict. But we failed to elect diligent
officials. Perhapy we elected crimin.
al officials. We can not bring back
1,000 dead. But we can restore the
homes and the property and the
means of livelihood to the 20$00 des
titute people, brought to that condi
tion by the state's folly and neglect
-but also the folly and neglect of
you and I, who have let politicians
and servants of big interests run the
state government.
REFUSES TO ACT
The temporary aid that is being
given the fire sufferers, while neces
(Continued on Page Seven)
Carl Riddick
~REPUR.ICAN
FOR CONGRESS
Endorsed by his neighbors from
city and country, who know him
beat, as an efficient, energetic,
loyal and patriotic citizen.
Farmer who actually farms.
Ieader in all Kontana war ef
forts
Record for faithful service to
the people.
Untiring energy has made him
successfidL
Two sons in France in the vol.
unteer servie.
A good mawfor you to vote for,
first, besause he is outstandingly
a win-the-war candidate and, sec.
ond, besause he will faithfuly
serve you and your Interests at
Washington.
(This announcement paid for by Car! Ride
dick for Coagress -lub of towlsa ,
Montana.)
OPEN LETTER TO
IARRY MIT T I
Lewistowi, Mot0, O 21, 191
Hon. Harry Mitchell,
Great Falls, Montana.
I have your letter and t~el
iag at Mile. City, and personally
you that this watte ae
cmpaign es fa as I cold
be It . ib hs~ho~ ~.
"aI
C
y: 6
.ra.n& g k~ Y~ hew . e
t s~saw ea dsastle'.
En to bpd~rtrd~ my
fonrer to r'4ij lu tM thys.
if =you ark U , do1 of, cem
Ig the big sarn aof th emaplan by
divertiag the attentes of tie pubitc
to petty itt.r of personglity and
the triobery of partisua miarep egea
tati% youmy hase the 'feld to
yoursef iu ti resoet.
My'tlews on the real issues have
been deoeitely set forth in the state
meat 't de dintes i the campaign
book, in the letter above inentioted,
an my paltform, which has been giv
en wide publicity, and elsewhere. I
have not charted and shall not
change these views.
Yours respectfully,
CARL W. RIDDICK.
Order No. 17
ACCOUNTING FOR PUBLIC EN
TmrMAN TB
WHEREAS, it has been brought to
the notice of the Sheridah County
Council of Defense that many dances,
shows, entertainments and beueAts
are held within this county under a
general advertising and understand.
lag that the net proceeds of the same
are devoted to certain war and other
public activities;
AND, WHEREAS, it is charged
that in many s most of the pro
ceeds of said eitertalnments and
dances have been expended for ne
cessary and other expenses;
AND, WHEREAS, the Montana
Council of Defense at Helena, Mon
tana, on the 7th day of October, 1918.
made its Order Number Seventeen
requiring a permit \to be obtained
from the County Council of Defense
before any benefit, dance or money
raising entertainment of any kind is
given as ender the auspices of or for
the benefit of any war aid society or
war activity;
NOW, THEREPORE, it is by the
Sherfdan County Council of Defense
hereby ordered, that in every case
*here ' permit is granted by the
Sheridan County Council of Defense,
to give such entertainment or hold
such dance or benefit, a strict account
ing is to be had with the public, for
the public money so expended; and
the proceeds of such -enterta nent
must be deposited in some bank of
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W" PAY TM ISRUT nus
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let Us Figure
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Specal Disiomets on Lrge Orders
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In *r d otner, tnt
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Mambers tprest
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Farmers Headquare
For
Groceries and General
Merchandise
SAVE MONEY
AT HARVEST TIj
AND
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The pianty, price and servioe
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At The
Cash Store
Karl J. Karlson, Prop. Outlook. Mont
SAMSON
did not live on honey, though we are told that he was fond of
eating it. * * In order to keep up his prodigious strength
he mwas have eatem pleaty of
MEAT
Yeu should do likewise. Ceame to us when you feel that yw
strength nooe edsnewing. We handle the best moats that the
market aoerta-selling, en seamen,
Beef, Perk, Mutton, Ish and Oyh
1he emotgais moes of this world are meat eaters. Baise 7W
vital twer to Me mauImum-EBAT MEAT.
PLENTYWOOD MEA T MARWl
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Phone 81
PIANTWOODMO1TAN
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Washing, irin hseleaniag ada hundred tiresome tash are
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DELCO-LIGHT furnishes bright, clean safe electric light. It
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"DELcCO-LIGRT h .tie farmer ais his family to do more and
w°t 'm WIq a soo pays for itself in time and
saved
3 She tW ;ad Gearftor: Self-Cranking, Mr"
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Th 8 *r *wy: Qws. Jars, hay to Care For; Thick Plat'A
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tTSUB NDRSE PELCOUND