The Duluth rip-saw. [volume], September 07, 1918, Image 2

About The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
2
THE DULUTH RIP-SAW
Zenith Telephone, Grand 108.
Entered at Postoffice at Duluth, Minn., as Second Class Matter.
Considerable complaint comes
from several directions that the
Rip-saw is not delivered by the
mailman or postoffice clerks,
therefore the subscribers do not
get the copies for which they have
paid and which they desire. M'ost
of these complaints come from
subscribers who have postoffice
boxes or office numbers in well
known buildnigs.
We ask and urge each and every
subscriber who does not receive
the paper every other week to
promptly drop a card to this of
fice, No. 221 Fargusson building.
This not only will enable us to
replace the missing number, but
will give us documentary evidence
in taking up the matter with the
postoffice people.
Complaints have been particu
larly frequent from Proctor, where
the Rip-saw’s subscription list is
large and growing rapidly. As a
matter of safety, we now put a
number of extra copies in the
Proctor bundle, and any sub
scriber in that lively village who
fails to have his Rip-saw handed
out by the postoffice clerk, can
secure one by asking for it. When
the Rip-saw is due but not re
ceived, a formal inquiry as to
what has become of it often will
result in its discovery by a post
office clerk.
f
I
Subscribers . frequently lose
their papers because some friend
filches it and carries it away.
There is great hunger for brain
food in this county, especially, and
the impulse to filch and assimilate
a package of brain food, the Rip
saw, is something that many Chris
tian people cannot withstand.
Rather than break the com
mandment against stealing thy
neighbor’s paper, the better plan
is to become a subscriber, thus
avoiding temptation and ‘being
sure of a regular supply of that
incomparable brain-food, the Rip
saw.
Remember—if you do not re
ceive your copy of the Rip-saw
quite soon after publication day,
formally report it to the office by
postal card. We then will be in
a position to investigate.
In working at his profitable but
twisty trade of politics, county
auditor Halden freely employs the
crooked tongue. Anyone who
possesses a vote is a fat fish for
the wtly fisherman’s net. To lure
the voter into the auditorial net,
unworthy and wicked means are
used.
k." '
Anyone who- half knows Hal
den, well knows that he has been
a wet man in both theory and
practice ever since he entered
public life. Some of his personal
adventures with Old John Barley
corn are classics, veritable sagas,
in the annals of the bibulous
people. .. .
, It is generally stated without
dispute that, until the wet folks
attained a decided minority in
voting power, Halden favored wet
laws and conditions and was
against prohibition. It is freely
stated and not disputed that bal
den was against the passage of the
county option bill and that, until
2 a. m., one night in St. Paul, he
pleaded with Senator Adams to
vote against the measure, but
without success. If this is incor
rect, neither Halden nor Adams
ever have disputed it and it is
their right and duty to do so.
Halden always looked to the
wet interests for a heavy support.
Observing men know this and for
mer liquor dealers frankly admit
it. Appointments were made and
favors granted.in payment of sup
port given by liquor dealers or
their advocates. %
More than one man, dry from
principle, has been turned down
or punished by Halden. Any who
disbelieve this should become
fully informed as to how Halden
plotted against George R. Lay
bourn with Duluth brewers and
their agents.
Now that the dry folk seem to
have a marked majority in St.
LouCis county, Halden hot only
looks on the wet folk as lemons
sucked cjry of juice, but both he
and his henchmen are trying to
convincs v dry leaders of influence
that the wily old auditor ever has
* vtr to L. MORE ISON,
Editor and Publisher,
No. 221 Fargusson Building,
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1918.
TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.
HALDEN’S DUPLICITY.
«,
been a dry man and that he fa
vored the county option bill from
the very beginning.
Halden’s mastery of the art of
duplicity has made him a difficult
candidate to oppose in the past.
He has carried water on both
shoulders, been all things to all
men and played both ends against
the middle, -when a reputable man
and candidate would not use such
despicable methods.
These charges are not loose
campaign talk. They are as true
as they are well known. Anyone
who disputes them does so for an
unworthy motive or because he re
fuses to see and admit the truth.
As a man sows, so shall he reap.
After sowing tares so' freely for
so many years, a harvest of tares
has sprung up that will choke out
the very life of the faithless hus
bandman.
political course is
nearly run. Staggering defeat is
as certain as the coming and go
ing of the seasons or the death of
man born of woman.
HAS HALDEN SEDUCED
EDDIE HATCH?
Four years ago, Edward Hatch,
now mayor of Eveleth, was a can
didate against Odin Halden for
the nomination for county audi
tor, and came within a few hun
dred votes of winning—the loss
being occasioned by a political
blunder on the part of the Eve
leth man.
Hatch stood as a people’s can
didate against wrong-doing, op
pression and rank abuse of power,
and the splendid showing he made
against the most wily and un
scrupulous politician in the state
was plain evidence of the temper
of the people.
Now, after four years, we find
Mr. Hatch caught in the meshes
of the Halden net-—with nothing
to show that hfe did not walk in
willingly—and he is out working
tooth and nail for the re-election
of his former opponent. The ex
planation offered is that he
(Hatch) expects to be a candidate
for county auditor four years
hence, and that he has it figured
out that if Halden is re-euected
this year he (Halden) will be
easier to defeat than will Borgen,
who is running against Halden.
Pretty flimsy stuff, old top,
pretty flimsy.
If Halden was a Big Business
tool, a political crook, dangerous
to the best interests of the county
four years ago, as Hatch said he
was, is he any better this year?
And if he is not any better, then
what position does Hatch occupy
in supporting him?
.The general belief is that Hal
den, the most subtle of rat-hole
politicians, has hypnotized the
doughty little mayor of Eveleth
with promises for his future polit
ical advancement, and one of the
stiffest arguments given out by
Hatch four years ago was that
Halden never kept a promise and
that his word wasn’t worth a
snow ball in hell—or words to
that general effect.
It is, on the whole, fortunate
that Hatch has gone over to the
enemy at this time, because he
might have been able to fool the
people at a time when fooling
would have been more costly than
now.
“And his funeral is tomorrow.”
—The Mesaba Ore.
ASK CHIEF M’KERCHER.
Colonel Atkinson wonders how
all the booze reaches the doubly
dry country on the Mesaba range.
Editorially, in the Mesaba Ore, he
comments as follows:
“There is much speculation as
to where all of the rot-gut booze
on the range comes from—stuff
that kills at 40 rods.
“It is almost a certainty that it
is not* manufactured here—then it
must of necessity be brought in
either over the railroads or high
ways, contrary to the laws made
and provided for the protection
of the people against sueh inva
sion.
“We have a large number of
“Indian agents” operating along
the range; there are deputy sher
iffs all over the county and police
officers in every town, and yet
the contraband stuff slips by them
.. SATURDAY
Duluth, Minnesota.
WALTER H. BORGEN,
Next Auditor of St. Louis County.
“How is Borgen making it in the contest with Halden?” “What
do you think Borgen’s chances are for election?” What kind of an
auditor do you think Walter Borgen will make?” “What can you
tell me about this man Borgen who is opposing Halden for the auditor
ship?”
J
Many times a day I am accosted by earnest, interested, patriotic
citizens with questions similar, to the fore-going. f With both daily
papers ejther tied up to Halden or talking chiefly for revenue when it
comes to giving candidates publicity, the people sadly lack ample and
desired details. Although most of the weekly papers in St. Louis
county really are favorable to Borgen’s candidacy, they circulate only
in their rather restricted and respective areas.
To courteously and satisfactorily answer the many questions put
to me daily has become a heavy burden on my time. 1 realize that
every honest voter desires reliable and complete details concering the
candidates. These columns have freely given many, many facts con
cerning Odin Halden,, showing his unfitness and undesirability for
further service as auditor? These columns must, henceforth, answer
seekers for facts concerning Mr. Borgen. My time is valuable to me
and must be used in trying to keep the great family journal up to a
proper standard. *
I have gone to some pains to secure a comprehensive biography
of Walter H. Borgen, the people’s candidate for county auditor. I
have, for over a year, carefully and closely studied his personality,
character, ability and efficiency in clerical work. I knew Odin Halden
before he ever was auditor and I well know his record in that office
for nearly a quarter of a century. I am fully convinced that Mr.
Borgen surpasses him in natural ability, character and fitness for pub
lic service. Despite Halden’s possession of the championship belt
as feeder at the public crib, I am satisfied, that, to-day, Walter Borgen
can give a better exposition of the duties of a county auditor than can
the present incumbent.
Walter H. Borgen was born in St. Louis county, Minn., March 21,
1884, which will make him approximately 35 years of age when he
assumes the duties of county auditor January 1,1919. He is, by the
way, just a few months younger than J. A. 0. Preus who has been
auditor of the North Star state for nearly two years and whose age
never has beeif considered a handicap by his supporters, Mr. Halden
included.
Educated in the public schools, Walter H. Borgen secured an edu
cation far superior to that possessed by Odin Halden when he first
was elected auditor. His business experience has been broad, long,
heavy, thorough and very successful. When a mere boy, he was a
messenger for the D. M. & N. R., under J. W. Kreitter, now superin
tendent of the system. In turn, he was car accountant and car
checker. After that, he qualified as a telegraph operator and, to-day,
he is a member in good standing of the Commercial Telegraph Opera
tors of America.
After serving the D. M. & N. R. faithfully and well for five or six
years, the next auditor of St. Louis county became an accountant for
the Merritt interests. He saw several years of close, confidential serv
ice, directly under the eye of Leonidas Merritt, who not only looks on
th young man almost as a son but who has only the highest praise for
his honesty, reliability, capacity and efficiency in any task that he
undertakes.
For four years Mr. Borgen held a very responsible position in the
accounting department of Messrs. Paine, Webber & Co., prominent
Boston brokers and mine owners who maintain a house in Duluth.
While with that firm, Mr. Borgen secured leave of absence to go to St.
Paul, where he served as assistant chief clerk of the house of represen
tatives during the legislative session of 1915. He made an enviable
record there and v/as accorded the highest praise by legislators, press
and people. He was, at the close of the session, awarded a handsome
salary bonus, unasked and unexpected, by action of legislators who
did not have any too friendly an attitude before they saw the high
quality of his impartial service.
After the commission form of government was adopted by the
city of Duluth, during the incumbency of commissioners Prince, Mer
ritt, Voss, Farrell and Silberstein, Mr. Borgen was given the position,
of city clerk, which he holds to-day and which position he has filled
with the highest satisfaction to commissioners and citizens. Unlike
county auditor Halden, city clerk Borgen has been especially efficient,
impartial and satisfactory in handling election details.
Walter H. Borgen not only is very popular with the young men
of the city and county, but he has a host of exceedingly warm cham
pions and admirers among the old boys, as well. After he formally
announced his cahdidacy for the county auditorship, so many Fathers
in Israel called at the city hall to offer congratulations and pledges
of support that, for several days, it was almost like a continuous recep
tion.
The people’s candidate for county auditor has healthy social tastes.
He is a member of several fraternal orders. He holds membership in
the B. P. 0. E. He is dictator of the Loyal Order of Moose, Duluth*
Lodge, No. 505. He also is affiliated with the Woodmen, Modem
Samaritans and the Sons of Norway.
The next auditor of St. Louis county also is a consistent family
man. Instead of sowing wild oats, he married in early manhood and,
to-day, the Borgen home at No. 11 East Sixth St., is graced by a wife
and two daughters, one of the latter being nearly as large as her
father.
Mr. Bohgen was not my personal choice as a candidate for county
auditor. In fact I avoided any personal selection. My position has
been, ever since I gave my help to the people in their efforts to reno
vate and fumigate the auditor’s office, that the people are the masters
and that they and tjiey alone should select the man to succeed Mr.
Halden. I was favorable and friendly to all of those suggested who
possessed good character and normal ability. The choice seemed to
go by corpmon consent to Mr. Borgen. When his name was first men
tioned, I may have been somewhat prejudiced against him as a candi
date. Since he was the choice, lam for him.
For over a year, I have watched and studied Walter H. Borgen.
I cannot find a flaw in his moral character. His clerical and business
experience cannot be questioned as to quality and character. His
personality and character go to extremes in no direction. His head
has no abnormal bumps, dips, spurs or angles, and that means much
to the experienced physiognomist.
To me, Walter H. Borgen’s one greatest qualification for county
auditor is his habit of mastering details and going io the very bottom
of any matter he takes up. Thorough, painstaking, careful and com
ing to a wise conclusion, just as surely as the needle turns to the pole,
he has great natural capacity for county auditor, an individual who,
legally and officially, is clerk of the board of county commissioners,
not the board itself; not a political boss; not a courthouse autocrat
and dictator; not a slacker when it comes to serving the people as
they wish to be served.
Mr. Borgen is affable, courteous and democratic. Any citizen,
taxpayer or voter who is not fully convinced that he will be a great
improvement over Mr. Halden, should make the personal acquaintance
of the people’s choice and then come to a final decision atf to which
man to support.
and gets down the throat of the
chap who don’t care what? he
drinks so long as it makes his
hair curl.
“We are not saying anything
THE DULUTH REP-SAW—' SEPTEMBER 7,1918.
By JOHN L. MORRISON.
against the official prowess of the
guardians of the law, y’under
stand-—only just wondering hew
the illicit booze vendor gets his
supply over so many obstacles. ’ \
ODIN HALDEN, KING Of CAMOUFLAGE
In his quadrennial batch of promises, made solely-to catch votes,
county auditor Halden talks glibly about “efficiency” and “as low a
tax rate as is consistent with the needs of the county.” ,
That pitter-patter shows that auditor Halden is King of Camou
flage as well as King of the Courthouse.
In three years, Joseph C. Helm has brought about a higher degree
of fairness and justice in taxation than Odin Halden has in 24 long,
weary years.
When 'the board of county commusioners decided to appoint a
supervisor of assessments, Mr. Helm received the appointment by a
vote of four to three. Halden fought his selection most bitterly and,
when he failed „to head it Off, he lost his first fight of importance in
many years. It was a veritable Gettysburg, for he has been meeting
defeat and repulse ever since.
Before the state board of equalization attained its present power
and efficiency and when auditor Halden was dominating the county
board of commissioners with a high hand, it was customary for the
Big Interests to hand Halden a list, showing just what and how much
taxation they would stand.
Like a servile serf,'Halden stood by those figures. They were
inscribed on the tax rolls and all pains taken to see that the local
board of equalization did not disturb the valuations as set for them
selves by the kindly old Iron Kings, Lumber Barons and absentee
Landlords. «
Now and then the Big Interests, fearing the wrath of the people,
would decide that they should pay more taxes, as a matter of policy,
deeming it better to lose a single slice of bread rather than several
slices from the carefully guarded loaf. »
Ten or twelve years ago, the people got the notion in their fool
heads that the Duluth & Iron Range Railway Co. should list its lhnds
for taxation. Those lands were donated to the corporation by the
people but the hinterland was settling up and the struggling settlers
needed help in maintaining schools and building roads.
The school officers of kindly old St. Louis county appointed a
committee to wait on auditor Halden and to urge him to list those
lands for taxation. When Dr. Triplett, Charles Schelin and the other
member of the committee called on King Odin in the courthouse, he
sadly informed them that he could do nothing; that he was absolutely
powerless.
But a campaign was coming on the next fall. Wily old Odin
needed some new campaign thunder. His corporation friend, the land
department of the D. & I. R., suddenly decided to put its lands on the
tax rolls, as a matter of policy, noting a rising storm cloud and fearing
a blast of adverse legislation.
That spring, the dear old Duluth Herald came out in an article
with big head lines, telling how the mighty King of the Courthouse
had compelled the weak and helpless D. & I. R. to list its lands for
taxation. Great credit and acclaim were given Halden by the Herald,
as was natural. The editor of the Herald is credited with being Hal
den’s press agent. The Herald, itself, is under obligation to Halden
for much legal printing. About twenty years ago, too, when the
poor old Herald was in a temporary pinch, auditor Halden gave them
his accommodation note for SI,OOO. Said note was endorsed by the
Herald, discounted and then paid when due. Why should the thrifty
old publication not boom and boost the kindly auditor? Many a
man’s motto is: “Scratch my back and I’ll tickle your chin.”
Halden took credit for performing the impossible. In reality, R
was a carefully planned camouflage stunt, calculated to help both the
D. &I. R. and Halden. The auditor was entitled to have his chin
tickled in return for scratching the corporation’s back.
It is to laugh when Halden blathers about efficiency and proper
taxation. *
In the three years that Joseph C. Helm has been supervisor of
assessments, he has added more than $1,000,000 to the tax lists. He
has made; lumber companies pay a just taxation where they paid only
a little. In more than one case timber was found not to be listed at
all for taxation. Other lands were paying taxes as cut-over lands
when they were furred with heavy white pine.
Many farmers or small timber owners have had their assessments
equalized. Where they were paying four times as much as they
should, their taxes have been reduced to a proper level. Justice and
fairness have supplanted injustice and unfairness.
Odin Halden, as Helm’s work shows, shielded, covered up and
favored the property of the Big Interests. The small interests got it
in the neck and then were wheedled into voting for the twisty old
pie-counter frequenter every two or four years.
Odin Halden’s main aim in life is to live at public expense by
virtue of holding office. Incidentally, his tactics embrace entrench
ment in the favor of the Big Interests, the men or corporations that
have the big bank accounts. Napoleon said that God was on the side
of the army with the biggest guns. King Odin’s theory seems to be
that God favors him who stands in with the Fat Boys. The King of
the Courthouse and the Big Interests willingly do the grunting, but
the people, the poor peasants, are expected to do the lifting.
Halden knows that all these allegations are true. He never has
denied them. He cannot deny them. He dare not try to deny them.
Bluff, camouflage, double-doling and playing both ends against the
middle are his sole dependence.
The people at last see the cloven hoofs beneath the royal robes.
The wily old monarch is on trial. Sentence of exile from the marble
lined courthouse will be imposed at the November election. The
actual banishment to the Land of Nevermore will go into effect at
midnight, December 31, just as* the New Year enters the people’s
courthouse.
POETS’ CORNER
I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER.
I remember, I remember
The little house where I was born,
The little window where the sun
Came peeping in at morn;
He never came a wink too soon,
Nor brought too long a day,
But now I often wish the night
Had borne my breath away!
I remember, I remember
The roses, red and white,
The violets and the lily-cups,
Those flowers made of light!
The lilacs, where the robin built,
And where my brother set
The laburnum on his birthday,—
The tree is living yet!
I remember, I remember
Where I used to swing, .
And thought the air must rush as
fresh
To swallows on the wing;
My spirit flew in feathers then,
That is so heavy now,
And summer pools could hardly co6l
The fever on my brow.
I remember, I remember
The fir-trees dark and high;
I used to think their slender tops
Weite close against the sky.
It was a childish ignorance,
But now 'tis little joy x
To know I'm further off from heaven
Than when I was a boy.
—Thomas Hood.
FLOWERS.
I will not have the mad Clytie,
Whose head is turned by the sun;
The tulip is a courtly queen,
Whom, therefore, I will shun;
The cowslip is a country wench,
The violet is * nun, —
But I will woo the dainty rose,
The queen of every one.
The pea is but a wanton witch,
In too much haste to wed,
And clasps her rings s on every hand;
The wolf bane I should dread;
Nor will I dreary rosemarye,
That always mourns the dead;
But I will woo the dainty rose,
With her cheeks of tender red.
The lily is all in white, like a saint,
And so is no mate for me;
And the daisy’s cheek is tipped with
blush,
She is of such low degree;
Jasmine is sweet, and has many
loves;
And the broom’s betrothed to the
bee;
But I will plight the dainty rose,
For fairest of all is she.
—Thomas Hood.
THHE DEATH-BED.
We watched her breathing through
the night,
Her breathing soft and low,
As in her breast the wave of life
Kept heaving to and fro.
So silently we seemed to speak,
So slowly moved about,
As we had lent her half our powers
To eke her living out.
Our very hopes belied our fears,
Our fears our hopes bslied, —
We thought her dying when she
slept,
And sleeping when she died.
-jFer'when the morning came, dim
and sad,
And chill with early showers*
Her quiet eyelids dosed,-—She had
Another morn than ours.
—Thomas Hood.
: “
Like a lonesome stork T have come
of late
To the same'old town in the same
old state,
Where I used to walk* when the day
was bright;
Where I used to stroll in the pale
starlight. 1
I say, I’ve come to the same old
town,
With its way-up folk and its folk
way down,
And stand once more in the same old
B treet
And walk again the same old beat
That leads away to a shady dell
And a grassy bank I, once knew so
well.
’Tis the same old town, but older
grown .
And sights and sounds, at first
unknown,
Return again to their wonted
track, —
And all seem glad that I’ve come
back. - ,
The same old trees fling out their
shade,
The same old man and the same
old maid,
The first too blind and the last too
shy
To speak to me as I pass by,
Still worry on, but still they stay
The same as when I went away.
The same old fountains bathe the
lawn,
The same old whistles wake at
dftwn
The same old train goes whizzing
through,
*he deacon holds the same old
pew,
The same old preacher, unperplexed,
Gives out, a-new, the same old
text;
The same old soldiers sit astride
The soap-box on the grocery side
Where, ’mid the wreathes and rings
of smoke,
One hears again the same old
joke.
And thus I find the town once more.
And make my way to the same old
door,
Of the same old house, on the same
old spot,
In the same old street, on the
same old lot;
And my heart leaps up with the
same old bound,
The door-bell rings with the same
old sound,
The door swings wide, and a care
worn face
Appears once more in the same old
place;
An old-time smile is the smile I see
While the same old mother kisses
me'.
DER KAISER PLAYS SAFE.
Who burns his tongue, mit lies,
red hot,
About his partnership mit Gott,
But stays back where he vont get
shot?
Der Kaiser.
SUBSTITUTES.
The Germans are feeding on substi*
tute meat,
And flour they’re kneading is sub
stitute wheat,
Their cattle they fodder on substi
tute hay,
And life's growing odder and odder
each day.
•
They smoke with great loathing, sub
stitute weeds,
And substitute clothing is made for
their needs,
They substitute money and substi
tute cheese,
And substitute honey from substi
tute bees.
They settle their quarrels with sub
stitute law,
They substitute morals for deeds that
are raw,
Their car wheels are creaking with
substitute grease.
And now they are 'seeking a substi
tute peace.
And when they are peeved by real
woe and distress,
They’re tricked and deceived by a
substitute press;
Their thoughts and their ways rre
ever so odd,
While Kaiser Bill prays to a substi
tute God. \
—Berton Braley.
- 1 o
THE RIVETER.
“We’ve never' worked this way be
fore,” said Johnny at the blast,
“In all my standin’ at the forge I’ve
never gone so fast.”
The riveter just looked at him an’
mopped his sweaty brow
An’ said: “We worked for wages
then, but things are different
now,
For we’re lickin’ of the kaiser, so
just keep the charcoal red
An’ toss ’em fast an’ toss ’em straight
I’ll hit ’em in the head.”
“I never get no time to rest,” said
Johnny at the blast.
“You won’t,” the riveter replied, “so
long as war shall last.
Just keep your bellows blowin’ an’
the rivets in the air
An’ we’ll get the ships to get the men
an’ cannon over there.
When we worked for common wages
we could stop an’ chew the rag.
But it’s different this morning, for
we’re workin’ for the Flag.”
“It’s two for one you’re drivin’, ”
said Johnny at the blast,
“You were off the line a little with
the last one that you cast.”
Said the riveter, “be careful. Toss
’em stralghter up to me
With a little better team work I can
eafty make it thfee.
O, it’s speed and shipis we’re after.
We can stop an’ take.it slow
When the present job is finished, an’
the victory whistles blow.”
—-Selected.
■ ■ - ■■■■♦
C. F. Mahnke, editor of the
Moose Lake Star-Gazette, has been
appointed chairman of the Four
Minute Men in the Moose Lake
district
—F. D. R.